Form 4 visited Wandlebury Country Park, a 110 acre estate in the Gog Magog hills, just south of Cambridge for a whole day’s activities learning about the life of the inhabitants of the Iron Age. The trip provided an insightful peak into the topic of Prehistoric Britain and the day was full of a selection of hands-on learning activities as well as providing the children with opportunities to discuss and reflect on Celtic life. They children learned about Iron Age hill forts, tribal kingdoms, farming, art and culture.
The children threshed and winnowed ears of grain and ground it in quern stones before cooking the bread over an open fire. The simple bread recipe was made using flour, water and dried milk powder and many of the children ate the fruits of their labour and were keen to replicate the recipe once they returned home.
Form 4 had the opportunity of exploring the complete circular ditch which surrounds the fort at Wandlebury, and examined the archaeological finds which frequented this area. Many children were surprised by the extent of the fort and the way in which the site, being the second highest point in Cambridge, allowed them to stay as safe as possible. They learned about roundhouses and that the Celts lived in these to accommodate a large number of people and possessions. Often many members of the same family lived within one house. Animals slept in these roundhouses at night so that farmers could keep them safe.
The children enhanced their understanding further of how people lived in the past by attempting to create a mini wattle fence using hazel or willow strips. Head of Geography, Miss Anne-Marie Grant, explained, "It was clear that we have some budding engineers in the school. The pupils finished the afternoon with a lesson in how the Iron Age people defended the fort whilst under attack."
