Primary School Learning Programme

Sessions for Schools September 2019 - July 2020

Discover the extraordinary at Museums and Castles experiencewakefield.co.uk/museumsandcastles School Learning Programme We can help you bring excitement to learning!

Workshop costs £60 for standard workshops delivered at one of our sites £116 for full day sessions (such as those lasting 4 hours or more) £106 for workshops delivered in-school (£160 for two, or £184 for three sessions run in one day) £60 for up to 2 Castle Dungeon Tours (please note: each tour can accommodate a maximum of 20 people) Book 5 sessions in a school year and get a 6th free (if all booked at the same time. The workshops will be invoiced at the time of booking to be paid in advance) Free Sessions! We often offer free pilots for new sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. This is to enable us to refine the content prior to general release, so it is a condition of taking up a free session that you are willing to give us detailed feedback and take part in promotional photography as necessary. To be sure of hearing about free pilots on offer, sign up to our teachers’ mailing list by visiting www.ExperienceWakefield.co.uk/enews

2 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ About Us

Burton Street Castle Chain Wakefield Manygates Lane, Pontefract WF1 2DD Sandal WF8 1QH WF2 7DS Follow the themes of wealth This once-mighty fortress Known as the Key to the North, and power, hardship and hope, played host to earls and kings, this Royal Castle was once passion and belief, love and was the site of pivotal battles, one of the most important war, work and home. and features in the works of fortresses in the country. It Plus, discover the extraordinary Shakespeare. Sandal Castle’s was frequently at the centre life of Charles Waterton, ruins are ideal for self-led of national events, acting as a pioneering Victorian exploration. fortress and temporary home eco-warrior, explorer and for lords and kings. It was also Yorkshireman. a prison and armoury up to its demolition in 1649. You can visit the underground Salter Row dungeon cut out of the solid Pontefract rock and see where Civil War Carlton Street WF8 1BA prisoners carved their names Castleford into the cell walls. The castle WF10 1BB Pontefract Museum is situated is a short walk from Pontefract in Pontefract town centre and Museum. is packed full of life, history and From an Iron Age chariot to a Outreach Roman’s hobnail sandal, not artefacts tracing the history of forgetting marbles, rugby, the growth of Pontefract Town, We can bring the museum to you! from medieval times to the Civil mining and pottery! The Many of our workshops are also War, to working in the liquorice museum invites visitors to offered as Outreach, at a time factories, to life in a workhouse; follow the history of Castleford and date to suit you - and most and a room dedicated to the from the Bronze Age to the can be adapted to fit in with local glass industry. modern day. your timetable. The early life of Henry Moore, The museum also has a We do recommend visiting the one of Castleford’s most famous research room, for investigating museum for your workshops sons, is explored using objects all things Pontefract, and whenever possible, but from the beginning of his career a programme of temporary understand that this isn’t as a world famous artist. exhibitions. The museum is always practical, so we are a short walk from Pontefract happy to come to you. Castle. See individual workshop listings for sessions available in-school. Please note that Outreach sessions are usually only available to schools within the Wakefield district. If yours is located further afield please contact us directly at museumslearning@wakefield. gov.uk to enquire – we may be able to help depending on distance/timings.

3 Join us to discover how a Celtic stone head can lead to science, art & design, history Teacher and literacy work. Or how does a wooden box from Pontefract play such a large part in our modern day voting process – links to history, CPD drama, literacy, design, science (materials) and PSHE. We are offering CDP days each term, for Let us serve up a slice of mixed school groups. creativity! These are FREE and can be booked via Eventbrite at www.wakefield.gov.uk/ Our venues and collections can help inspire museumevents - and there will always your teaching. In particular within the OFSTED be CAKE! Inspection Framework: If you would like us to come to you and be Quality of Education and part of an Inset day or meet with you for a Personal Development one to one session, please contact us for With objects from the Stone Age to the availability on 01924 302700 present day, we have something to inspire or email [email protected] your pupils within our collections. But just how can a carved lump of stone be interesting? What makes an object go from ordinary to extraordinary? How can one object develop cross curricular learning? It isn’t just the object itself that can make a person go ‘oooh’ but the story behind the object. Our CPD sessions are designed to share our tips and ideas for how to engage your class. From advice on how to create your own in school mini-museum, to having a led session in school, we are here to discuss and support you and your colleagues.

