History – The Kafuro & Liss Blog

Saxons in Winchester – We find the evidence!

On Thursday, we joined classes JA and EJ on a trip to Winchester. We arrived at the Education Centre, by the Cathedral, and were met by Mrs Bryan who would be looking after us for the day. Our first activity was to create an ‘Illuminated Letter’. We found out that the first books in Saxon times, were often decorated with the initial capital letter embossed with gold leaf. Next we made our own ‘silver’ Saxon broach. These were worn on cloaks to keep them wrapped around the body, leaving both hands free for moving and carrying things. After that, we had a go at writing in ‘Runes’, a type of Saxon script.

After our activities, we got to look around the Cathedral. First, we discovered that the original Saxon Cathedral had been knocked down and the present Cathedral was built to replace it. However, some of the original Saxon Cathedral features had been transferred to the present building. We learnt how important people in Saxon times, such as Kings and Queen Emma, were laid to rest in Mortuary boxes. Five of these can still be seen in the Cathedral today.

Whilst we were in the cathedral, Mrs Bryan told us a story about a very special Saxon man who became known as Saint Swithun. Saint Swithun was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and eventually patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. Saint Swithun was born about 800 AD, possibly in Hampshire and died 2 July 862 AD in Winchester. He was known for his miracles. Mrs Bryan told us the story of how he helped an elderly woman who had dropped a basket full of eggs. Of course they all smashed. Saint Swithun picked up the basket and gave it back to the woman. Remarkably, the basket was full of perfectly formed eggs again! We all very much enjoyed this story and our look around the cathedral.

After lunch, it was our turn to visit the museum. At the museum, we had the chance to hold a real Saxon teapot that was over a thousand years old. We listened to sounds the teapot made and smelled any aromas we could smell. This helped us understand the evidence of what the pot had been used for. After carefully handling the pot, we had a chance to dress up as Saxon people, to see the sorts of clothes we would have worn if we had been real Saxon people.

We had a wonderful trip and would like to thank all the parent helpers for their support on our trip.

Hope you enjoy our photos of the day;

Cob Oven Cooking

In history, we have been learning about the Saxons. We found out that Saxons had ‘feasts’ and a typical food that would have been available were ‘Oat Cakes’. The Saxons would have had to use fire lit ‘ovens’ to bake their oat cakes. To have a real experience of this, we lit our own Cob Oven and had a go at making Saxon Oat cakes.

Whilst we were outside cooking, we had noticed that the pear trees in our school garden we full of delicious fruit! We harvested the pears and had a go at making them in to pear crumble.

Have a look at our photos. You can see what we thought of our Cob Oven fayre!

With the pears we had found in the garden, we made a pear crumble! Here we are doing our magic in the kitchen;

HG’s Cultural Museum

Cultural Museum video

Followers of our blog and the school, will already have heard about our transition topic ‘Our Cultural Museum’. We thought about the things that are important to the people of Liss. We chose our top 10 items that we think represent what Liss is all about and put them in our own Cultural Museum. We were inspired by our friends at Kafuro Primary School, Uganda, who have also made their own cultural museum for their area.

We made this video to tell you about the items in our museum and why we chose them. Have a look! (Click on the link above).

Our Cultural Museum

Attached is a PowerPoint which the whole class contributed to. These are DC’s ideas for which artefacts we would like to show in our Cultural Museum.

DC Cultural museum 2015

JA & HG’s Trip to the Heath Dig 2015

This morning we went to the dig on Petersfeild Heath run by Petersfield Museum. We met the archeologist called George and he told us all about the dig. Did you know last year they found a Bronze Age dagger!

Barrows are where important people were buried a long time ago.

We made flint arrow heads using napping and sorted artefacts. Then we dug up things from the ground. We found worked and unworked flints. Then we went on a walk to find if we could spot some of the barrows.

Talking about the Weekend

Since our arrival on Friday, finding the temperature to be in Negative five from the Ugandan temperatures that were in 28 degrees Celsius.
We have been under good care and everybody was prepared for our arrival.
I am humbled to mention that Mr. and Mrs Negus (Andrew and Teresa) have done a great job to care for Yowasi who is living with them at the moment and also to mention is Rebecca and Ian Buckle who have taken care of our teacher Mrs Natumanya Molly.
Most interesting is that they constructed a new room for me and it is named after me since I am the first person to sleep and use the room.
That very room is called “Yowasi’s Suite” and they are printing a piece of marking to identify it as being special for me and can always use it whenever Yowasi is in England.

Back to what has been occurring,
Last Saturday was also another good day that we had to visit the park where we started with a tour around the park. Spruce and other weather resistant trees appeared green and the broad leaved trees appeared to be drying out due to the strong winter. it was really nice to be at the park only that they were hit by a storm that had to claim some tree. Afterwards we had a meeting at Bottom Cottage and had several things to eat.
On the menu my service was not put on the table and Yowasi had to gear up Adam his link teacher Liss Junior school to go in the kitchen while on a visit bring water for Yowasi as it was the only thing he needed to drink.
Molly as the co visitor had several cakes and tea, on chatting together with her co visitor then her comment was that the tea was very strong.

On Sunday morning, Yowasi was waken by the bells that went ding dong and so on in the village and Andrew said they were only inviting only the faithful to Church.
I had to get on doing the work that need the most experience and a good morning blessing when you do it right and that is making the Millet flour porridge.
It all went very well and I knew a good day was in front of me.

After porridge I had to join Andrew Negus who is a good story teller about the History of Portsmouth which is the best ever town in England where their Navy have done all sorts of Evil and Good to for the benefit of their country after long troubles of the Romans who gave England headache and then they were also English.
God saved them when unknown woman produced Nelson who used the Victory boat to have the French cleared and to be brief, England have had peace since then.
It only then concentrated on disturbing other countries copying the bad habits from France and Italy.
Out trip to Portsmouth really went very well having looked at different historical material in the history of England as a country
Hope to keep updating you briefly and then a lot to the children at Bukorwe and all our Twinned schools in Uganda

With special greetings from my country
Hope you enjoy reading the Blog

Butser Ancient Farm Trip

On Wednesday, we joined Class AS on a visit to Butser Ancient Farm. At the farm, we learnt how to be Archaeologists and dig for clues as to how people lived long ago. We found bones and rocks. After washing them, we had a go at identifying what they might be or where they may have come from.

We also looked at building methods and had a go at ‘Clunch’. This is where we took handfuls of mud, straw and clay mixed with water. After molding the mixture in our hands, we packed it into a wooden box that was a large brick shape. This would have been left to dry to build up the wall of the building.

We had a go at making ‘jewelery’ using pliers and some thin wire. We wound the wire around the pliers and turned them in to rings and bracelets.

After we had a tour of the farm, we had our lunch in one of the wattle and daub buildings. A small fire was lit inside. We learnt that in ancient times, it was seen as rude if the fire went out whilst there were visitors! The warmth of the fire was welcomed as it was quite a chilly day. Later, we spent some time listening to stories of Ancient times, whilst sat around the fire and eating our oatcakes we had made at school the day before.

There were sheep, goats and pigs on the farm. These were animals that would have been kept for resources in Ancient times. We enjoyed stroking and feeding them! Have a look at the photos of our day;

DCs Trip to Butser Ancient Farm

These are photos of our trip to Butser Ancient Farm. We explored how life in the Stone Age might have been. The children will answer any questions you have if you blog back. We’d love to hear from you.