CONKERS is offering KS2 children the opportunity to learn more about Vikings, Romans, Greek, Egyptians and Stone Age through a range of interactive workshops. We are extremely excited to be able to offer a mix of theme days and dates for you to choose from!

Feedback from previous years has told us that many teachers like to prepare their class for an educational visit to CONKERS, because, the children get so much more out of the day if they have touched on the topics in class beforehand. So here is a brief description of the workshops your class will be enjoying in a few weeks’ time when they visit CONKERS.

VIKING DAYS
  • Live like a Viking – Children explore the roles and tasks of the different members of the Viking family and compare this to their own families. They discover what family life was like.
  • Viking Beliefs – Come and listen to a traditional Viking Saga. Children discover why storytelling was a very important part of
  • Viking culture: stories of brave Vikings, and of the many gods and how they are worshipped.
  • A Viking Voyage – Why did the Vikings take to the seas and make such far journeys? Where did they go and how did they know where they were? The children take up the oars and explore life on board.
  • Viking Raiders – Do you have what it takes to be a Viking Raider? Learn about Viking battle tactics, weapons, and what made them really go berserk!
  • Viking Traders – What makes a market a market? And how is money being used? At the market, children explore the different food and goods for sale and re-enact the trading process.
  • Viking Clothing – When Winter is ‘Looming’, make sure you’ve got the skills to create warm and comfortable clothes.
VICTORIAN DAYS
  • Meet Florence Nightingale – Miss Nightingale tells the children of her experiences in the Crimean War. Children will discuss medical practices and situations on the battlefield and learn first-hand why hygiene is so important in Miss Nightingale’s opinion.
  • Victorian Schoolroom – Children experience a Victorian school day. The teacher makes sure the children sit up straight, that boys and girls sit at the correct side of the classroom and that unruly pupils are punished appropriately!
  • Victorian Shopping – Meet the Costermonger. Help them recreate daily life in the market. What foods will you find?
  • Children at Work – How lucky to be able to go to school! Those not so well-off have to go to work to earn money. In this workshop, children will try their hand at some of the jobs children were expected to do from a very young age, such as pure collector or mudlark.
  • Life below Stairs – Meet the scullery maid. Where does he or she fit in in the hierarchy of the house? What are their duties? Children try out some of the jobs in the scullery and experience how much work it is to keep our clothes clean.
  • Victorian Toys – What will you ask Father Christmas for this year? Well, that depends on your station in life. The Toy Maker shows children the different toys and games rich and poor children play with.
ROMAN DAYS
  • Meet a Centurion – join the Legion! The Britons are revolting, and we need new soldiers to defeat them. Find out what it takes to join the most disciplined army in the ancient world.
  • Life under the Romans – meet a slave, and learn about life in a Roman Villa. Also, discover the exotic foods the Romans brought with them.
  • Building a Better Britain – children compare and contrast a number of Roman inventions to do with bathing, road building and central heating and create an aqueduct in competition with each other.
  • Meet Boudicca – children have an audience with Queen Boudicca! She tells the story of her life so far and enlists the children into her army.
  • Roman Mosaics – what villa is complete without mosaics? Learn how to arrange your tesserae, and make beautiful floors, and works of art.
  • Celts & Druids – children meet a British Roman to discover what life was like before the Romans arrived and how it has changed.
STONE AGE DAYS
  • Meet a Tribe Member – when you enter this workshop, sit down, be quiet and wait to see what is happening!
  • Beliefs & Burials – children discuss the beliefs of Stone and Bronze Age peoples and explore their worshipping practices and rituals.
  • From Hunters to Farmers – children compare and contrast the difference in lifestyle between hunter gatherers and early farmers. What do they hunt and gather? And what role does technology play?
  • Weapons – from picking up a rock, to shooting a missile. Learn how our ancestors developed the tools to hunt and survive, in a dangerous world.
  • Trading in Stone Age – a History Explorer takes the children on a journey, following Stone Age peoples on their travels. Where did they go to trade, how did they get there and what were they hoping to trade?
  • Grinding Grain – after gathering grains from the fields, the next step is to grind them into flour. Children grind some grain using both a saddle quern and a rotary quern and compare the two. They take their flour back to class.
GREEK DAYS
  • Home Life Do you have to do chores at home? Which jobs do your parents do? Children examine the roles and tasks of the different members of the Ancient Greek family and compare this to their own families. They discover what family life was like.
  • Greek Law and Order – Learn how the Greeks organised their society and created a justice system. If any of the students have been especially naughty, there may have to be a trial!
  • Theatre with Aristophanes- Children will investigate how the arts and theatre were a very important part of Ancient Greek cultural life. They will learn about famous playwrights and theatrical inventions and may even stage a small play!
  • From Magic to Medicine – Through a discussion of various diseases, injuries and hygiene, children will find out how the Ancient Greeks dealt with someone who was poorly. Food, magic and the gods play a big part.
  • Gods & Heroes – Children delve into the world of gods and heroes. The wrath of the gods must be averted, but one must know how and where to worship them properly.
  • Greek Warriors – What kind of soldier will you be? It depends on your status in society. Children undergo some soldier training (under strict supervision of course!) and experience army life.
EGYPTIAN DAYS
  • Journey to the Afterlife – From mummification to the weighing of your heart – what happens when you die? Meet the embalmer and listen to his secrets. Someone will be embalmed!
  • Entertainment for the Pharaoh – Children play a variety of Ancient Egyptian games and have fun!
  • Magical Medicine – Through a discussion of various diseases, injuries and hygiene, children will find out how the Ancient Egyptians dealt with someone who was poorly. Bitten by a snake? Stung by a scorpion? Find out what to do.
  • Dress like an Egyptian – What do we wear and why would you wear a cone on your head? Children explore how different garments and colours are linked to status. The making of linen is also discussed.
  • Egyptian Life – The children discover what it was like to live like an Egyptian, and how the ancient cities were laid out.
  • Pyramid Building – Find out how the Ancient Egyptians built such massive structures without the aid of modern technology, and why they were so important.
Education Groups