4 These resources are available FREE of charge to download from: Nursery Castleford Museum www.bit.ly/EYCasMus www.bit.ly/EYPonteCas and Early Pontefract Museum www.bit.ly/EYPonteMus Wakefield Museum www.bit.ly/EYWakeMus Years If you are planning a visit, do please do book in advance to avoid clashes with other groups. Let Charlie Bear help you make the most of Email [email protected] to your self-led visit to Wakefield, Castleford or book your free visit. Pontefract Museum! We have developed a special set of resources featuring our charming historic New for 2019-20 teddy bear which can be used by Nursery Ilbert the Dragon introduces self-led and Early Years groups when making self- resources to explore Pontefract Castle led visits to our museums. Through these throughout the seasons. Weeks have been resources Charlie Bear’s character provides set aside each term for younger visitors ideas and suggests activities to help children to come and enjoy the castle site on engage with and explore the museum seasonal theme. Pupils will discover links to displays using themes such as shape, colour, science and the environment, by exploring number, size, sound and texture. Pontefract Castle. Charlie’s friend Ilbert the Dragon takes over See the Special Themed Weeks page for at Pontefract Castle with his own set of more details. resources designed to help Nursery and Early Years pupils explore and understand concepts such as new and old, big and small, near and far.

5 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Special Educational Needs

We currently offer 4 core SEN sessions on the following topics: The Rainforest - Wakefield Museum or in school The Tudors - Wakefield Museum, Pontefract Museum or in school The Romans - Castleford Museum or in school Life in a Medieval Castle - Pontefract Castle or in school

These interactive, multi-sensory sessions can all be tailored with regards to content, activities and duration to best suit your pupils’ particular needs. We can also make preliminary visits to meet pupils in advance and introduce topics before the main workshop date. Please contact us to discuss your requirements by emailing [email protected] . If there is another topic that you think we might be able to support you in teaching please get in touch. We are very keen to expand our SEN provision and to develop new workshops. New sessions will be piloted free of charge in exchange for teacher input and feedback. If We really enjoyed you are interested in helping us develop a new The Romans workshop. Thanks for session, we would be glad to hear from you. all of the information you shared A box of resources is available to use at and for the brilliant, engaging Pontefract Castle, if booked in advance. Please email activities you planned and [email protected] delivered to the children. Kingsland Primary School

6 Special Themed Weeks

During the 2019-20 academic year we will be delivering a range of Special Themed Weeks. These workshops can be booked at any time on a first come first serve basis and are for a maximum number of 35 pupils. The cost for each workshop is listed below. To request more information contact [email protected] See the How To Book page for more details

Workshop Age group Venue Dates Duration Cost

Free – self-led visit EYFS and 16 – 20 September Autumn with Ilbert the Dragon Pontefract Castle 1 hour with resources KS1 2019 provided National Poetry Day – The Truth Wakefield Museum, 30 September – about Objects with poet KS2 Castleford Museum or 2 hours £60 4 October 2019 Matt Abbott Pontefract Museum

Dig the Castle - archaeology 30 September – KS2 Pontefract Castle 2 hours FREE experience 11 October 2019 WW1 soldier – with costumed 5 – 8 November KS2 Wakefield Museum 2 hours £60 interpreter 2019

Tudor Christmas – hands-on Tudor 2 – 6 December KS2 Pontefract Castle 2 hours £60 activities 2019

National Storytelling Week - 27 – 31 January KS2 Castleford Museum 2 hours Roman Stories 2020 £60

Richard II: Discovering Throughout March KS2 Pontefract Castle Shakespeare at Pontefract Castle 2020 2 hours £60

