Knights & Castles Experience Day Workshop
Classroom Adventures
My Lord, someone approaches the castle!The landscape of Britain is littered with ghosts of the past and none are more striking than that of Castles, relics of a time we now call the Middle-Ages.
This is a time in our history that grips our imaginations of days when daring knights set out on gallant quests, of fierce battles and amazing feats of engineering.
In our immersive Knights and Castles experience day your pupils will be guided through the day by Sir Walter de Vere, a knight of England. Walter certainly knows how to swing his sword around and is always looking for budding new squires to join his retinue.
The day starts in 1066, a year that changes the course of the history of England forever. Pupils will meet some of the major players, as the future of the Saxon way of life hangs in the balance.
Culminating in the battle of battles, the Battle of Hastings, children will get to see the weapons and armour that was used by both sides as the Saxons fought for survival.
As we enter into the High Middle-Ages children discover how a boy might become a knight and some of the things that will become very important to him such as a "Coat of Arms".
The day culminates in our castle building activity. Piece by piece the children learn how a castle works by building one themselves. Obviously, as we all know, the best bit of building anything is knocking it down, and so pupils will get to see (and operate) our trebuchet.
Will the castle walls hold? Or will the children be able to batter their enemies into submission?
We look forward to finding out in our Knights and Castles experience day.
Where we travel to
We can visit your school in: East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West
What activities are available during this school workshop?
In our immersive Knights and Castles experience day pupils will get to participate in a wide range of activities to help them engage with this topic, including:
- Meet a knight
- Roleplay key moments in history to make them accessible
- See (and sometimes handle) weapons and armour from the Middle-Ages
- Build a castle
- Learn to use a sword
- See a trebuchet in action
- Explore heraldry
Plus, much more...
- Meet a knight
- Roleplay key moments in history to make them accessible
- See (and sometimes handle) weapons and armour from the Middle-Ages
- Build a castle
- Learn to use a sword
- See a trebuchet in action
- Explore heraldry
Plus, much more...
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Medieval Workshop Click to expand
Norman Conquest Battle of Hastings
In our Knights and Castles experience day, pupils step into the Battle of Hastings and discover how this pivotal battle shaped England's future, changing the course of history forever. When the world of the Saxons gives way to that of the Normans.
The explore what it means to be a Knight and how you might become one, learning how to swing a sword as they go and other very important things such as, how did they tell each other apart, chivalry/valour etc.
They will explore the weapons and armour that were used, and some will discover just how heavy a maile shirt is!
Then they will learn what makes a castle a castle and how they work, building one as they go before unleashing the trebuchet and discovering siege tactics.
Monarchs Workshop Click to expand
In our Knights and Castles experience day children will meet some of the characters that vied for the English throne in that tumultuous year of 1066.
Spoiler alert, William (or Guillueme de Normandie) wins and becomes William I, the first Monarch in our timeline of kings and queens (the regnal numbers start with the Normans).
Kings and queens need to consolidate and hold onto their power, and so alliances and the building of strongholds (castles) is fundamental to the longevity of each dynasty. Children will discover how castles work whilst building one themselves before exploring siege tactics and unleashing the trebuchet!
What size groups do we cater for?
Our Knights and Castles Experience Day is aimed at mainstream schools from 1 - 4 form entry (30 - 120 children).
We can cater to pretty much any size group. We just need a clear hall with enough space for all of the children, us and our equipment, and enough room to move around with the activities.
We can cater to pretty much any size group. We just need a clear hall with enough space for all of the children, us and our equipment, and enough room to move around with the activities.
Access for visitors with disabilities
Our days are aimed to be fun and engaging for all.
Our only requirement is that you/your organisation provide the relevant staffing and equipment needed to facilitate any individual's participation.
Our only requirement is that you/your organisation provide the relevant staffing and equipment needed to facilitate any individual's participation.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Our days are aimed to be fun and engaging for all.
Our only requirement is that you/your organisation provide the relevant staffing and equipment needed to facilitate any individual's participation.
You must also be aware that we will be bringing various props and equipment with us that are integral to the content of the day. Many of these can cause injury if used incorrectly. Therefore, safety and safeguarding is of upmost concern and we may not be able to deliver a day if behaviour is dangerous or staffing levels are insufficient.
Anything else?
In order to deliver our exciting Stone Age Experience Day, we simply require the following:
- secure onsite parking (either in a car park or on a playground)
- a clear hall with two trestle tables
- sufficient staffing to be with the children for the duration of the day
- secure onsite parking (either in a car park or on a playground)
- a clear hall with two trestle tables
- sufficient staffing to be with the children for the duration of the day
Who are Classroom Adventures?
Classroom Adventures has been providing educational experiences and events since 2016. Its members have varied backgrounds and interests including: organ building, biomedical science, furniture making, vaccine development, historical re-enactment, Morris dancing and more...
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