Key Stage 2

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Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 sessions

A visit to Hampton Court is invaluable for pupils studying the Tudors at Key Stage 2. These lively sessions are led by expert presenters and are designed to support a range of subjects across the curriculum.

Sessions are devised for groups of up to 35 children.
Pupils in the haunted gallery

Go straight to remaining available sessions for the next month...


Palace based sessions



Object handling / investigating sessions


Court life

Students will learn about the lives of rich and poor at the court of Henry VIII, in the very rooms where lords danced and servants slept. Guided by a costumed presenter, groups will investigate what the chambers reveal about the experiences of their inhabitants. This session especially supports skills of historical enquiry, using the palace itself as source material.

Further information: Court life (PDF 34.7 KB)
Online Resource: Click here and look for "Tips on greeting the King"

Pupils at a table in the Great HallMonday to Friday
Autumn/spring only
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Serving the King 

Would you work for Henry VIII? Hampton Court Palace is not just a home for the King, but for hundreds of servants. Students will meet a costumed member of the household, and pry into working rooms to gain insight into the lives and education of ordinary people. This session supports knowledge and understanding of people and society in the past.  

Further information: Serving the King (PDF 45.1 KB)

Pupils&nbsp;listening&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;live&nbsp;re-enactorThursdays and Fridays 
Autumn/spring only
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Spies at court

Go undercover at the court of Henry VIII! Our costumed presenter will lead students in role as French spies. The students' mission: write a report to the ultra-competitive French king on life at Henry's court. This session especially supports English skills of composition and planning and drafting, as well as historical enquiry. 
 
Further information: Spies at court (PDF 45 KB)
Online resource: 'My spying evidence' (PDF 4.46MB)

Pupils&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Great&nbsp;HallThursdays
Autumn/spring only
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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"The enthusiastic guides did a brilliant job of really bringing this part of the palace alive for our students."

Teacher comment on Explore Henry VIII's kitchens


Explore Henry VIII's kitchens

Students will discover the 16th-century technology used to feed the court of Henry VIII. Working with two costumed presenters, the group will learn about the different types of food consumed, and the different types of people who worked hard to prepare it all! The session especially supports historical enquiry through active exploration.

Further information:
Explore Henry VIII's kitchens (PDF 35.1 KB)
Online Resource: The Tudor kitchens

Pupils&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Tudor&nbsp;KitchensMonday to Friday
Autumn/spring only
10.30, 11.30, 12.45, 13.30
45 minutes
£100 plus admission
How to book >

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Investigating Henry

Henry VIII is England's most famous king. But who was the real man behind the stereotype? Using artefacts, documents and replica objects students will investigate the real Henry VIII in this interactive object-handling session. By analysing the nature of historical truth, this session especially supports skills of historical enquiry and interpretation. 

Further information: Investigating Henry (PDF 45.3 KB)
Online Resource: Henry Morph


Investigating&nbsp;Henry&nbsp;Armour
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Dressed for court

The Tudors made expert use of clothing to express wealth and status. This session allows students to study luxurious replica garments to understand materials, money and rank, and provides an opportunity for two students to dress up in Tudor costume. This session especially supports skills of historical enquiry and of knowledge and understanding of Tudor society. 

Further information: Dressed for court (PDF 44.4 KB)
Online Resource:  Click here and look for "Dressing the Lady"

Pupils&nbsp;trying&nbsp;on&nbsp;hatsTuesdays:
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
Wednesdays:
10.30, 11.45  
1 hour 
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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"We were inspired by this session; really great resources and an excellent activity for developing skills."

Teacher comment on Investigating Henry


Tudor explorers

Hampton Court is full of silk tapestries, costly spices and other treasures Tudor monarchs acquired from all around the world. In this session a costumed interpreter will use role-play and Tudor artefacts to tell the story of the adventurous seafarers and merchants who risked their lives to bring such wares to England. This session especially supports knowledge and understanding of the attitudes of the past, and historical enquiry.

Further information: Tudor explorers (PDF 45.7 KB)


Pupils&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;drawing&nbsp;workshop

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15
1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Tudor fun and games

This session explores the fascinating world of Tudor sports and pastimes. How did the rich and poor have fun? Students will try to answer this question by handling objects and trying the games and activities for themselves. This session especially supports skills of historical enquiry through active participation. 

