History
2023-2024
Roman Day
We had the wonderful 'History Into School' company join us for an immersive experience. We had
a 1st century Legionnaire join us to tell us the story of the Roman invasion of Britannia. We also explored how the Romans lived – bathing, toilets, law and order, slaves etc. We covered life in the Roman army with a hands-on look at the armour, weapons and kit used. We can explore how and why the Roman army was so successful, and how discipline was maintained.
Our activities included:-
• Exploring real Roman artefacts including coins, brooches, glassware and pottery shards
• Playing simple Roman board games.
• Exploring what the Romans brought to Britain.
• Discovering Roman army training tactics and battle charge.
• Creating shield wall patterns to protect ourselves.
• Practicing Pila (Roman javelin) throwing.
We ended our day with a lively Gladiator contest (using foam swords) with children taking various roles including the Emperor, Pretorian Guard, Gladiators, cleaners and the crowd.
2022 - 2023
A day on the West Somerset Railway
Class 3 went to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway. Some of the children dressed as evacuees and we discussed what this would have been like for children during World War Two. We took our new Cheddon teddy with us. We enjoyed our chips, ice cream and playing on the beach.
Anderson Shelters
Class 3 are designing and making Anderson shelters. They have begun to cut and join pieces together as well as plan where they want different things in their garden. I can wit to see the finished pieces.
Somerset in Wartime
Class 3 started their World War two evacuee topic this term with a visit from the Somerset Heritage Trust. They learnt about rationing, what happened as an evacuee and experience life as the Home Guard, putting out a bomb with a stirrup pump. Luckily it was not real! The children also had the opportunity to experience the phonetic alphabet from wartime and use it as a code for their names. We listened to the air raid siren and practiced hiding under the tables. The class were most disappointed that the rations did not include chocolate. We will be learning about life as an evacuee throughout this term; if you have any stories from your own families we would love to hear them.
Victorian school workshop
Rural life Museum
Trip to the Rural life museum- We learnt all about Victorian houses and homes. We had a go at making drop scones and began to make a Victorian rug using a traditional technique.
2021 - 2022
Our day at Somerset Museum learning about the Romans.
22nd September 2021
At the Somerset Museum Class 3 explored primary sources and artefacts to help them learn about how the Romans came to Britain. They all had the opportunity to dress like a Roman soldier and discussed why the shield was slightly curved, as well as having a chance to explore the whole museum afterwards.
Stone Age Tools
On Thursday 10th March, we made the most of the dry weather and combined our history topic based around the Stone Age with some forest school activities. We went out onto the school field to find suitable sticks and stones to create a Stone Age axe or spear. We discussed why we needed to use elastic bands and that in prehistoric times they would have used grass, vines or string made from animal skin.
Stone Age Day
07.03.22
On Thursday 7th April 2022, we had some very special visitors at Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School. We learnt how to make a fire using natural resources like silver birch bark, built a cone shaped teepee like the Stone Age people would in the Mesolithic period, created our own Stone Age paintings with paint made of ash and clay and finally, we learnt how Stone Age people used stones to grind down oats to make their own bread. We were also given a special treat around the fire at the end of the day- Stone Age bread! We added some honey to make it sweet.
