School Visits - After School Clubs
The activiites for After School Clubs are less formal and more fun than the classroom activities - but still pack an eductional punch.
When attending "in-character" as a person from history, Rupert will dress and behave as a person of the date and social position would do. Rupert does his presentation, answers questions and behaves entirely as if he is a person transported to your school from the past. In addition to the set presentations below, I can give informal but educational talks on a wide variety of historical topics - just ask.
Funsheets
For pre-school and primary age pupils the visits include a Funsheet for each pupil. These are carefully crafted to suit the age of the pupils and include activities such as: colouring, jokes, spot the difference, mazes, puzzles etc, most with an educational content.
Detailed notes on individual presentations
Toys from the Past Presentation
Age Level: Nursery, Reception, Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
Duration: 20 mins to 40 mins.
Artifacts for children to handle: 1940s clockwork train
1950s pull-along dog
1960s teddy bear
1970s doll
Toys Funsheets (A4 sheets including pen & paper games with educational input)
The presentation explains to pupils the concept of time passing and the fact that things change over time, new inventions are made and ideas change.
The presentation will place toysin chronological order and will use common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. By dealing with toys from the time of parents or grandparents of the pupils the presentation will highlight changes in the way of life of their family or others around them
Please note: The Funsheets are usually distributed at the end for the pupils to complete in their own time. However, they can be structured into the presentation to increase its length by a further 10 minutes.
To book this presentation, please contact Rupert Matthews as above, or complete the Booking Form provided.
"Bringing the Past to Life"
Romans in your County Presentation
Level: Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
Duration: 30 to 45 mins.
Artifacts for children to handle: Roman pottery
Roman coins
Map of Roman sites in county
Roman Funsheets (A4 sheets including pen & paper games with educational input)
Your schools is visited by Gaius Rupio, a freedman living in your area in ad100. Gaius is the son of a couple enslaved for their role in the Boudicca uprising. He was well-educated by his master, Marcus Aemilius Donatus, a Roman citizen and merchant who has settled in Britain. Gaius is visiting your school to explain to your pupils the benefits of Roman civilisation to local tribesmen, such as your pupils. He is looking for children who may want to become educated like him.
The presentation takes the pupils through the development of your area from the Roman conquest to ad100, the period when the most dramatic changes to everyday life occurred. There are plenty of opportunities for pupils to ask questions, to think through what happened and why, as well as lots of interactive activity and information targetted to the area.
The pupils will be given the chance to learn about the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children in the Roman period as well as the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of Britain at the time. The inclusion of local information will show how the locality was affected by the significant national and local events if this time period.
Please note: The Funsheets are usually distributed at the end for the pupils to complete in their own time. However, they can be structured into the presentation to increase its length by a further 15 minutes.
To book this presentation, please contact Rupert Matthews as above, or complete the Booking Form provided.
"Bringing the Past to Life"
Medieval Life Presentation
Level: Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
Duration: 30 to 45 mins.
Artifacts for children to handle: Medieval coins
Medieval armour (reproduction)
Medieval costumes (reproduction)
Medieval Funsheets (A4 sheets including pen & paper games with educational input)
It is 1352 and your school is being visited by Master Rupert, a squire in the service of the Earl of Northampton. Master Rupert has come to try to recruit both boys and girls to serve as apprentices in Calais, a city in France newly capture in the early years of the Hundred Years War. He will explain how the war is going and the need for new English citizens in Calais. He has fought at Crecy and is an experienced war campaigner. The recent horrors of the Black Death have caused labour shortages in Calais and other cities and to rural unrest.
The presentation explains the sort of place England is in the mid-14th century, how society is structured and how people earn a living. There are plenty of opportunities for pupils to ask questions, to think through what happened and why, as well as lots of interactive activity and information targetted to the area.
The pupils will be given the chance to learn about the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children in the medieval period as well as the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of Britain at the time. The inclusion of local information will show how the locality was affected by the significant national and local events if this time period.
Please note: The Funsheets are usually distributed at the end for the pupils to complete in their own time. However, they can be structured into the presentation to increase its length by a further 15 minutes.
To book this presentation, please contact Rupert Matthews as above, or complete the Booking Form provided.
"Bringing the Past to Life"
Victorian Schooldays Presentation
Level: Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
Duration: 30 to 45 mins.
Artifacts for children to handle: Slate and Chalk
Victorian Coins
Gold pocket watch
Victorian Funsheets (A4 sheets including pen & paper games with educational input)
It is 1857 and your school is being visited by The Hon. Rupert Matthews esquire. Mr Matthews is the personal envoy of the local Bishop who is visiting your school to check up on educational standards and to advise your pupils on their choice of career when they leave school at the age of eight or ten years of age.
The presentation explains the type of place England was in the 1850s, how Victorian Schooldays were different from those of today, what children could expect to do when they left school and how society was structured. As a visitor of 1857 Mr Matthews naturally expects places to be as they were then and is constantly surprised at what he finds. There are plenty of opportunities for pupils to ask questions, to think through what happened and why, as well as lots of interactive activity and information targetted to the area.
The pupils will be given the chance to learn about the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children in the Victorian period as well as the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of Britain at the time. The inclusion of local information will show how the locality was affected by the significant national and local events if this time period.
Please note: The Funsheets are usually distributed at the end for the pupils to complete in their own time. However, they can be structured into the presentation to increase its length by a further 15 minutes.
To book this presentation, please contact Rupert Matthews as above, or complete the Booking Form provided.
"Bringing the Past to Life"
World War 2 at Your School Presentation
Level: Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
Duration: 30 to 45 mins.
Artifacts for children to handle: RAF cap
RAF Flying boots
ARP Helmet &?Whistle
Gas mask
1940s coins
It is July 1940 and your school is being visited by Corporal Matthews, RAF, who will give your pupils a briefing on how the war will affect them. Corporal Matthews is an air gunner in bomber squadron who was wounded in the recent fighting in France and has been given civilian liaison duties until he can return to his squadron.
Among the subjects to be covered will be: Blackout regulations; Rationing - food and clothing; Air Raids; Dispersal and Evacuation; Invasion Alert signals - what they are and what to do.
The presentation explains the type of place England was in the 1940s, how wartime Britain was different from today, what roles children could expect to play in the war effort and how their lives would be affected by the war. There are plenty of opportunities for pupils to ask questions, to think through what happened and why, as well as lots of interactive activity targetted to the area. If access can be gained to a hall or playground the presentation can be extended to include Home Guard Drill for one to two hours, culminating in a competitive exercise between two "platoons".
The pupils will be given the chance to learn about the ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children in the war period as well as the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of Britain at the time. The inclusion of local information will show how the locality was affected by the significant national and local events of this time period.
To book this presentation, please contact Rupert Matthews as above, or complete the Booking Form provided.
"Bringing the Past to Life"