Frankie, an archaeologist, heritage-educator and ancient craft specialist was in our school for three days this week and the experience for the children was amazing. She showed immense preparation and patience, her knowledge was incredible and the workshops were loved by all involved-teachers and students alike. Such a positive experience that allowed History to come to life for all our 2nd 3rds and 4th classes. She showed us many artefacts from the Norman times that she herself had unearthed around London and Dublin. She showed us chainmail that had a hole from where the arrow head went in – they could tell the exact type of arrowhead from this hole. She showed us playing cards that she had found in the walls of a Norman castle – dated 700 years ago. She had a posy which was used by people to ward off getting the plague. We saw many arrows, spears, horns, teeth, clothes and games from the middle ages. Frankie answered numerous questions from the children and we learned so much about what life was like in Norman times for girls and boys and grown ups. Life was very different back then. Norman boys had to start training with a bow and arrow from the age of 7 – and you had to be very strong to do this. Before then they had target practice by trying to get a ball into a cup with one hand. The classes had a competition and some of the children were brilliant at doing it! The workshops ended with a quiz.