Touching the Wall is an inspirational, workshop based, educational event which can be delivered at any site along Hadrian's Wall. It is run by the Tyne Team, a group of heritage education workers based in the north of England and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The event consists of several characters including a market stall holder, farmer, soldier, tax inspector, metal worker, story-teller, a weaver and a potter who populate and 'work' at the event. Approximately 120 school-children per day arrive, dressed in Roman and Celtic costume, with things they have made to barter, a special themed packed lunch and boundless energy.
During the course of the day they;
- Hear about the day to day running of life along Hadrian's Wall in second century Britain
- Receive training in Roman and British military tactics
- Hear the stories of ancient British lore
- Experience British farming and domestic life
- Create items to take away with them using skills taught by the craftspeople
- Learn to trade their goods without the use of money
- Visit Hadrian's Wall itself and learn about its place in the history of this region
A dramatic plot steadily builds throughout the day in which the children become participants. A dilemma develops that threatens to disrupt the fragile peace between the native British and the occupying Romans; in the closing minutes of the day this is resolved amicably, with the assistance of ideas put forward by the children.
Provide a Teacher's Pack to give teachers specific site information, ideas for costumes and names, barter goods to make, extra activities and a storyboard tailored to your Touching the Wall event.
All Tyne Team members carry their own insurance, are CRB checked and provide props and materials.
We are currently taking expressions of interest from schools and site managers. Dates for 2010 are Monday 14 - Fri 25 June, venues tbc.
For more information please email: Jo Catling on alnheritage@googlemail.com
Talk to us if you would like us to provide extra services, for example:
Provide a Teacher's Pack to give teachers specific site information, ideas for costumes, names, barter goods, extra activities, the storyboard at your Touching the Wall event.
- We can deal with all the bookings for Touching the Wall.
- We can run a teacher training session to cover all aspects of risk assessment.
- We can run outreach sessions in schools before the event to enable better learning outcomes.
