On Thursday, 3rd October, Year 4 visited the Celtic Harmony Centre, where they enjoyed an immersive day exploring life in the Stone Age, with an introduction to the Bronze and Iron Ages. We were welcomed by our guide, Grizelda, who briefed us on safety and asked everyone to express how they were feeling by placing a lolly stick in either the sad, OK, or happy pouch before we began our day.
We walked along a path until we reached the encampment. As the “Lynx” tribe, we passed the test to enter the gates, chanting our names as we made our way to the safety of our own roundhouse. However, we forgot to bring gifts—a custom of the time—so we agreed to complete several quests throughout the day.
The children tackled their tasks with great enthusiasm, listening closely as fire was created through friction. We watched in awe as a glowing ember was fanned into a flame. Next, we ventured into the woods to forage for discs and mushrooms that were safe to eat. We learned about various fruits, vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms, including which were suitable for cooking stews and soups, and which were unsafe to consume.
“This is a brilliant day so far!” said Reuben, excited by how much he had already learned.
We then moved deeper into the woods, where we gathered in a tent and made our own soup paste using dock leaves and rosemary. This hands-on activity left us hungry, and we returned to the roundhouse for a well-deserved lunch.
After lunch, we gathered to learn about ancient tools. Grizelda explained that when a wild boar was killed, its brains would be spread over the animal’s hide, which would then be baked in the sun to stiffen the skin. She also showed us flint, the second-strongest stone, and asked what the strongest was.
Oliver confidently answered, “The strongest is obsidian, formed when lava and water cool.” We were impressed by his knowledge.
We continued our adventure through the woods, throwing spears at imaginary animals we might have encountered in the wild. The day concluded with group den-building, where we learned how to position sticks and work together to create a sturdy shelter.
As the day came to an end, we gathered around to hear a storyteller weave magical tales from long ago. Before leaving the encampment, we thanked our guide, Grizelda, and placed new lolly sticks in the pouch—everyone had had a wonderful day.
Mrs Graves and Mrs Weigler were delighted by how well the children behaved and how well they worked in all the tasks that had been presented to them.
