Wakefield Museums and Castles

Ancient Greek pottery

Discover how pottery can help us understand what life was like in the past. Handle and examine real artefacts from Ancient Greek times!

Pupils will work in small groups to identify different types of Ancient Greek pots. They will be challenged to create detailed records for the artefacts including written descriptions, artefact sketches and accurate measurements.

Workshop includes:

• Handling real Ancient Greek artefacts
• Co-operative learning and group work
• Making observations, drawing conclusions and recording information

Venue: In school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ancient Egyptian artefacts

Pupils will learn about three people from the past, and why we have a small collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts at Wakefield Museum today.

They will examine some of those artefacts for themselves. They will discover how the study of such objects can help us to understand what life and death was like in Ancient Egyptian times.

Pupils will also learn about some of the gods and goddesses that the Ancient Egyptians believed in. They will then design Egyptian-style gods and goddesses of their own.

Optional: A short discussion about repatriation (returning museum objects from other parts of the world to their countries of origin) can be incorporated into this workshop. Please ask at the time of booking if you would like the workshop leader to factor in time in for this.

Workshop includes:

• Examining and identifying real Ancient Egyptian artefacts
• Learning how Ancient Egyptian artefacts link with local history
• Creating art inspired by the topic

Venue: In school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes in school; 1 hour virtual

Shakespeare and the Battle of Wakefield

Shakespeare wrote about the 1460 Battle of Wakefield in his play 'Henry VI, Part 3'. In this dramatic workshop, pupils will perform excepts from the play. They will discover how much of Shakespeare’s account was factual and how much was fictional. They will be asked to consider why Shakespeare might have got so many of the details wrong.

To finish, pupils will work in small groups to compose poetic statements of defence in the character of the Bard. They will look to explain why his account of the battle was not entirely true.

Workshop includes:

• Learning about a local event of national importance
• Exploring the topic using drama and poetry
• Considering what might have influenced Shakespeare's writing

Venue: Wakefield Museum, in school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school; 1 hour virtual

You may wish to book a self-led visit to Sandal Castle to complement this session. Ask us for details when making your workshop booking.

Fascinating fossils

This interactive workshop begins with a discussion about what fossils are. Pupils will listen to a story that explains how fossils are formed.

Pupils will be challenged to examine a selection of real fossils, categorising them as plants or animals. They will play a fun guessing game to reveal the true identity of each fossil.

As a final activity, pupils will be invited to design their own prehistoric animals, yet to be discovered!

Workshop includes:

• Understanding what fossils are and how they are formed
• Handling and identifying real fossils
• Designing imaginary prehistoric creatures

Venue: In school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes in school; 1 hour virtual

The Romans in Castleford

Experience some of the sights, sounds and smells of Roman Castleford through multi-sensory activities!

Pupils will learn why the Romans settled there and how the settlement grew into an important centre for travel and trade.

They will then examine some of the different types of artefacts that the Romans left behind. These will further develop their understanding of what life was like in the Roman town.

When delivered at Castleford Museum, pupils will have the opportunity to look around the Roman displays.

Workshop includes:

• Multi-sensory activities
• Handling real and replica Roman artefacts
• Identifying objects and drawing conclusions

Venue: Castleford Museum, in school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school; 1 hour virtual

We also have two ‘Roman’ themed loan boxes available for schools to borrow.

Magna Carta: our local links

In this fun and lively workshop, drama-based storytelling will bring the past to life!

Pupils will learn about the relationship between King John and the de Lacy family, the owners of Pontefract Castle.

They will learn how John de Lacy became involved in the creation of the Magna Carta.

Pupils will work in groups to create a classroom Magna Carta using quill pens.

Workshop includes:

• Learning about significant people and events from the past
• Discovering local links to national history
• Developing an understanding of history through fun, engaging and memorable activities

Venue: Pontefract Castle or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Rhubarb in our region

Rhubarb is one of our region’s most important plants. In this workshop pupils will find out why that is. They will discover some fascinating scientific facts about this amazing plant.

Pupils will discover where rhubarb originally came from. They will learn about its use as a medicinal ingredient in the past. Pupils will then learn what ‘forced rhubarb’ is and why it is so significant to the Wakefield area.

To finish the session, pupils will design pop-up pictures inspired by what they have learned.

Materials will be left with the class so that the pupils can plant their own rhubarb seeds aand watch them grow.

Workshop includes:

• Learning with historical photographs
• Interactive and multi-sensory activities
• Creativity and design
• Opportunity to grow plants from seed

Dates available: January, February and March 2025

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school

Sweet success

In this engaging workshop pupils will learn all about the history of liquorice. They will discover that it was a Pontefract chemist called George Dunhill who first used the plant to flavour sweets. 

