Stone Age Adventures Project

Hollington Primary School and St Marks CEP School embarked on a 12 month Stone Age Adventures project which concluded in two days and a night camping, Stone Age style, in woods in rural East Sussex.  They researched the Stone Age, spent many sessions in woodlands learning how to track, identify trees, light fires using wood and flint and took part in a master class in Stone Age crafts with the renowned Will Lord. 

The two schools designed and created Stone Age costumes and made a 30-minute film about life in Stone Age Britain.

Over the year both schools visited Brighton Museum to look at Stone Age artefacts and had several tutorials with Senior Research Fellow from UCL, Professor Matt Pope. He commented: "I kept the pace and the language simple, but the ideas were no less complex that those we present at degree level."

Matt’s tutorials have given the children in depth knowledge of human evolution and hunter gatherer cultures, teaching them that to live healthily they must remember their bodies and minds are evolved from stone age lifestyles.

On Sunday July 17, there was a ‘Stone Age Celebration’ Day at Wilderness Woods in Hadlow Down, where the children displayed their work and where we held Stone Age related activities for both Sussex communities.

Projects

PlayWorks
VisionWorks
Woodland Adventures
Children who foster
Face off
Bridging the Gap
Stone Age Adventures
Common Ground

Comments

"This was an ambitious, long-term project across three-year groups but the experience and ‘hands on’ type of learning had very real benefits for the children."
Parent

"I loved learning about the Stone Age and spending more time with Nature. Sleeping in a wood shelter and camping in the woods was great. I learnt such a lot. I enjoyed learning about wildlife and nature. It made me feel very quiet."
Child

"It was a great chance for the whole class to learn about a period in history that was tactile, fun and challenging.  They also learned quite a lot about themselves.  It was interesting for us all to be involved in the film making process.  The children certainly learned a lot of practical skills and patience.
The biggest benefit to the pupils was having the chance to think and learn beyond the constraints of the primary curriculum.  The children really had a feeling for the basic needs for human survival – in a wonderful classroom – the outdoors."
Teacher