Stonehenge, one of the mysteries of the ancient world. The weather may have been freezing but Year 3’s enthusiasm for the trip was scorching as they boarded the bus on their first school outing.

As part of their learning on Stone Age to Iron Age, our children were able to visit Stonehenge to learn about this amazing monument. During the trip, they got hands-on and conducted experiments to see which method was the most efficient way of moving the heavy slabs, looked at a possible method of how they were lifted into place, and the significance of Stonehenge’s layout in relation to the sun. They also discussed religious beliefs and looked at burial customs for the people at the time and which artefacts they were buried with and why.

Using their historical skills, children studied different artefacts and hypothesised what they were used for. They then had a go at making rope from pieces of reed by twisting and weaving. The children were amazed at how something so flimsy could be made into a strong piece of rope, strong enough the be able to pull an 8-tonne slab of rock. A great example of stone-age technology!

A real highlight of the trip was the ‘WOW’ moment when our children got to visit the monument. As they got off the bus, there were gasps of ‘Wow’ and ‘Oooh’ as the sheer size of what they had been learning about became real.

It made their learning come to life and was a fabulous way to finish our unit.

Thank you to the parent helpers who accompanied the children on the trip – without your support, these magical moments are not possible.