Science Week – Skeleton Secrets KS2 Pontefract Castle 9 – 13 March 2020 – be science detectives 2 hours £60 Free – self-led visit Springtime with EYFS and Pontefract Castle 11 – 15 May 2020 with resources Ilbert the Dragon KS1 1 hour provided Murder Mystery – Bloody Pomfret KS2 Pontefract Castle 6 – 10 July 2020 – an interactive performance 1 hour £60 Free – self-led visit Summertime with EYFS and Pontefract Castle 13 - 17 July 2020 with resources Ilbert the Dragon KS1 1 hour provided 7 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Contents Reception – Key Stage 1 William’s Castle 9

Key Stage 1 and 2 Create a Castle Story 10 How Did We Live in the Past? 11 Toys of the Past 12 Habitats, Birds and Charles Waterton 13 Sweet Success: A Look at Pontefract’s Liquorice Industry 14 Time to Prepare the Castle 15

Key Stage 2 Ancient Egyptians - Gateway to Eternity 16 Egyptian Artefacts 17 Who was Charles Waterton 18 The Romans in Castleford 19 Anglo-Saxon Village 20 Vikings! 21 Animation Creation 22 Greek Pots 23 1940s Housewife 24 Pontefract Castle: Site Tour and Poetry 25 Fact or Fiction: Shakespeare and the Battle of Wakefield 26 Voting for Change: Pontefract’s Secret Ballot 27 How our town developed 28 Stepping into Stone Age 29 Fascinating Fossils! 30 The British Civil War: Sieges in Pontefract 31 Chocolate - Necessity or Luxury 32 Other Services for Schools Back page How to Book Back page

8 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ William’s Castle NotesNotes

Key Stage: Reception – Key Stage 1 Links to history, literacy and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

Who used to live in a castle? What was it like living in a castle long ago? These sessions offer our younger visitors a chance to get creative whilst discovering the topic of Castles. It is a stimulating mix of looking, listening, talking and storytelling. Children will experience what castle life was like through looking at costume, objects and listening to William’s story. Workshop includes: • An interactive storytelling session • Object handling • Presentation of site images Duration: 1 hour 30 min Venue: Pontefract Castle or in school You can extend your visit to the castle by taking a self-led look around or guided tour after your workshop – just ask a member of the team for more details.

Workshop leader was excellent, great with the children & gave them lots of information in a way that was fun, engaging & easy for them to understand. St Michael’s CE Academy

9 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Create a Castle Story NotesNotes

Key Stage: 1 Links to history, drama, literacy and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

Can your pupils imagine they are dragons? What story will pupils create about the castle? You are inside your dragon egg. You can hear strange noises all around. Get ready to hatch and take a journey with us around Pontefract Castle to discover what life was like here in medieval times. Using imagination and enquiry skills we will assist pupils to create their own castle story by using drama, literacy and historical investigation. Workshop includes: • An interactive story creating session • Object handling • Site tour

Duration: 2 hours Venue: Pontefract Castle You can extend your visit to the castle by taking a self-led look around or guided tour after your workshop – just ask a member of the team for more details.

All the children throughly enjoyed the entire day at Pontefract. All the staff were very supportive and excellent with the children. Jerry Clay Academy

10 How Did We Live in The Past? NotesNotes

Key Stage: 1 Links to history, drama (role-play) and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout the workshop.

How did people live in Victorian Wakefield? How are household chores different today? What ‘gadgets’ did people use? Pupils will meet Anne Dixon, Victorian resident of 126 Nelson Street, Wakefield, who will discuss her daily routine at home. Pupils will be encouraged to examine mystery Victorian household objects and help Anne in her chores to discover how people used to live in Wakefield. Workshop includes: • Role-play • Object handling of original artefacts • Become an object detective - examine objects to discover their hidden secrets

Duration: 1 hour 30 min

Venue: Wakefield Museum

The workshop was very well organised and enjoyable . Girnhill Infant School

11 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Toys of the Past NotesNotes

Key Stage: 1 Links to history, science (materials) and speaking and listening are developed throughout this workshop.

