Next Page

Archaeology Review Home Page

Contents of this Page

Archaeology and Education at Silchester
Whitby schools’ programme
Award-winning vide

Archaeology and Education at Silchester

During 1998 and 1999 a major English Heritage Education project took place as part of the University of Reading’s excavation at Silchester Roman Town. Roman Britain is a topic taught to pupils at Key Stage 2 (between the ages of 7 and 11) as part of the National Curriculum for History. The aim of the project was to encourage teachers to look beyond the standard text book material about Roman Britain, to think about how we know about the Romans, to consider using physical evidence with their pupils, and to learn something about archaeology.

In the summer term of 1998 twenty-three teachers from Berkshire and Hampshire primary schools joined a three-day training course. This was provided by English Heritage Education, working with the Archaeology Department and Education Department of Reading University, Reading Museum, and Hampshire LEA. Each of the three days had a different focus: the teachers looked at Roman artefacts and handling collections in the museum, were taken around the Silchester Roman walls, and spent a whole day with the archaeologists learning about archaeological methods and processes. The highlight of this day was the practical session where teachers were able to get their hands dirty, carefully clearing an area of the excavation along with the archaeology students. The final day, back at Reading University, drew everything together as teachers looked at different materials on the Romans in Britain, worked on stories as a means of teaching history, and started to plan their teaching units on Roman Britain.

The course was very well received. Teachers went away with new enthusiasm for teaching a topic which can easily be taught in a routine way. They also had increased confidence for explaining to their pupils how we find out about the more distant past.

Schools were offered the opportunity in May and June 1998 to use the excavations of the sunken gardens at Whitby Abbey as an educational resource. This involved a full day teacher induction course explaining the work, the archaeological processes to be used, and the educational opportunities which will be offered to pupils. Teachers took part in a carousel of activities which their pupils would undertake on the visit. This included building recording, planning and measuring, cleaning, sorting and classifying finds, and interviewing an archaeologist. Five schools took part on site where sessions were introduced by an archaeologist, using project assistants and teachers to lead the activities.

Award-winning video

The video Talkin’ Roman, produced by English Heritage Education for primary schools, was given a special accolade by The British Archaeological Award of Awards. It was voted the best non-broadcast British-made film or video produced for educational use on an archaeological subject between 1977-1998, having previously won the 1996 Channel 4 Award.