The year is 776BC in the city of Olympia, Ancient Greece where boys and girls have travelled from the depths of Harborne to explore what it is really like to be an Athenian in Ancient Greece. Would they leave the day as the next Olympian, a Greek Linguist or maybe even a Greek storyteller? With some armed for battle, the possibilities were endless!
Throughout the day, the children visited six Athenians to explore important aspects of Ancient Greek life. In one of their workshops, Year 6 had the exciting challenge of studying and translating the Greek Alphabet before writing their own name or messages in Greek whilst, in another area of Greece, the children became Ancient Greek Olympians, taking part in three events – Javelin, Discus and Long Jump – before being crowned the Olympic Champion. Unfortunately, the horses weren’t available for Chariot Racing! During the day, the children visited the Greek Theatre – a major part of Ancient Greek culture – where they learnt about the two main types of Greek plays: Tragedy and Comedy. Following this, they rehearsed and performed two Greek Legends, showcasing their theatrical talents. The children also designed their own Ancient Greek art: vases which were used to tell stories and were usually placed in homes, and mosaics of Spartan warriors. Finally, a day exploring the Ancient Greeks wouldn’t have been complete without learning about their weapons. The catapult was invented in Syracuse as a new weapon when the city was under a two year siege from Athens. Like the Ancient Greek engineers, the children also came together to create their own catapults using a range of materials.
Armed with new knowledge, the children returned back to their normal lives in Harborne but not before a quick tasting session of some Greek cuisine: Tzatziki, Pitta Bread and Cherry ‘Wine’.
Miss Stanford
