Pupils discover city's Roman past
Two of the characteristics that distinguish Rydal Penrhos are its location and history. Part of the mission of the school is to cultivate in each pupil an awareness of place, culture and the traditions that underline our corner of the world.
This manifests itself variously in school life, from curriculum lessons in Geography and History, to visits to our Forest and Costal Schools, or, in the recent case of one of our Prep classes, a school trip for children to learn more for themselves first hand.
On Thursday 26 January, Year 3 enjoyed a fabulous visit to Chester to enhance their learning about Romans and discover the historic civilisation’s central influence on the city, once known as Diva Vitrix.
Led by form tutor Mrs Oliver, Year 3 arrived at the Grosvenor Museum and headed immediately into a workshop where they engaged in a number of practical activities, such as grinding herbs and spices in a Roman kitchen, trying their hand at mosaic tiling, and taking part in some archaeological digging.
After a whistle stop lunch, pupils donned armour and shields to march as a legion to the amphitheater, where they developed attacking and defensive formations. Year 3 were taught how to quickly defend the legion from a mounted attack using a counter-cavalry formation. In doing so, Year 3 broke the previously held speed record by assembling in under two seconds!
Pupils also mastered the ‘hold the line’ defensive formation and the mighty ‘wedge’ used to break through enemy lines.
After terrifying the residents and shoppers of Diva Vitrix with shouts of “Sin, sin, sin dex sin” all the way back to the museum, there was just enough time to explore the galleries of the museum. Pupils wondered at the incredible artistry and craftmanship of the items on display, which had survived the passing of over 2000 years.
Overall, the trip was a major success with pupils thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to step back in time and get a sense of life in Roman Britain beyond what can be conveyed in a classroom. We would like to thank all involved, including our dedicated Prep teachers, for making the day possible.
