Great Fire of London Day

Off the Page School Workshop

We can visit your school in: East Midlands, London & South East, East of England

Why book 'Great Fire of London Day' with Off the Page

Our Key Stage 1 workshop encompasses a full day and uses drama to recreate 1666 London in your school hall. We ask the children to imagine themselves as London tradespeople. We pair that roleplay with practical crafts the children can try for themselves, including leatherworking, sewing, weaving and more.

As the children work, they are drip-fed information about the fire and the issues surrounding it. They hear about rumours of who may have started it, Samuel Pepys’ observations of it, and King Charles II’s efforts to put it out.

In the afternoon, the children are left to sift through the ashes (archaeological dig boxes) to determine what was lost.

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments

What activities are available during this educational workshop?

During the morning of our Great Fire of London Day, we provide free-flow activities that the children explore at their own pace. The workstations represent trades found in London in 1666 and could include:

• The barber surgeon
• The apothecary
• Leatherworkers
• Chandlers
• Ink maker (writing with quills)
• Perfumer
• A baker (not THAT one)
• Metalworkers
• A seamstress
• Weavers

The afternoon uses archaeology to determine what remained of London after the fire.

Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?

Curriculum topics available: The Great Fire of London.

During our Great Fire of London workshop children will learn about King Charles II, who returned to power just six years before the fire struck. They will hear how the king actively tried to stop the fire’s progress, ordering houses torn down and fire breaks created.

Our Great Fire of London workshop allows Key Stage 1 children to explore the “ashes” of the fire (archaeological dig boxes). After experiencing the “fire” in the morning, the children will use archaeological techniques to investigate the dig boxes and record their findings.

During our Great Fire of London workshop children will learn about significant people such as the diarist Samuel Pepys and King Charles II. They will also gain an understanding of the cause of the fire, its rapid spread, destruction of London and the rebuilding of the City.

What size groups do you cater for?

We can work with three classes (up to 90 children) at one time, provided the school hall is large enough.

Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

Please talk to us about your Special Educational Needs so we can accommodate your children’s requirements.

Who are Off the Page?

Off the Page presents history the way you wish you had learned it as a child. Our experienced teachers immerse your children in a topic to create an unforgettable learning experience. Our school workshops are no mere presentations with a bit of artefact handling – we build an atmosphere using authentic materials, allowing children to live the history through drama, roleplay and hands-on activities. The result is an understanding and enthusiasm for a topic that is difficult to create with books alone.