Pupils become slaves and royalty

The Year 3 pupils at Hillside Community First School in Verwood recently visited Fishbourne Roman Palace, outside Chichester.

They took part in a number of activities including handling some of the artefacts found at the site to try and identify what they were.

One of the archaeologists talked to the children about the site and what it would have been like to have lived there. Three of the pupils dressed up as as a slave, a prince and a princess to give an idea of what the Romans wore.

Whilst filling out a questionnaire the children were free to explore the site and it’s wonderful mosaics.

Continuing with their Roman topic, the children also enjoyed a Roman Day at school. They arrived at school dressed up as Romans and spent the day immersed in various “Roman” pursuits, such as the boys learning their numerals, the girls sewing, and all of them learning how to make a defensive tortoise using the shields that they had created in their DT lessons.

The children then had a Roman feast, where they were encouraged to eat lying down and were served by some Year 4 slaves.

PHOTOGRAPH: The Year 3 pupils practising their defensive tortoise