What sorts of toys did children play with in the past century? What materials were they made out of? How did they work? This session is an excellent introduction to learning about the past, with the opportunity to handle real and replica toys from the last 100 years. Explore the roles that toys play in people’s lives, discover the materials toys have been made from over the years and learn how to estimate the age of old toys. Workshop includes: • Handling original and replica objects • Developing thinking, listening and questioning skills • Learning through play

Duration: 1 hour 30 min on site or 1 hour 15 min in school Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

A fantastic session! This is the second time we have booked this workshop and we will book again in the future. Lee Brigg Infant & Nursery

12 Habitats, Birds and Charles Waterton Notes

Key Stage: 1 Links to science, habitats, local history, geography and literacy are developed throughout this workshop.

Why should we care about wildlife habitats? How does the life of Charles Waterton link to habitats? What do we do that Charles Waterton did over 150 years ago? Wakefield man, Charles Waterton, was a great Victorian naturalist. His ideas may have been perceived as eccentric in his time, but are now seen as forward thinking. We will look at why this man is important to us locally and within the wider world. Along with discussion about Waterton’s life, pupils will have the opportunity to create a tempting treat to attract birds to your school grounds. You can then become ‘mini Watertons’ and observe what species of bird you can attract. Workshop includes: • Learning about the animals and birds Charles Waterton came across in the rainforest and at home • Finding out about habitats

• Introduction to explorer Charles Waterton A great start to our topic about • Make a cereal birdfeeder Charles Waterton. All the children want to learn more. Snapethorpe Primary School Duration: 1 hour 30 min on site or 1 hour in school

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

13 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Sweet Success: A Look at Pontefract’s Liquorice Industry Notes

Key Stage: 1 and 2 Links to local history, literacy, science and art are developed throughout this workshop.

How did liquorice evolve from a medicinal plant to a popular flavouring for confectionary and what role did Pontefract play in that evolution? How did local liquorice producers compete against each other to sell their sweets? Can your pupils develop their own packaging to outshine the competition? In this fun and engaging workshop pupils will be introduced to the history and traditional medicinal uses of liquorice and they will learn that Pontefract was an important centre for the growing of liquorice in past centuries. They will discover that a local man called George Dunhill was the first person to use liquorice to flavour sweets and they will explore how the many Pontefract based confectionary companies that sprang up after Dunhill’s development competed against each other to sell their products using eye-catching packaging and persuasive language. Pupils will then be challenged to design some persuasive liquorice packaging of their own! Workshop includes: • Discover liquorice’s role in Pontefract’s history • Participate in whole class activities to learn about the traditional medicinal uses of liquorice • Participate in whole class activities to explore the persuasive power of language • Handle real historic liquorice packaging • Participate in a creative design activity Duration: 1 hour 30 mins Venue: Pontefract Castle or in school

14 Time to Prepare the Castle Notes

Key Stage: 1 and 2 Links to history, science (materials) and speaking and listening are developed throughout this workshop.

The castle is due to receive a royal visitor – is your class up to the task? What should we get ready for our very special guest? This session mixes enquiry with problem solving whilst pupils work together as a team. Your class will receive a letter requesting their help – an unexpected visit from a member of the Royal Tudor household is due any day. You will choose, before your visit, the activities your pupils will undertake to help our Tudor servants get the castle ready in time. This workshop will be both morning and afternoon so you will need to bring lunch. If the weather is nice, you are welcome to picnic on site, if not we will be using our learning space for lunch. Workshop includes: • Handling replica objects All adults and children • Hands-on activities such as making were very impressed butter, quill writing menus, making sweet by the visit. meats, blackwork etc. De Lacy Primary • Developing thinking, listening and questioning skills • Learning through play

Duration: 4 hours 30 min (lunch break at castle site part way through - lunch not provided) Venue: Pontefract Castle

15 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Ancient Egyptians - Gateway to Eternity Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history, art & design, enquiry skills and literacy are developed throughout this session.

