Artefacts in Action is a small business I have recently set up, offering in-house workshops to primary schools. I firmly believe in the power of objects to tell a story, and to bring alive a world that no longer exists – one without electricity and where children wrote on wax, not whiteboards. It was a lovely librarian at my sons’ school who suggested the idea to me, after she saw me in action, giving a mini handling session and presentation to the children in Years 5 and 6. The experience of enlightening a sea of faces brought me alive; it was a room full of children who had a thirst for learning, for gaining knowledge. Although I teach Classics at secondary level part-time, the workshop suddenly seemed a wonderful way to keep my passion alive on my days off, but more importantly, transmit that passion to others.
As a Classics teacher with experience in both the secondary and primary sector, I feel that I have the knowledge and enthusiasm to impart to children of all ages. I have always loved seeing pupils’ responses when they realise they are holding something that could be 2,000 years old. Encouraging pupils to look at objects and guess what they are made of, I relish hearing their findings as to what each item can tell us about the ancient world. Why did actors wear masks on stage? Did wealthy women really do the weaving? How could they make a dice out of bone? By allowing them to handle objects, I hope to transport them into another world, and to bring that world alive.
By offering the workshops to primary schools in London and the surrounding area, I hope to provide a service that can support teachers in their work. The workshops are intended to last only an hour, thus allowing pupils to continue their usual routine of timetabled lessons either side. It also means that the cost is cheaper than transporting pupils off-site to local museums, and more affordable than workshop providers who require a whole day.
I am passionate about Classics and have visited both Greece and Rome many times over the years, collecting artefacts and resources as I go. I studied Classical Civilisation as a degree at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with the enigmatic Dr Peter Jones, before entering the world of publishing as an editor of illustrated non-fiction books. I quickly realised that the world of teaching was calling me, so I studied A-level Latin in the evenings while working, before embarking on my PGCE at King’s College, London. Since then, I have worked as a Classics teacher in Hertfordshire, Newcastle, London and Oxford. When my career took an unexpected turn to be a Form Tutor to Year 6 pupils, I used every opportunity to enthuse my pupils about the Classical world, running a weekly Classics hobby, ‘Groovy Greeks’, and dressing up as a goddess on regular occasions. I have run school trips to Greece and Rome, and closer to home I have taken pupils to museums, Greek tragedy performances and lectures, as well as to a pottery café to experience the world of Greek vase painting first hand. I firmly believe that getting involved in the world of the ancient Greeks and Romans in an active way is a wonderful way to enthuse, educate and instil memories.
I adored my own Classics teacher at school, and I hope that through my new venture I can hand down the knowledge and inspiration that she gave to me.
Find out more www.artefactsinaction.co.uk and / or email info@artefactsinaction.co.uk.
