Core Skills Analysis
English
- Identified and used new vocabulary related to the site (e.g., "castle," "gardens," "medieval," "festival," "explored"), expanding their lexical repertoire.
- Practised listening and comprehension skills by following a guide’s explanations and responding to questions about the garden and festival.
- Engaged in oral storytelling by describing what they saw and felt, strengthening narrative sequencing (beginning, middle, end).
- Recognised printed words on signs and information panels, supporting early sight‑word recognition and print awareness.
History
- Observed the physical features of a historic castle and its garden, developing an understanding of historical architecture.
- Recognised the concept of a different time period (the medieval era) through costumes, activities, and the festival setting.
- Identified cultural practices of the past (e.g., medieval games, food, music) and linked them to modern-day celebrations.
- Developed a sense of chronology by comparing the present garden setting with its historic purpose as a defensive and ornamental space.
Tips
Extend the garden and medieval adventure by staging a simple ‘medieval market’ at home where the child can role‑play as a market stall‑holder, practising new vocabulary and negotiating with peers. Next, create a large floor‑plan of the castle garden using cardboard and let the child place drawings of plants, animals, and castle features to reinforce spatial awareness. Invite the child to draw a “then‑and‑now” picture of one garden spot, prompting discussion of how the site looked in the medieval period versus today. Finally, use a picture‑book about castles to guide a retelling activity: the child retells the day’s events in their own words, then draws a comic‑strip sequence to practise sequencing and narrative skills.
Book Recommendations
- The Castle in the Garden by Katherine Roberts: A colourful picture book that follows a family’s adventure exploring a historic castle and its garden, introducing simple historical concepts.
- A Medieval Feast: A Celebration of Food, Fun and History by Megan R. Miller: A lively story about a medieval festival with tasty treats, giving young readers a taste of medieval life and language.
- My First Book of Knights and Castles by Gerry W. S. Smith: An introductory non‑fiction picture book that explains castles, gardens, and medieval life in language perfect for 4‑year‑olds.
Learning Standards
- English: RE1 – Develop spoken language and listening skills (Year 1, English).
- English: RE3 – Recognise and use a range of vocabulary, including words related to the natural and built environment.
- History: 1.2 – Understanding of change over time, recognising that places such as Arundel Castle have changed over centuries (Year 1 History).
- History: 1.3 – Learning about past life and societies, including the medieval period.
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Match each picture (castle, garden, knight, flag) to a new vocabulary word and draw a line to its definition.
- Writing Prompt: "Today at Arundel Castle I saw…" – a sentence‑starter sheet for the child to write or dictate a short narrative.
- Mini‑Quiz: Simple true/false statements about the festival (e.g., "People wore helmets at the festival – true or false?") to reinforce historical facts.