How did the ancient Egyptians view death? What is mummification and how and why was it done? Who was Perenbast? Pupils will learn through discussion, enquiry and hands on activities about death and burial in ancient Egypt. Pupils will discover the meanings and beliefs behind the ritual of mummification and will visit Perenbast – a female mummy on display. They will create their own clay eye of Horus amulet to take back to school. Pupils will learn from and be inspired by ancient artefacts from our collection and those on loan from Manchester Museum, Liverpool Museum and The British Museum. The session has been designed to support our special exhibition ‘Gateway to Eternity’. Workshop includes: • Engaging in discussion about the process of mummification • Discovering facts about one specific mummy from the collections of Manchester Museum • Visiting a special exhibition • Participating in a creative design activity Duration: 2 hours

Venue: Wakefield Museum Special Exhibition Workshop - available September 2019 to June 2020

Image credit: The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester 1516 Egyptian Artefacts Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to art and design, literacy and history are developed throughout this workshop.

Why do we have Egyptian artefacts in the Wakefield Museums’ collections? What can these artefacts tell us? Pupils will learn how our collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts came to be in Wakefield thanks to two Victorian men called William. Working in small groups they will then take a close look at some of these amazing artefacts, trying to determine what they are and what they reveal about life and death in ancient Egypt. Pupils will also learn about some of the Egyptian gods and goddesses portrayed on the artefacts and design and name Egyptian style gods and goddesses of their very own! Workshop includes: • Examining real Egyptian artefacts • Identifying objects from the past • Drawing gods/goddesses • Writing names in hieroglyphs Duration: 1 hour 30 min Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

A fantastic workshop with an efficient and encouraging leader, informative and with opportunities for practical learning. Airedale Junior School

17 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Who was Charles Waterton? Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to science, habitats, local history, geography and literacy are developed throughout this workshop.

What links Wakefield to the rainforests of Guyana? Why is Charles Waterton important to Wakefield’s past? What connects a donkey, a diary and a wall with Charles Waterton? Wakefield man, Charles Waterton, was a great Victorian naturalist. From his travels to South America to his life at home in Walton, Wakefield we will look at why this man is important to us locally and within the wider world. Along with discussion about Waterton’s life, pupils will have the opportunity to see pages from his diaries and have a go at writing with a quill and ink. Workshop includes: • Learning about animals and birds Charles Waterton came across in the rainforest and at home • Finding out about medical experiments with wourali poison • Introduction to explorer Charles Waterton • Writing with a quill Duration: 1 hour 30 min on site or 1 hour in school Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

A very knowledgeable and engaging workshop! Academy

18 The Romans in Castleford Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history, literacy and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

Why did the Romans settle in what is now modern day Castleford? What was life like in the Roman town? What evidence did the Romans leave behind? Through a series of fun, multi-sensory activities pupils will discover some of the sights, sounds and smells of Roman Castleford. They will learn why the Romans established a settlement here, how the settlement grew into an important centre for travel and trade and how the objects that the Romans left behind can tell us what life was like in the town 2000 years ago. Workshop includes: • Listening and discussion skills • Multi-sensory ‘experimental archaeology’ activities • Handling real and replica Roman objects Our children loved the hands-on • Identifying objects and drawing session and gained a lot of knowledge conclusions about how the Romans affected our • Working cooperatively in groups local area. They particularly enjoyed the role play and artefacts. Duration: 1 hour 30 min Newton Hill Community School Venue: Castleford Museum or in school

19 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Anglo-Saxon Village Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, drama and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

Could your pupils survive a year as Anglo-Saxons? Divided into families, pupils will have to work together in order to settle disputes and trade goods in order to survive. Pupils will develop a sense of community through organisation and problem-solving, developing an empathy with people from the past. Workshop includes: Role-play and costumes Object handling (replicas) Problem-solving

Duration: 2 hours

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

The workshop leader had a great presence in the room and held the attention of the class well. She also responded sensitively to the children in the class with additional needs. English Martyrs School

20 Vikings Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, geography and literacy are developed throughout this workshop.

