Reception: Abbey House Museum

One of the first History learning challenges that children at Farsley Springbank undertake is all about the history of toys! A trip to the Abbey House Museum gives the children an opportunity to engage with toys from the Victorian era and compare them with the ones they play with today!

Year 1: Grandparent Showcase

Building on from their learning in Reception about themselves and toys through the years, the first history learning challenge that the children in Year 1 undertake is all about what life was like when their grandparents were young, focussing specifically on life in the 1960s. As part of this learning, the children's grandparents are invited in to school to talk about their memories from this time and show any photographs/artefacts they may have!

Year 1: Great Fire of London Workshop

As part of their learning on the Great Fire of London, the children take part in a workshop to help them better understand how the fire was able to spread so quickly! The children are given the opportunity to create their own houses before the workshop team set them on fire as part of their demonstration.

Year 2: Florence Nightingale Workshop

In Year 2, the children undertake a history unit which compares the lives of three female nurses: Nellie Spindler, Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale. This workshop enables the children to role play working in a hospital in the Crimean War, all the children take on a role whether it is cleaning, nursing or chasing away the rats! Great fun is had by all of the children and it is a workshop that is remembered through the years!

Year 3: Nell Bank (Prehistoric Britain)

At Nell Bank, the children are taking on a journey from the present day to the early ages of human history as part of their learning on Prehistoric Britain! Throughout the day the children take part in various activities such as building shelters from sticks and animal skins, lighting a small fire using flint and steel, weaving baskets and creating cave paintings! 

Year 3: Ancient Egyptian Workshop

In Year 3, the children are introduced properly for the first time to the Ancient Civilisations, partaking in a learning challenge all about the Ancient Egyptians. To launch their learning, the children take part in an interactive workshop where they investigate some historical sources to help them better understand life in Ancient Egypt and play some games that they would have played back then!

Year 4: Murton Park

In Year 4, the children learn all about the Roman invasion of Britain. As part of this unit, the children look at the impact of the Romans on our local area and take a trip to Murton Park in York to find out more about it. Whilst at Murton Park, the children are taken back in time and transformed into Roman soldiers! 

Year 4: Ancient Greek Day

In Year 4, the children are introduced to the wonderful world of Ancient Greece through an immersive workshop with archaeologist Catherine Conyard. On the day, Catherine transforms into Katerina, an Ancient Greek lady who teaches the children all about the history of this interesting civilisation through the use of historical artefacts!

Year 5: Murton Park (Vikings)

At Murton Park, Year 5 take a trip back in time and become Viking settlers for the day! The Viking settlers spend the day working in their Viking village, learning more about what Vikings ate, the role of pottery in daily life and how to defend the village from attackers!

Year 5: Anglo-Saxon Workshop

At the end of Year 5, the children undertake their history unit on the impact of the Anglo-Saxons on Britain. To launch their topic, the children complete a workshop with archaeologist Catherine Conyard who recreates the history from this time through the use of historical artefacts, games from the time and recreating different crafts that the Anglo-Saxons would have done!

Year 6: Eden Camp

As part of their learning on World War Two, in Year 6 the children take a trip to Eden Camp to experience the sights, sounds and smells of life on the home front and the front line during this time in history!

Year 6: Ripon Prison

As part of their learning during their 'Crime and Punishment' unit, Year 6 take a trip to Ripon Prison Museum. Whilst there the children take part in a mock trial at the courthouse about the theft of a horse and cart and complete a role play activity about the Sinkler brothers to learn more about early policing.