Yr 4 had a fascinating visit to Butser Farm, an archaeological open-air museum and experimental archaeology site near Petersfield as part of their topic ‘Vikings’. They travelled by coach from school to Butser and spent the day learning about how ancient tribes lived in this area in Viking times. Both Year 4 classes started their visit in the Viking Longhouse sitting around the hearth listening and answering questions about the day-to-day lives of the Vikings. The first activity was jewellery making using copper wire and pliers to carefully bend the wire into shape. The children made bracelets, clip on earrings or rings. This was probably the most popular activity of the day.
The second activity of the morning was wattle making, weaving hazel branches to make a fence or the wall of a house. We also learnt about daub, a type of Viking plaster which would have been used in the construction of houses. In the afternoon the children learnt spinning the Viking way and made amulets or Viking longships from clay.
A great day was had by all and we are very grateful to the South Downs National Park who generously sponsored this visit, enabling us to keep costs down and give the children such a wonderful experience.