History through Toys for KS1

KS1 - History through Toys

This specially develop one-day workshop for KS1 explores covers key aspects of the national curriculum for history at Key Stage 1 – History through Toys.

Engaging pupils using an extensive variety of both original vintage and reproduction toys, the workshop develops childrens understanding by exploring key questions through the day.

Your pupils will learn about the toys from the past compared with today, looking at materials, construction, and movement. The sessions combine interactive exploration with handling and play to ensure high levels of learning and engagement.

The day comprises a number of elements:

It starts with an introduction to the key questions we need to ask in order to explore history through toys starts by building a timeline of real vintage rocking horses, instantly engaging and inspiring the children to be history detectives.

We continue with an exploration of how toys have changed within living memory by looking at vintage TV programmes, such as Muffin the Mule, and the toys they inspired. The children will compare vintage original and new versions of TV inspired toys that have been revisited in recent times, and sort toys and observe how they have evolved through history. The session includes making simple stick puppets and playing with vintage handheld puppets.

Next, we build a timeline from Victorian times to the present day, by looking at how dolls have evolved from simple rag dolls made by hand from left over fabrics, to modern representions of babies in hyper realistic ways.

Children will consider how dolls features have changed, the materials used, and the way construction developed from hand made to mass production.

Taking a step back in history, children will learn about the toys of the Victorians, and discover that some classic toys invented during the period are still played with today, followed by a fun opportunity to play with modern reproductions, including skittles, picture blocks, cup and ball, Tiddlywinks and marbles.

The Moving Toys session asks children to consider how toys moved before batteries and computer chips, observing a wide variety of clockwork toys, and seeing how they moved.

These include a clockwork elephant, fair ground ride and other wonderful and colourful mechanical tin toys.

An immersive day of fun and learning for your pupils!

How Much Is A Visit?

Our pricing is simple, and designed to allow smaller as well as larger schools to find a visit cost-effective. I would be delighted to discuss with you how we can bring space to life for your group.

Prices (January 2025)

Visit:
- One Class - £249.00
- Two Classes - £299.00
- Three Classes - £349.00
Travel: 40p per mile from CB23 (each way)

Simply contact me for a no-obligation look at pricing and possibilities.

Having a space visit coming to you saves on time and travel costs for coaches, as well as the logistic and safeguarding challenges of taking children off-site.

Any Questions ,or Making a Booking?

If you have any questions, or would like to make a booking, simply contact me without obligation