Using castles to cover the curriculum

When schoolchildren visit a castle, you expect them to learn about the role the site played in history; but how about mathematics and science?

Cadw Education Programme

Thanks to a pioneering new programme developed by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, school groups can now tackle subjects including literacy, numeracy, geography, science, technology, engineering and mathematics while on their historical visits. The innovative programme, designed to tie into the National Literacy and Numeracy Frameworks, features new sitespecific resources for self-led visits and costumed facilitated visits at sites including Caerwent Roman Town (Newport), the Tudor sites of Plas Mawr (Conwy) and Tretower Court and Castle (Powys) and Victorian activities at Castell Coch (near Cardiff) and Blaenavon Ironworks (Pontypool). Pan-Wales Education Packs have also been developed to be used at Cadw’s prehistoric sites and medieval castles and can be easily adapted for use at other similar sites in the UK and beyond.

All resources have been specially created for Foundation Phase, KS2 and KS3, and can be downloaded from Cadw’s website for use before, during or after an education visit. The new programme aims to complement Cadw’s existing bank of resources and activities, while improving its overall education offer. Lucy O’Donnell, Assistant Director at Cadw, said: “Our programme has been developed around themes that have been highlighted as priorities for education in Wales, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and literacy and numeracy – to provide teachers with practical resources and engaging, authentic learning experiences for their pupils.”

Cadw Education Programme: New developments

Resources for self-led visits:

Pan-Wales Education Packs

• Designed specifically for castles and for prehistoric sites in Wales, that can also be adapted for use at any other similar site in the UK or beyond
• KS2 and KS3 Literacy and STEM-linked
• Include lesson ideas from which teachers can pick and choose the most relevant to their topic, theme and students.

Medieval and Tudor Treasure Chest Artefacts

These accompany activity sheets that are available at Beaumaris Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Castell Coch, Criccieth Castle, Kidwelly Castle, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Mawr and Tretower Court and Raglan Castle.

Other resources:

• Foundation Phase Literacy packs for Criccieth Castle and Cae’r Gors, near Caernarfon – to develop literacy in young learners, while developing their knowledge and understanding of the world
• KS2 packs for Segontium Roman Fort, Caernarfon and Din Lligwy Hut group, Anglesey – aiding the teaching of history curriculum topic ‘The Romans’ in addition to skills such as literacy, numeracy and science
• Harlech and Caernarfon Castles Literacy packs – inspired by the Mabinogion story, Branwen ferch Llŷr, which is set at the two castles
• Denbigh Castle Literacy packs – uses the site’s handling collection to develop literacy skills whilst learning about the medieval castle
• Castell Coch Aesop’s Fables resource – supporting development of literacy, using the stories which inspired the lavish decoration inside the castle
• The Tudors at Plas Mawr, Conwy – the pack guides pupils around the Elizabethan Town House to learn about food, clothes, the rich and poor, and daily life
• KS2 Victorian Cardiff Game – a fun game to introduce the history topic of ‘Change in the Victorian period’, focussing on buildings, people and transport in the Cardiff area
• KS2 Puzzling People – living timelines for a range of historic figures to support KS2 History and Numeracy

More information

For more information about school visits or to download education resources, visit bit.ly/cadwresources

You can also find Cadw on Facebook or follow @CadwWales on Twitter.

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment. For more information go to Cadw’s website www.cadw.wales.gov.uk