A log boat, a spoon and a piece of pottery – what do these objects tell us about Vikings in the district? From a simple hair comb to a boat that crossed the Calder - pupils will look at trade, transport and domestic life in the Viking era. Handling replica Viking objects and viewing a real Viking age log boat, pupils will discuss the significance that each item would have had to villagers of the time. Pupils will discover the history behind the log boat from Stanley Ferry, learn how objects in museum collections can tell us about the past and develop empathy with people from the past. Workshop includes: • Study a Viking era log boat • Use local area maps • Learn a Viking game • Handle replica objects

Duration: 1 hour 30 min

Venue: Wakefield Museum

The children enjoyed it and it really set them up well for the rest of their topic. They’ve talked about it loads. OPA - Kirkhamgate

21 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Animation Creation NotesNotes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history, literacy, computing and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

How digitally creative can your pupils get? Which object will spark their imagination to develop an animation? Will the caiman crocodile get his revenge or an Egyptian shabti come to life? These sessions offer pupils the chance to be creative with digital technology. Using an image or objects for inspiration pupils will create a short piece of digital animation on iPads. There are two options for your pupils’ activity: Option 1 – With ancient Egyptian objects to inspire ideas, pupils will plan and create an animation to bring an object to life. Option 2 - Using the Waterton collection and the life of a Victorian explorer as inspiration, pupils will create a short piece about rainforests and the animals that live in them. Workshop includes: • Use an image or objects to springboard enquiry • Digital creativity • Opportunity to reflect on work created Duration: 1 hour 30 min on site or 1 hour 15 min in school Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

Would recommend the Animation Creation Workshop to anyone. Very engaging for the children. Stanley Grove Primary 22 Greek Pots Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history, literacy and art and design are developed throughout this workshop.

What can a piece of pottery tell us about the past? What were the names the Greeks gave to different pots? Pupils will investigate what uses different types of pots had in Ancient Greek society. Pupils will discover how we can find out what life was like through the images on pottery. There are two options for your pupils’ activity: Option 1 - With ancient objects to inspire them, pupils will use their senses and enquiry skills to create personification poems. Option 2 – handling ancient objects pupils will undertake a curatorial role to create a condition check of our objects. Workshop includes: • Handling real and replica objects • Discussion and visual enquiry • Sensory enquiry Creation of poetry OR completion of object record form. Please advise at time of booking which option you would like.

Duration: 1 hour 15 min

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

The session was fantastic and gave the children a real insight into the past by looking at past artefacts. St Michael’s CE Academy

23 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ 1940s Housewife Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, history (significant event - WW2), literacy and art and design are developed throughout this workshop.

How did WW2 affect people at home in ? How did rationing affect daily life? How does our diet today compare with that of people under rationing? Meet our WW2 housewife in this workshop focusing on food and rationing. Pupils will have the chance to handle ration books and other objects from the 1940s and find out what life was like for children living in Wakefield during the war. Workshop includes: • Designing a Dig for Victory garden to scale • Object handling • Devising a menu on rations Duration: 1 hour 30 min on site or 1 hour in school

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

A fantastic morning that was thoroughly enjoyable for both staff and pupils. Park Junior Academy

24 Pontefract Castle: Site Tour and Poetry Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, geography and literacy are developed throughout this workshop.

Who used to live in a castle? What was it like living here? Using the ruins of Pontefract Castle and historic objects from the collections, pupils will create a short poem about the history of the site. This session includes approximately 1 hour spent touring the site in order to collect information and inspire poems about the day- to-day life of those who lived and worked in the castle in the past and the historic events that took place here. Workshop includes: • A guided tour of Pontefract Castle • An understanding of how people used to live • Creation of poetry Duration: 2 hours

Venue: Pontefract Castle You can extend your visit to the castle by taking a self-led look around after your workshop or book one of our school dungeon tours – just ask a member of the team for more details.

25 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Fact or Fiction: NotesNotes Shakespeare and the Battle of Wakefield

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, national events in history, literacy and drama are developed throughout this workshop.

