Primary Schools

Foundation Phase

Time & People

 

Storytelling

First person stories narrated by costumed interpreters representing historic characters who have worked and lived in Blaenavon. Stories will be focused upon children’s lives in the past: world of work, home life and school; or may be tailored to suit individual requirements. Unless organised as a special event, a fee will normally be payable which will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Up to 1½ hours
Max No: 30 per interpreter

Toys & Games in the past

Workshop providing pupils with an opportunity to handle and experiment with a large collection of replica and original toys and games from the past including 19th century, WWII and up to the 1970s.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Up to 1½ hours
Max No: 30

Homes in the past

Workshop providing pupils with an opportunity to handle and experiment with a large collection of replica objects and original artefacts to help understand life in the past such as washday, preparing meals and other domestic chores as well as seeing objects once familiar in homes during the 19th century.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Up to 1½ hours
Max No: 30 

Key Stage 2

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Rocks & Fossils

Under the leadership of a qualified guide/ facilitator, pupils will hunt for fossils to learn more about the plants and animals which lived here more than 300 million years ago. Investigate the rocks which made the development of Blaenavon’s industries possible; the vital ingredients for iron-making are all here.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Full day visit
Numbers: max 35

Iron Age Celts

 

Ancient People

Long before the development of industry, this landscape was home to Iron Age Celts. Learn about life in an iron age village and try your hand at some Celtic crafts then head off to the woods for some warrior training! (Delivered in partnership with the Forestry Commission)

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Full day visit
Numbers: max 35

19th Century

 

Storytelling

First person stories narrated by costumed interpreters representing historic characters who have worked and lived in Blaenavon. Stories will be focused upon children’s lives in the past: world of work, home life and school; or may be tailored to suit individual requirements. Unless organised as a special event, a fee will normally be payable which will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: Up to 1½ hours
Max No: 30 per interpreter

19th Century Discovery day

A whole day of activities based on a two-centre visit to the Blaenavon Ironworks and Heritage Centre - a five-minute walk apart.

Students spend half the day at the Blaenavon Ironworks exploring the site undertaking practical activities designed to enhance pupils’ understanding of 19th century life, including bed making and comparisons of 19th century grocery items in the company shop with their modern equivalents. This can be self-led (free) or facilitated by a live interpreter (optional).

The second half of the day is spent at the Heritage Centre, where pupils can investigate how ordinary people’s lives have changed through the 19th century by exploring the permanent exhibition and taking part in a facilitated, object handling workshops using replica and historic artefacts (free).

19th century discovery days must be booked with the Heritage Centre. Please note that a fee may be payable for a live interpreter at the ironworks which will be confirmed at the time of booking. Accompanying adults are free of charge with a maximum group size at each site of 30 pupils – 60 in total.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Blaenavon Ironworks
Duration: Full day
Max No: 60 (split between both sites)

19th Century study visit

A half- day of activities based at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre. Using themed worksheets, pupils can discover how ordinary people’s lives changed through the 19th century by exploring the centre’s exhibition displays and interactives. Half of the time will be spent taking part in a facilitated, object handling workshop using replica and historic artefacts that were used during the 19th century (free).

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Duration: 2 hours
Max No: 60

Servants of the Empire

What was life like for the thousands of children in Victorian Britain who went out to work? Draw on a variety of sources of evidence to find out more about the lives of working children, including objects from Big Pit’s collections.

Location: Big Pit
Duration: 50 mins

Maggie Morgan (Tuesdays only)

Visit old Maggie in her home, and listen as she recounts tales of her childhood as a door-girl underground and life as the wife of a collier in the nineteenth century. Maggie is happy to answer questions about living and working conditions in the early days of mining.

Location: Big Pit
Duration: 40 minutes

20th Century Contrasting Period: World War 2

 

World War 2 Discovery day

A whole day of activities based on a two-centre visit to the Blaenavon Ironworks and Heritage Centre - a five-minute walk apart.

Students spend half the day at the Blaenavon Ironworks exploring the coal house cottages representing contrasting periods of the 20th century: 1927 and 1944.. This can be self-led (free) or facilitated by a live interpreter (optional).

The second half of the day is spent at the Heritage Centre, where pupils can investigate how ordinary people’s experienced life during World War II by taking part in a facilitated, object handling workshops using replica and historic artefacts (free).

There is the option of pupils having a World War II period lunch at the heritage centre based on foods available during rationing.

World War II discovery days must be booked with the Heritage Centre. Please note that a fee may be payable for a live interpreter at the ironworks and for the themed lunch at the heritage centre which will be confirmed at the time of booking. Accompanying adults are free of charge with a maximum group size at each site of 30 pupils – 60 in total.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Blaenavon Ironworks
Duration: Full day
Max No: 60 (split between both sites)

Interdependence of organisms - Habitats

 

Forgotten Landscape

Following the decline of heavy industry and mining, the upland landscape of Blaenavon had an opportunity to recover. Vegetation and wildlife slowiy returned, recolonising large areas despoiled by industry. Explore different habitats with a qualified guide/ facilitator on a mini-beast hunt, flower trail and pond dipping activity.

Location: Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Big Pit
Duration: Full day
Visit Numbers: max 35