To be or not to be a Roman - You decide Workshop
Horrid Historia
School Workshop London & South East Hampshire
Why do I love teaching about the Romans? There is something truly romantic and, dare I say it, a little bit mysterious about the Romans, even today. Their buildings survive, some even thrive. Remaining the same and yet, today, starkly different all at the same time. Crowds still flow into the colosseum, they still marvel at the design of cities and the feats of engineering that endure, intrigue and in some cases still baffle us to this day. Secrets buried in history along with their creators. We can marvel at their military might and comprehend why being on the winning side is so appealing - just ask any sports fan today. But was life really any better for a citizen of Rome to that of a free person elsewhere? In these workshops we explore all the obvious, the military and the might, but we also delve into the other side of life for Romans. Their superstitious beliefs, their customs, their many gods and goddesses, and of course the cultural differences and ask were these as truly unique or innovative as they had us believe? We look at life as an everyday citizen and measure it against that of a local and let your pupils decide - To be or not to be...A Roman. Our passion is all about hands-on enquiry-led learning. We don't operate on a script or come to you with a show. We design our workshops to fit your pupils needs and interests. We empower them to take their learning on a journey that inspires them to want to know more. We focus on the skills rather than the end goal using artefacts that are either real or hand-made replicas for the period. But we don't stop there. History isn't about full-stops. It's a maze of comma, ellipsis, exclamation mark and questions. It is about life. What came before and after; the links that forge and unite our history and our lives today. This is where we excel. You want a workshop on Iron Age weapons and armour then we bring this to life for you but we also explore what came before and what comes next. The evolution of the concept - the differences and similarities, what changes and what stays the same and why it happened - cause and effect.
"For we are the spark that ignites their passion."
We also cover - Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Saxons and Vikings and many more - details on our website. So if you are looking for a stand alone or multi-period experience that is bespoke to you, then the Horrid Historia team are your crew..
Teacher Checklist
Bursaries or Funded Places Available
Where we travel to
We can visit your school in:
What activities are available during this school workshop?
We start every workshop with an interactive experience for your pupils that not only sets the scene but also allows them the opportunity to get to grips with many of our artefacts.
The rest of the day is up to you to decide safe in the knowledge that whatever you choose we will adapt the delivery and content to fit your narrative or enquiry-led trail. At present we have a staggering 17 specific Roman workshops for you to choose from and all of these can be combined or adjusted in order for us to deliver the living history experience your pupils deserve. All of the details are on our website but here is a flavour of some of them.
Roman Cooking - yes you will need a kitchen but I truly love this workshop. Why? Seeing young people working together, producing something and then watching their faces light up when they taste it. I can see Roman children being exactly the same and that is inspiring.
Ceromancy - Another unique offering that the children love. Full of laughter, astonishment and awe. If you really want your pupils to understand what life was like for a Roman citizen then this is the workshop that I recommend.
Armour and weapons - Always a favourite amongst the children but equally you don't have to book it as one of your four as we always bring some of it with us regardless. However if you do your pupils will get the opportunity to throw some javelins (you do need an outdoor area), get their hands on some weapons and watch a weapons demo live.
The rest of the day is up to you to decide safe in the knowledge that whatever you choose we will adapt the delivery and content to fit your narrative or enquiry-led trail. At present we have a staggering 17 specific Roman workshops for you to choose from and all of these can be combined or adjusted in order for us to deliver the living history experience your pupils deserve. All of the details are on our website but here is a flavour of some of them.
Roman Cooking - yes you will need a kitchen but I truly love this workshop. Why? Seeing young people working together, producing something and then watching their faces light up when they taste it. I can see Roman children being exactly the same and that is inspiring.
Ceromancy - Another unique offering that the children love. Full of laughter, astonishment and awe. If you really want your pupils to understand what life was like for a Roman citizen then this is the workshop that I recommend.
Armour and weapons - Always a favourite amongst the children but equally you don't have to book it as one of your four as we always bring some of it with us regardless. However if you do your pupils will get the opportunity to throw some javelins (you do need an outdoor area), get their hands on some weapons and watch a weapons demo live.
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Archaeology Workshop
Click to read full text Archaeology provides a window through time from which we can use artefacts to recreate the narratives of that time period through the thoughts and ideas of your pupils. Here they will learn chronology and how different methods are used to date artefacts. They will learn how evidence is acquired, correlated and disseminated. They will discover how to form questions and how to use artefacts to form a narrative based on form, function and use. They will explore similarities/differences; cause and consequence and why things might change or stay the same. Whilst also exploring what we don't know and what archaeology alone cannot help us understand.
Art Workshop
Drawing Painting History of Art
Click to read full text Art is the expression of what the world means to us as individuals, communities and cultures. It is our story and an echo of our souls which resonates for ever onwards throughout history. So within our workshops your pupils will get to express their unique artistic flair using a variety of mediums ranging from sculpture, carving, sketching, and paints. They will learn about the history of art and the use of different mediums, binders and pigments. How to use colour for effect and what to do when your colour choices are limited. They will discover the secrets of fresco painting and the use of tempura and gesso and what colour actually meant to our ancestors as a spiritual and cultural guide.