What was the Battle of Wakefield? Why was it such an important battle? What did Shakespeare write about it and how much of what he wrote was true? In this fun and engaging workshop pupils will ‘perform’ excerpts from Henry VI, Part III in which Shakespeare wrote about the Battle of Wakefield. They will discover how much of Shakespeare’s account is factual, how much is fictional and consider why Shakespeare’s version might not have been entirely true. Was he taught incorrect facts himself? Did the queen force him to tell untruths? Or was he simply spinning a good yarn? Pupils will then work in small groups to write short ‘poems of defence’ in the character of the Bard explaining why his account of the battle is more fiction than fact. Workshop includes: • Learning about the Battle of Wakefield – a local event of national importance • Speaking aloud and performing • Considering the factors that influenced Shakespeare’s writing • Creating group poems

Duration: 1 hour 30 min Venue: In school Both self-guided and museum-led visits to Sandal Castle, where the Battle of Wakefield took place, are possible. Please email My class most enjoyed the role play or [email protected] f and the poetry writing! Truly inspired! more information. Crofton Junior School

26 Voting for Change: NotesNotes Pontefract’s Secret Ballot

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, national events in history, art and PSHE are developed throughout this workshop.

How did the first secret ballot election for a British MP come to be held in Pontefract? Why was the secret ballot system needed? What were the key events of the election? The first secret ballot vote for an MP in Britain took place in Pontefract in 1872. Before this, people had to state in public who they were voting for meaning that the election process was open to corruption. In this interactive workshop pupils will use props, historic texts and our specially commissioned comic book about the Pontefract Secret Ballot to discover the amazing, humorous and shocking events of the election. They will then create their own comic book style images to illustrate their favourite moments from the story of the secret ballot. Original ballot boxes from the 1872 election are on display at Pontefract and Wakefield Museums. Classes who come to either museum for this workshop will have the opportunity to see them. Workshop includes: • Learning the story of the Pontefract Secret Ballot – a local event of national importance • Using historic and modern texts to learn about the past • Engaging in discussion about a historic event and its legacy • Creating artwork inspired by history The workshop was full of engaging Duration: 1 hour 15 min information! Thank you. Venue: Pontefract Museum, Wakefield St John the Baptist Museum or in school Catholic Primary School

27 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ How our Town Developed NotesNotes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history and literacy are developed throughout this workshop.

Who lived and worked in the local area? Which industries were common here? How has the local area changed over the past 100 years? Pupils will take a look at their local industrial heritage - past and present - using old photographs, maps and census records to gain an insight into the professions of past inhabitants and relate this information to life in the present day. Local areas of focus to choose from: • Castleford • Featherstone • Ossett • Wakefield

Workshop includes: • Discussion about the area’s industrial heritage • Using copies of old photos and maps • Using census records • Relating information discovered to the present day

Duration: 1 hour 45 min on site or 1 hour 30 min in school

Venue: Wakefield Museum, Castleford Museum or in school.

Lovely leader with fantastic subject knowledge and a fantastic manner with pupils. St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Castleford

28 Stepping Into the Stone Age NotesNotes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history and science are developed throughout this workshop.

How long ago did the Stone Age happen? What can Stone Age artefacts reveal about life and the environment thousands of years ago? How were Stone Age tools made and how similar are they to the tools of today? Pupils will create a human time line to illustrate just how long ago the Stone Age started – and how very long it lasted. They will imagine what the environment in would have been like so many millennia ago and learn how the people of the time would have relied entirely on nature for their survival. Pupils will get to touch real Stone Age artefacts and work in small groups to identify how the tools were made, used and how they compare to the tools of today. Workshop includes: • Making a chronological timeline All the children thoroughly enjoyed • Understanding the environment themselves and gained so much of the Stone Age knowledge. The lesson delivery and • Touching real prehistoric artefacts pace was perfect! • Understanding how Stone Age tools Community Academy were made, used and how necessary they were to survival

Duration: 1 hour 30 min Venue: Wakefield Museum, Castleford Museum or in school.

29 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Fascinating Fossils! NotesNotes

Key Stage: 2 Links to science, history and art and design are developed in this session.

