Lower Primary Programme
Teachers of lower primary pupils will find much in the Folk Park to help develop an awareness of the past and to introduce the concept of evidence, especially artefacts and oral evidence. The following programmes have been specially designed for the younger child and provide a useful base for comparisons with life today.
At home
Based in an Old World house, the children can use the five senses to find out about life in a thatched cottage. They can smell the peat fire, listen to the clock tick, taste food cooked on the open-hearth fire and handle the objects that interest them. Eating, sleeping, washing, dressing, playing and feeding the hens are all covered in this study, which lasts for 1 hour (age 4-5).
Yesterday's Children
Accompany James and Sarah, two 19th century children as we look at a week in their lives. See their home and sample their food, visit their grandmother who is hard at work spinning and knitting, and help Aunt Mary on washday. They meet the blacksmith and the farmer and go to school and church (age 5-8).
Going to town
What was it like to go shopping in the 19th century? Pupils visit the chemist, the saddler, the printer, the post office and the general store. They also have an opportunity to participate in street games of the period (age 6-8).
At School & Play
Bring your class to the Folk Park and have them experience a day in a 19th century school. Our 19th century schoolteachers instruct pupils in such activities as learning by rote, toeing the line, writing with slate pencils and playing traditional children's games (age 7-8).
Maths Across the Ocean
Specially written for this year group and based in street and ship area (age 7-8).