Learning Outside the Classroom

Maya Civilization

On Monday 8th May, Dr Diane Davies, the only Archaeologist in the UK specialising in the Maya Civilisation, visited the school to deliver a presentation and workshop to Year 4 pupils. She shared her first-hand experience of excavating Maya sites in Guatemala and what her findings tell us about the Maya people. Following a 75 minute presentation, to which Parents were also invited to attend, she delivered 45 minute workshops to each of the Year 4 classes. These workshops provided an opportunity for pupils to explore Maya artefacts and ask questions about all aspects of the Maya civilisation.

"What an amazing opportunity this was for the pupils to engage with a true specialist of the Maya people. All of the pupils were so interested in her findings throughout. I must say, I learned an aweful lot too." Oliver Iglesias-Whittaker, Year 4 Parent

"I enjoyed Dr Davies visit because it wasn't just someone telling us about the Maya people. Dr Davies actually showed us videos of her work as an archaeologist and was explaining everything clearly too. I was also impressed that every artefact she discovered she gave to local museums because they belong to the Maya people. Instead, she would ask the Maya people of today to make replicas of the artefacts for children like me to explore". Nishaat Rahman, Year 4 Pupil

Splatt Theatre  

Year 5 took a trip back to the 1940's with the Splatt Theatre Company which enabled them to experience a day in the life of a war time evacuee.  This was an immersive experience which covered multiple parts of the curriculum through Drama, Speaking & Listening, History, SMSC and DT.

The day involved being met and registered by billeting officers who immersed the children in a full day in the life of a WWII child. War time memories were performed by professionally trained actors with interaction from the children. They engaged in ration-book cooking, learning about foods and nutrition during the war and they were able to cook a war time recipe. They were also able to have hands-on experience of the make-do-and-mend initiative and learned basic sewing techniques.

The experience took place in a local church hall. Church halls were traditionally used as holding accommodation for child refugees and evacuees whilst finding host families which made the day authentically site-specific.