ACTIVITIES
VIRTUAL
Virtual Workshops
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The History Festival is held from September until Autumn half term each year. The 2024 festival programme will b announced in July. Please register so that you receive information in good time.
Amgueddfa Cymru Virtual Workshops
WASHDAY
Virtual Workshop
What was it like to have to wash and dry clothes before we had washing machines and electricity? Come and meet Marged to find out how she washed clothes in the olden days. You’ll see her using the washtub, washboard and the mangle, then have the opportunity to explore further with our facilitator and see some of the objects more closely. I wonder what you will discover about how things have changed and what has remained the same?
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Suitable for ages 5-8
CELTS
Virtual Workshop
What was life in Wales like 2000 years ago? Meet our resident Celt for a virtual tour of Bryn Eryr, our Iron Age roundhouses. Discover why the fire was so important, what food was eaten, and how clothes were made. But how do we know so much about life in the past? Work with our facilitator to find out how to unlock secrets of the past and work together to solve the mysteries of an Iron Age grave.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
VIRTUAL ROMAN BOOTCAMP
Virtual Workshop
Take part in a series of challenges to find out about the life of a Roman Soldier. Learn about the Romans that once lived in Caerleon and discover what skills the Romans looked for in a soldier. You will learn about Roman armour and be tested on your marching skills. You can also ask questions about a Roman soldier's life and some of the interesting objects they left behind.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
Discovering Art
Virtual Workshop
Combining film and live facilitation, this workshop introduces learners to the art galleries with a focus on Welsh Landscape art and artists. Learners will consider how the Welsh landscape has inspired artists. They will analyse some key Welsh landscapes, question evidence and develop vocabulary to describe and respond to artwork. Learners will also have the opportunity think about art technique, style, composition and the use of light and colour.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
ROMAN SCHOOL
Virtual Workshop
Discover how Romans educated their children in this cross curricular role-play session. Looking at language, numeracy and literacy, pupils will find out more about Roman society under the strict guidance of a Roman school teacher.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
CENSUS 1851 : VICTORIA LIFE INVESTIGATION
Virtual Workshop
Follow the footsteps of Mr Rosser around his district of Swansea on the day of the 1851 Census. Meet several people from different backgrounds. Join us for our live workshop to interrogate a wide range of objects associated with the different characters and piece together what life was like in the 19th century for rich and poor, men and women.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
WHEN COAL WAS KING
Virtual Workshop
Dive into the rich coal mining history of south Wales by joining a coal miner as he starts his working day at Big Pit in 1978. Learn more about mining communities, not just during this period, but all the way back to the Industrial Revolution. What impact did mining have on the environment? What was life like for a child worker of the Victorian period? How did changes in technology improve the lives of miners and their wives?’
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Suitable for ages 8-16
FEASTS AND SLAVERY IN ROMAN TIMES
Virtual Workshop
Wealthy Romans are famous for their parties! Discover the weird and wonderful food they ate such as peacocks' brains to stuffed dormice. Find out about the lives of the slaves behind the rich Roman lifestyles. There will be opportunity to virtually study the collections at the National Roman Legion Museum which relate to this subject.
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Suitable for ages 8-11
WELSH PIRATES: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TALES
Virtual Workshop
Join us to find out what being a pirate was really like. In this myth busting session your class will get the opportunity to find out about notorious Welsh pirates including Barti Ddu and Howell Davies. Find out how they became pirates, what they wore, what they ate, how they fought and what treasure they had!
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Think you know everything about a pirate's life? Come and put your pirate knowledge to the test and join our swashbuckling virtual workshop.
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Suitable for ages 5-11
The National Library of Wales Virtual Workshops
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TRYWERYN
Virtual Workshop
To tell the story of the drowning of the Tryweryn Valley during the 1960s through the various collections of the National Library of Wales. The story will be presented from the perspective of the villagers of Capel Celyn as well as children from the slum areas of Liverpool city. The focus of the workshop will be audio-visual archive material, including a 1965 film that documented the events as they took place, and a television interview with Martha Roberts, Headteacher of Capel Celyn School. The 60 minute workshop will be delivered online via Teams, and will include the use of maps, photographs, archives and newspapers from the period.
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Workshop adaptations for all ages, from CA2 to Sixth Form
KYFFIN
Virtual Workshop
An introduction to the work and life of Anglesey artist Kyffin Williams and his love of the uplands and coasts of North Wales. The 1-hour workshop will look at his career and distinctive style, referring to how he dealt with health problems as a young man. The session will include audio-visual material of the artist discussing his art, with films of him painting on the mountains of Snowdonia as well as his workshops in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll and London. To accompany the workshop a supply of bilingual color booklets on Kyffin Williams will be sent to all participating schools.
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Adaptations suitable from KS2 to Sixth Form