Begin by introducing the period to be investigated. Use an engaging story involving characters
and events that will make sense to the children. It is probably best to focus on an everyday
activity - going to market; preparing for a celebration; taking part in the harvest. The action
needs to have equal opportunities for boys and girls. Discuss with the children the people
and events they are going to represent.

• When did our characters live? How were their lives different from ours?
  How were they the same?
• How can we find out more about them?
• Let’s try to imagine the events of the day and what our people would be doing.
  What would they say to each other? What would they look like?
  

[It is important that the children understand that they are trying to be true to the past. Often it
will be more vivid if the events happened locally and can be identified with a particular place.]

Use the Tabards to help children get into their roles. This will involve them in finding out about the clothes of the period.
However, the aim is not to do an historical reconstruction, it is to give a symbolic representation for each character.
A crusader knight can be represented by a red cross, a craftsperson by the tools of the trade.

Meeting curriculum requirements:

The curriculum for this age group lays emphasis on the way different groups of people live, particularly at different levels of
society. Role play allows children to learn for themselves about life in the past which sometimes can be difficult for them
to grasp from textbooks.

Tips for Painting:

The teacher must be prepared to provide the children with enough accurate information on which to base their role play
and costumes. The children can also carry out basic research of their own and this will be valuable experience. The
costume work should be planned on paper in sketch form before beginning on the Tabard.

Useful Reference:

A Teachers Guide to History through Role Play by John Fairclough, Published by English Heritage ISBN 1 85074 4785
from English Heritage Education Services, 429 Oxford St. London W1R 2HD.
Books on Costume together with visits to museums and historic houses are also useful

What you will need:

Tabards, paint , water jugs, rags paper towels and brushes.

Activity 0060 Putting on a Play NONE AT PRESENT
Activity 0049 Be the high street