The Pre-Prep organised a History week for all the children.

Nursery and Reception concentrated on the themes of transport, toys and clothes. The week started with a trip to Dover Transport Museum where they saw old cars, bicycles and a fire engine. They were fascinated with the train track and the model tanks. The children enjoyed trying on different hats from long ago and talking to the museum staff about what they saw. After seeing the old bicycles in the museum some children brought in their own to compare.

During the week we had several visitors who came to talk to us. Mr Allen brought in his car from the Second World War and talked to us about the RAF.  Captain John Dawson, who is 99 years old, showed us his photos of when he worked on the cross-channel ferries, and some members of the Thanet and Wantsum Metal Detecting Club helped us search for treasure in the garden.

The children enjoyed all the activities, but especially liked playing with the old toys and dressing up in the old style clothes.

Year 1 and Year 2 worked closely together to explore the Viking and Medieval eras. They found out about life in Viking times, listened to sagas, learned about runes (and made clay rune stones) and created some very impressive looking Viking ships.

They spent a wonderful afternoon at the Prep School under the guidance of  “Peter the Pedlar” who showed them artefacts, allowed them to play with replicas, encouraged them to sword fight (without real contact!) and provided authentic dressing up clothes. They also had a go at spinning wool, writing with a quill and make brass rubbings.  So many brilliant hands-on activities really inspired the children to become involved in history.

All the children took part in creating timelines, helping them to understand the passage of time.

At the end of the week both classes went to Dover Museum and after visiting the displays (including the Bronze Age Boat) they took part in an exciting Drama Workshop which allowed them to travel in back time.  The children became Roman soldiers, Londoners in 1666, Victorian servants and even astronauts from the 1960s. 

They also took part in the metal detecting activities with Nursery and Reception.

This was a wonderful week full of exciting and interesting activities that everyone enjoyed.