What a spectacular way to start the new term! On Monday 1st June, our Year 3 pupils returned from their half-term holiday and immediately stepped into a time machine. The school corridors were transformed as cave people arrived dressed in animal prints, furs and ancient outfits, all ready for a prehistoric adventure.
Children walked down to Whitehorse Manor, where they were completely transported back to the Stone Age. Upon arrival, the children were greeted by an incredible, immersive tent. Stepping inside felt like entering a different world, complete with the rich smell of a roaring fire crackling right in the middle. The setting was filled with fascinating items to explore, including authentic animal furs, walls covered in detailed cave paintings and even the skull of a woolly mammoth!
We were joined by two expert visitors, Twig and Willow, who taught the children all about the realities of daily life in ancient times. Year 3 got stuck into a variety of incredible hands-on experiences:
- Fire Making: Watching in amazement as Twig and Willow successfully generated fire using only flint and a mushroom (yes, really!).
- Handling Artefacts: Getting up close with history by touching real animal furs and jewellery made from animal bones.
- A Prehistoric Feast: Testing their bravery by tasting delicious fish that had been freshly cooked right over the open fire.
The ancient fun continued when the children were at school as they tried their hand at becoming early artists. Year 3 were challenged to create their very own authentic cave paintings, but their teachers threw in a catch—no modern paints or felt-tips were allowed!
Demonstrating fantastic resourcefulness, the children had to rely entirely on the environment to find their colours. They successfully created stunning prehistoric artwork using only natural materials, mixing and painting with chalk, charcoal, paprika, turmeric and leaves.
We had a truly wonderful day travelling back in time and bringing our history curriculum to life. A huge thank you to Twig, Willow and Whitehorse for making it such a memorable return to school!