Citizenship Workshop
British Values National regional religious and ethnic identities Democracy Monarchy Team building Laws and the justice system
Click to read full text From the dawn of time we have been learning the key concepts of citizenship. From what we perceive as being the lawless uncultured past of our Neanderthal cousins we are beginning to discover a different narrative. Where rules become laws and where justice prevailed. But that is also a question in itself - where does justice sit inside a sphere of subjective processing. What happens when two cultures collide and each have different laws and identities? Who is right? Is the written word the measure of a cultures worth and if so why? What of the author? Have we measured their morality? Is there an agenda? Was their perspective skewed? History is a great place to explore all of this. Monarchy vs Democracy - we think this is a new concept. What about the Viking history or the Saxon kings and queens versus monastic life where elections selected leadership. What of international relations where trade was intrinsically linked to power and alliance. In a world full of different languages and cultures how did our ancestors not only manage but thrive before modern technology broke down many of these barriers? Our workshops use these principles to engage with your pupils and get them thinking and asking question themselves using historical principles as the guide for shaping modern day practices.
Romans Workshop
The Roman Conquest and Hadrians Wall Romanisation and ways of life Roman Buildings The Roman Army Boudicca Rebellion Our Roman Legacy
Click to read full text The reality with regards to teaching the Romans is that like their Empire at its height; the subject is vast. So in putting together our workshop menu I have tried to focus on what makes them unique and as such the impact they had on the tribes in Britain when they arrived. So through our workshops we can cover in as much depth as you require the concepts of Romanisation, the Roman Army, invasion, conquest, and the Rise and Fall of the Empire. We will discuss Caesar, the campaigns and Britannica. We will delve into coinage, their spiritual side, give offerings to the gods, seek out auspices as well as looking at what life was like for their legionnaires in places like Hadrian's Wall. Or you could choose to explore their art within the world of fresco or mosaics or sculptures. .
What size groups do we cater for?
We are very adaptable and can usually facilitate workshops for most cohort sizes. Our standard package is one class per workshop leader but this can be adjusted to suit your needs and especially so with smaller / larger schools.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
We can adapt any workshop and its delivery to suit the needs of any of your pupils. We have a vast range of alternative or substitute resources at our disposal which can be used as an adaption for any workshop that we run. But more importantly all of our workshops are uniquely designed to ensure that all pupils/ clients can access the learning and join in with their friends / peers. We appreciate that some may need additional support to do so and where this is required we will work closely with the school to ensure that we come up with a solution that works best for them. Our two workshop leaders have over 30 years of experience between them working very closely with SEN, home education and small groups, as well as with young people in mainstream education that require adaptations or specialist support. Our ethos is inclusivity: we believe that enriching education experiences should be available for all young people.
I could mention here specific instances where we have adapted our delivery however I prefer instead to abide by our humanistic, holistic approach to education rather than focussing on what is in reality a label. In other words you know your pupils very well so please get in touch and we will instead work together to deliver something unique and special for YOUR pupils. I personally spent 7 years planning, creating and delivering bespoke 1:1 and small group sessions for pupils with additional and specific needs. So with your input and expertise in your young people, we can bring their curriculum to life.
Anything else?
As a company we pride ourselves on our sustainable approach towards delivering these workshops. So just as our ancestors will have done, we work within windows of opportunity. This does mean that as the seasons progress some of the resources we use may change to suit the season or may have been stored from an earlier window of opportunity. These will in no way affect the quality of the workshops we deliver; indeed we believe this approach enhances the authentic experience for your pupils. However some of the resources may not be as vibrant or available out of season.
For some of our activities we will need space - some of that outdoors and others an indoor alternative if it is really wet ie cave painting. We will always endeavour to go outdoors for workshops that require this regardless of the weather but will ensure that this always remains safe and enjoyable for your pupils.
For some of our activities we will need space - some of that outdoors and others an indoor alternative if it is really wet ie cave painting. We will always endeavour to go outdoors for workshops that require this regardless of the weather but will ensure that this always remains safe and enjoyable for your pupils.
Who are Horrid Historia?
It is easy for me to sit here and write that I love teaching and that I love history but the words alone will mean very little to the reader. So instead, here is a little flavour of what I have done in my life. I fell in love with history, not at school, but on a ghost walk in Edinburgh. The company marketed it as such, but the reality was it was all about the lives of the people in the city and the hidden erstwhile, unspoken, undertone of murky deeds that occurred there during the ages. Of an underground city hidden for centuries and only recently re-discovered. Here was history brought to life and it was captivating and I was smitten.
Sean - this is my baby and it has taken years to come about. Decades of living as a re-enactor bringing history to life in castles all around the U.K. Living and learning the skills of our ancestors. I create most of the artefacts used in our workshops myself using period techniques and tools and just love researching and learning from trial and error to recreate something I have seen in a museum or have read about. As an educator, I have specialised in 1:1 intervention and SEN programmes. I have managed an outdoor heritage education site and won awards for my enquiry-led approach to teaching. I know how important and life changing enriching education experiences can be for young people and this is the drive behind this company. To make sure that these experiences are available and affordable for all schools and pupils. I am a parent, a husband, a grandfather. I coach swimming and martial arts. I am a published author and have played King John in a TV programme and have starred, as a prop, in a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Adrian - a very good friend and a man whose passion for teaching and getting young people enthused about learning really knows no bounds. His speciality lies in Roman and Saxon history which he lives and breathes nearly every day. However, like me, he just loves history and the way he can bring it to life for young people is truly mesmerising. To sit and listen to his stories, which he loves telling, transports you back in time to an age where this was the most exciting and exhilarating time of the day for our ancestors and I guarantee that he will have your young people spell bound.
Whilst our prices are fixed per full day and half day visits and are very affordable (average cost based on class of 30 is less than £2 per pupil for a full day) we appreciate that if you are a smaller or specialist school, or a Home Ed group with your own accessible land, that this price structure doesn't work as well for you. So please do get in touch and as the saying goes - 'where there is the will; there is a way.' We can work together to find a solution.
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