Year 4 make a triumphant return to Ufton Court
This week, Year 4 made their triumphant return to Ufton Court – a beautiful Elizabethan manor in the Berkshire countryside for their Tudor Explorers Day. In every way it lived up to the children’s high expectations; from the moment they arrived and were ushered into an Tudor tithe barn, to the time they left, their minds full of new facts.
The day began with a look at the timeline of Francis Drake’s life, which was full of slave trading, pirateering, battles, disease, trading and discovery. From there the children set sail in their galleons (created with pride from three wooden poles, some string and billowing white sails) and they went on a journey of discovery through the Americas, to Asia, Africa and returning back to Plymouth, their ships laden with new-found treasures, and stolen cargo. The ships’ crews unloaded their precious goods and hand delivered them to none other than Queen Elizabeth I (elegantly portrayed by Darcy B). Sir Francis Drake (Grace C) was then knighted to the rapturous cheers of his crew.
The children also had the opportunity to inspect some famous paintings and discuss their outfits, posture, and of course the message of the paintings.
It made the staff feel proud to see so many of the children answering tough questions and asking insightful and genuine questions.