Online learning resource brings Newark's Civil War Centre to life for pupils
Although schools can’t currently visit in person, the National Civil War Centre’s learning team is continuing to support teachers remotely.
The Newark-based team has been hard at work over the past few months on a ground-breaking mission to make its most popular learning sessions available online, and the first of these is now available for teachers to make use of in their summer-term lesson planning.
Adapting their most sought-after in-person session, An Introduction To the Civil War offers an action-packed summary of the events leading up to the conflict, its causes and results.
Put together with primary school children in mind, this expertly filmed video is an interactive learning experience and a full lesson, which asks children to physically engage with the content as well as offering breaks to discuss questions posed.
The session is presented by two in-costume actors who portray a variety of key characters from the period, including King Charles I.
Sarah Clarke, head of learning and participation at the National Civil War Centre, said: “We are so excited to launch this session for free use by teachers.
“This is such an important part of our history for children to learn about and this session makes it really accessible for them, highlighting the difference in attitudes and beliefs between now and the 17th Century and asking children to take places in the Civil War-era pyramid of power’.”
Activities are also available online to complement the session as the newly-launched Civil WARdrobe section of the National Civil War Centre website offers children a chance to make their own 17th Century costumes and props beforehand, including collars, hats and waistcoats.
David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I’m very proud of the ingenuity of the team at the National Civil War Centre.
“In what has been such a difficult year for teachers, the fact that they are able to offer this brilliant interactive lesson for free is wonderful and will hopefully be widely used by primary schools in our own district and even further afield.”
Find out more at the National Civil War Centre website.
