by CharlieLupton
21. May 2010 11:02
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From the proverbial acorn of an idea, Oakwrights have made it possible to take history into classrooms across the length and breadth of the country from Plymouth to Newcastle and from London to Ulswater and 80 schools in between.
I had the idea for children to build a 1/3 scale timber-frame house in their school. I approached the fantastic people at Oakwrights who designed and made a replica house with all the features of a small Elizabethan manor house.
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The idea has proved extremely popular with teachers and, especially, the children. Up to 60 children a day work in collaborative teams to construct the Tudor House, build a peasants house, wattle and daub, tile and thatch and 'bodge' pegs which are used to hold the frame together.
A typical comment from a happy teacher is "The most wonderful workshop day I have ever experienced in school."
Learning history actively through participation is the selling point but as important to Oakwrights and myself is that the will inspire some of the children to be the designers and mastercraftsmen of tomorrow. I certainly wish I had had this opportunity forty years ago!
To find out more about “Build A Tudor House” go to the website, or click on the link below: www.makeyourownhistory.co.uk