Theme Weeks | The Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction, Canterbury, England

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A wonderful way to compliment your classroom studies.

Medieval Life

21st November – 25th November 2011

Schools are invited to visit The Canterbury Tales visitor attraction to experience life as a pilgrim in Medieval England.

Children will take part in a workshop to learn all about life as a pilgrim before taking their very own pilgrimage through The Canterbury Tales where they will journey with some of Chaucer’s most famous character’s and listen to their tales of chivalry, desire and greed. NEW for 2011 The Canterbury Tales have prepared a City Trail worksheet allowing pupils to discover Canterbury City on foot and understand the City’s importance for medieval pilgrims.

In the hour long workshop children will learn about many aspects of being a pilgrim. They will listen to entertaining and informative stories of why such adventurous journeys were taken, the dangers of being a pilgrim, what a medieval traveller would wear, eat and drink and how they would be cured from common medieval diseases. For a more hands on experience children will be given the chance to try on some medieval clothes, grind flour, learn games and play with toys of the era.

In addition to the workshop children will visit The Canterbury Tales and take an audio guided pilgrimage of their own from London to the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. On their journey 5 of Chaucer’s most famous tales are told including the Wife of Bath’s Tale and the Miller’s Tale. The Canterbury Tales is a stunning recreation of Medieval England complete with sights, sounds and smells giving children the chance to really immerse themselves into life in the Middle Ages and appreciate how a pilgrimage would have been undertaken over 800 years ago.

What teachers think…

The themed day made the medieval period 'real' for the children. Trying to imagine what life was really like during any period of History is a very hard concept. It consolidated children's learning this term with 'hands on' experience – Heathcote School

Pupils found the workshop fun and interesting; I was impressed at range of activities. Interactive. Gave pupils a good overview of what life was like at this time – St Edmund’s Catholic School

The Visit

Your visit will compromise of 3 sections:

A 1 hour workshop

• Either Medieval Life or Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales
• Workshops held indoors next to The Canterbury Tales visitor attraction
• Workshops taken by Aardvark Productions who have the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

An audio guided tour of The Canterbury Tales

• Accompany Chaucer’s colourful characters on their journey from the Tabard Inn in London to the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
• Listen to 5 of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales:
  • The Knight’s Tale
  • The Miller’s Tale
  • The Wife of Bath’s Tale
  • The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
  • The Pardoner’s Tale
• Experience a 40 minute pilgrimage complete with sights, sounds and smells of Medieval England.

A City Trail around Canterbury

New worksheets have been developed to allow your students to explore Canterbury City. The worksheet will require a short walk through the City towards Canterbury Cathedral and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Information

Please leave 2 - 3 hours for your full visit.
The Canterbury Tales has a gift shop and on site toilets.
Children are encouraged to dress in medieval clothes for their visit.
Prices start from £6.35 per child and £6.95 per adult depending on group numbers. We will offer 1 free ticket for a teacher for every 5 children that visit.

To Book

To book please call our Group Bookings Team on us, or email us at contact us

More information

Download our Group Organiser Guide containing our Risk Assessment

Download our Education Pack

Terms and Conditions

• Workshops and Tours are available from 10am - 4pm
• Schools must pre-book 7 days in advance by calling the Group Bookings Team on us.
• Minimum number of children per visit is 15.
• All visits must be pre-paid
• A FREE Risk assessment, Education Pack and Guide Book are available for each school.
• Please review our full Terms and Conditions.

The Canterbury Tales, St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury, Kent
Tel: 01227 479227

©2011