How are fossils formed? What can they tell us about the prehistoric world? What ancient creatures might still be out there in fossil form just waiting to be discovered? First pupils will learn through an interactive demonstration how and why fossils form. Working in small groups they will handle and categorise a range of real fossils and consider what these ancient objects can teach us about the prehistoric world and its links with the present day. Pupils will next consider what sorts of ancient fossils might still be undiscovered then use their imaginations to design their own ‘prehistoric creatures’ and model their ‘fossils’ in clay. Workshop includes: • Interactive science demonstration • Handling and categorising real fossils • Designing imaginary prehistoric creatures and making clay ‘fossils’ Duration: 1 hour 30 min

Venue: Wakefield Museum, Castleford Museum or in school

The workshop leader was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate and enthusiastic about fossils. All the pupils were engaged. Crofton Junior School 30 The British Civil War: Sieges in Pontefract NotesNotesNotes

Key Stage: 2 Links to local history, national events in history, literacy, geography and enquiry skills are developed throughout this session.

How do we know what happened locally? How would it feel to be a soldier in the castle during a siege? What evidence is left on-site? Join us at Pontefract Castle to imagine what life in the castle was like during a civil war siege. Pupils will meet our costumed staff and be given a tour of the site to orientate themselves. Your class will then be divided into groups to undertake four activities to learn more about life in the castle during the 1640s.

This workshop will be both morning and I was extremely impressed with afternoon so you will need to bring lunch. the leader of the day - she really If the weather is nice you are welcome to made it interesting and was picnic on site, if not we will be using our fantastic with the children. learning space for lunch. Halfpenny Lane JIN School Workshop includes: • Object handling • Relating historical maps and diary entries to areas on site • Creating their own example of a siege coin • Developing empathy with a person from the past Duration: 4 hours 30 min (lunch break at castle part way through - lunch not provided) Venue: Pontefract Castle

31 http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ Chocolate – Necessity or Luxury? Notes

Key Stage: 2 Links to history, literacy, computing skills and speaking and listening skills are developed throughout this workshop.

Can your pupils come to a conclusion about at hypothesis posed to them? Will they agree or disagree once they have looked at the evidence? This session allows pupils to use Wakefield Museums’ collections as a focus for enquiry along with technology (iPads) to record their findings. Links to Mayan culture, the introduction of chocolate in England and local sweet manufacturing in the past are made in this session. We will discuss the development of cocoa from currency to a food. Pupils will be given a ‘big question’ to consider, related objects for research, and iPads to record the process. They will use an app to create short digital presentations in which they try to answer the ‘big question’. Each presentation will be watched by the group and positive critique will be offered. All work will be transferred to disc for further use in school. Workshop includes: • Object handling • Hands-on technology work • Group discussion

Duration: 4 hours (lunch break at museum/site part way through – lunch not provided) Venue: Wakefield Museum

32 Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Other How to book To book a visit to any of our sites, please email Services [email protected] for Schools Before contacting us to book your visit please consider: Self-directed visits • Which sessions interest you Teachers are welcome to visit the museums • Organising a preliminary visit and the castles, organise their own activities • Appropriate adult : child ratios and teach groups in the galleries. Such • Potential visit dates visits are welcomed, but please do book in advance to avoid clashes with other groups. • Consider extending your visit by taking a self-led look around the museum/ Please note, you may also wish to book a castle after your workshop castle or dungeon tour at Pontefract Castle. Please contact us for charges. We will need to know: Online resources • The number of pupils in your group There are a number of online • The age/ability of your pupils resources available at: • Any special needs http://museumslearning.blogspot.co.uk/ • Topics you are studying • Your preferred arrival and departure time Lunch Spaces • Any other requirements Please be aware that there are no dedicated lunch spaces in our venues. You may be able Once you have booked, you will be sent the to book a space to eat your packed lunch on following documentation: site, but please enquire in advance. A small • A booking form housekeeping charge may be applied. • Arrival, departure and session times Fact-finding and preliminary visits • Session outline We are always happy to see teachers to talk • Information to help with your Risk through potential visits. Appointments can be Assessment made after school or during school holidays as well as during the school day. Access for visitors with special needs: Complementary events programme When planning your visit, please discuss your needs with our staff who will be In addition to the schools programme, we run happy to help. a range of fun and educational events for families. For more details, please visit www.ExperienceWakefield.co.uk/enews to sign up to our family mailing list. Designed and produced by Wakefield Council, Communi cations 07/19 by Wakefield 217365 Designed and produced