To continue our History topic of Anglo-Saxons, Year 5 took a trip to Jarrow Hall!
After arriving, Year 5 were split into two groups. The first group was taken around the functioning farm at Jarrow Hall and looked at animals that would have been used on an Anglo-Saxon farm. Despite the cold, the children enjoyed looking at a range of animals from pigs, bulls, geese, sheep, goats and ponies. The children spoke with our visit leaders and discussed what the animals would have been used for during Anglo-Saxon times. In an effort to warm up, the children gathered in a reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon house to hear a retelling of the story of Beowulf round a firepit. The children enjoyed completing the actions when acting out the story.
The second group enjoyed staying indoors listening to what would have happened if you were convicted of a crime in Anglo-Saxon times and recreated a village moot. The children learnt about punishments in Anglo-Saxon times, which included selling body parts for money to cover your crime! To finish off the session, the children were shown weaponry which would have been used by Anglo-Saxons, including spears, shields, swords and armour. After having a hold of these pieces of equipment, the children recreated a battle using pillow swords and shields. This was a lot of fun!
After lunch, the groups swapped over and both groups thoroughly enjoyed their visit.