Pupils will consider how the local sweet factories competed for customers. They will look at examples of old Pontefract Cake tins from the past. They will finish by designing their own persuasive packaging.

Sessions delivered at Pontefract Castle will include a walk around the site to discover the castle’s historic links with the local liquorice industry.

Workshop includes:

• Discovering the role of liquorice in Pontefract's history
• Considering how words and images can be persuasive
• Creating designs for persuasive packaging

Venue: Pontefract Castle, in school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school; 1 hour virtual

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Charles Waterton: the power of words

Charles Waterton was a man from the Wakefield area who lived in the 1700 and 1800s. He had a lifelong love of nature.

In this workshop pupils will learn how Charles used written words to campaign against actions that were harmful to the environment.

They will read excerpts from his letters and examine taxidermy specimens. They will write their own powerful words to protect nature using quill pens.

Workshop includes:

• Learning about a local person of historical significance
• Learning using museum objects and historic documents
• Writing with quill pens

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Arts Award Discover in a Day Option: We have trained Arts Award Advisers who can assess for Discover and Explore levels. Pupils can achieve their Arts Award Discover in an extended workshop option.

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Stepping into the Stone Age

This session starts with a timeline designed to show just how far in the past the Stone Age began and how long it lasted.

After a discussion about what the world was like back then, pupils will engage in a material identification activity. This will help to illustrate how Stone Age people relied upon nature for their survival.

Pupils will then get to handle real Stone Age artefacts. They will work in groups to identify what the objects are.

Workshop includes:

• Understanding where the Stone Age fits into Britain's past
• Understanding how Stone Age people relied on nature to survive
• Handling and identifying real Stone Age artefacts

Venue: Wakefield Museum, in school or virtual

Duration: 1 hour

Vikings

From a simple hair comb to a boat that crossed the Calder, pupils will look at trade, transport and domestic life in the Viking era.

Pupils will handle replica Viking objects and view a real Viking Age log boat from Stanley Ferry (when the workshop is delivered at Wakefield Museum). They will discover the significance that each item would have had to individual people and to their village communities.

Workshop includes:

• Studying a Viking-era log boat
• Handling replica Viking objects
• Using maps and learning a Viking game

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Introducing Elizabeth Moxon

Pontefract’s Elizabeth Moxon was a pioneering author from the 1700s. She was the first woman from Yorkshire to publish a cookery book!

Long before Mrs Beeton, Elizabeth Moxon collected recipes and combined them with useful tips to produce a practical guide for eighteenth century housewives. She sold her book herself from her doorstep in Pontefract’s town centre! 

In this workshop pupils will be introduced to Elizabeth and why her book was so significant. They will explore instructions on how to set a table to recipes for some rather unusual dishes.

They will undertake some fun activities to bring that content to life. They will also create some cookery books of their own inspired by Elizabeth and the era in which she lived.  

Venue: Pontefract Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Introducing Alice Gostick

Alice Gostick was an art teacher in Castleford in the early 1900s. She even taught a young Henry Moore!

In this creative workshop pupils will learn about Alice’s background. They will learn how she brought the skills acquired in her youth to Castleford, where she taught local people the art of pottery painting.

Pupils will get the chance to hold pottery from different time periods - Roman to Victorian - in their hands. They will discover how the way in which a piece of pottery is decorated can reveal how old it is.

They will then see examples of ‘Peasant Pottery’, the type of pottery decoration Alice taught her pupils.

Finally, they will have a go at creating their own Peasant Pottery designs on paper plates to keep.

Venue: Castleford Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Introducing Nellie Spindler

In this workshop pupils will first learn that Nellie Spindler was a Wakefield nurse who served in the First World War. They will examine museum objects and photographs to discover some advancements in medical care that were in place at the start of World War One.

Pupils will then learn about Nellie’s selflessness and courage in war. They will discover how she is remembered in our local area today with a blue plaque and a street named after her.

To finish, pupils will create their own blue plaque crafts to honour inspiring women from their own lives.

Venue: Wakefield Museum or in school

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes on site or in school

This workshop is also suitable for Key Stage 1 pupils.

School dungeon tours

You can enhance your class visit to Pontefract Castle by adding a guided tour of the site’s dungeon.

Through this immersive experience, pupils will discover when and how the underground rooms were created. They will learn how their use changed over time.

Pupils will also learn about some of the key people and events involved in the castle’s history.

Throughout the tour pupils can join in with interactive opportunities to see, speak, touch and smell!

Tour includes:

• Learning about history where it happened
• Interactive storytelling
• Immersive learning

Venue: Pontefract Castle

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes overall

Note: Your class will be divided into two groups due to limited capacity underground. Each group will spend approximately 30 to 40 minutes below ground. While one group is below ground, the other can explore above ground under the supervision of school staff.

Schools must provide a minimum of 3 adults to help supervise classes during dungeon tours.