Further information: Tudor fun and games (PDF 45.4 KB)
Online Resource: Joust for Henry VIII

Pupils&nbsp;playing&nbsp;a&nbsp;gameThursdays and Fridays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15

1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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We have the following sessions still available to book in July 2013:

Tuesday 2 July
Tudor Explorers at 10.30

Wednesday 3 July
Drawing the Tudors at 10.30 or 13.15

Thursday 4 July
Henry, Katherine and Wolsey at 11.45

Friday 5 July
Investigating Henry at 13.15

Tuesday 9 July
Tudor Fun and Games at 13.15

Wednesday 10 July
Drawing the Tudors at 11.45 or 13.15

Thursday 11 July
Tudor Fun and Games at 11.45 or 13.15
Investigating Henry at 13.15

Friday 12 July
Henry, Katherine and Wolsey at 10.30
Tudor Fun and Games at 11.45 and 13.15


Please note that this late availability is for guidence only, we would strongly advise you to call the Education Administration Office to obtain the most up to date information on our availability before you start to make your travel arrangements etc.





Drama sessions


Practical sessions 


Joint sessions with The National Archives  



Performing Henry's paintings

A unique chance for students to understand famous Tudor paintings from the inside. The images of Henry VIII's court are packed with insights into royal power and ordinary daily life. Students will study the images for clues, then use props and costume to re-create the paintings. This session especially supports the use of sources in historical enquiry, and skills of historical interpretation.

Further information:
Performing Henry's paintings (PDF 46.1 KB)

Pupils&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;workshop
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10.45, 12.45
1.5 hours
£100 plus admission
How to book >

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Marrying Henry

Were Henry VIII's marriages all doomed from the start? Join a drama specialist to delve into the story of why Henry VIII married six times. This fun and practical session will use costume and portraits to bring the past alive, considering events from the view points of the wives, Henry himself and others at court. This session especially supports knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past, examining the reasons for and results of Henry’s marital problems. 

Find out more about Henry VIII's wives

Further information: Marrying Henry (PDF 40.9 KB)
Online Resource: Click here and look for "Henry's Women slideshow"

Children&nbsp;dressing&nbsp;up&nbsp;
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10.45, 12.45
1.5 hours
£100 plus admission
How to book >

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Henry, Katherine and Wolsey - the story

Henry VIII began his reign full of fun and energy. However, the break with Rome marked a turning point and Henry began to change into the obese tyrant we recognise today. Students will act out events from Henry's life to discover how and why he changed. This session especially supports knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past, and is linked to a major permanent exhibition at the palace.
 
Further information: Henry, Katherine and Wolsey (PDF 45 KB)
Online Resource: Henry Morph

Pupils&nbsp;in&nbsp;Tudor&nbsp;clothingThursdays and Fridays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15

1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Rags to riches

Learn about life in the Tudor palace for the rich and the not-so-rich. Students will discover the different types of people who lived and worked in Hampton Court Palace, then use replica costume to create their own dramatic pieces based on life at court. This session especially supports knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past in terms of lifestyle, as well as skills of historical enquiry.

Further information: Rags to riches (PDF 41 KB)
 

Children&nbsp;dressing&nbsp;up&nbsp;Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10.45, 12.45

1.5 hours
£100 plus admission
How to book >

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"The session was completely absorbing and all the students took an active part. They thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a great deal."

Teacher comment on Marrying Henry


Drawing the Tudors

How do you look at great art? This session teaches your pupils what to look for in portraits - and how to read the messages within them. We can learn a lot about the Tudors by studying their portraits. Your pupils will become artists, commissioned to create a portrait for a proposal. Proportion, composition and tone will be covered as they create their own Tudor portrait to take back to school. This session supports skills of investigating and making art, as well as historical enquiry and interpretation.  
 
Further information:
Drawing the Tudors (PDF 45 KB)

Online Resource: Drawing the Tudors - Videos

Wednesdays Students&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;painting&nbsp;session
10.30, 11.45, 13.15

1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Tudor music: the Prince and the Piper 

Led by an expert music historian, this session investigates how music featured both at the Tudor court and throughout the rest of society. What different kinds of music and instruments were played by the rich and poor, and which pieces were enjoyed by the King himself? All students are encouraged to participate in this fascinating session, which especially supports music performing and listening skills, as well as historical knowledge and understanding of features of society.  
 
Further information: Tudor music (PDF 44.1 KB)
 Tudor&nbsp;music&nbsp;teaching&nbsp;session

Mondays and Tuesdays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15

1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Henry is Astronomical 

Henry VIII took a personal, practical interest in science. In this very active session students will investigate sound with reedpipes and make a Tudor quadrant to learn how Tudors used to measure height. The session encourages scientific enquiry through different ways of measuring and offers practical understanding of sound production and the basic geometry of triangles  
 
Further information: 
Henry is Astronomical (PDF 44.1 KB)
 
A&nbsp;girl&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;teaching&nbsp;session
Mondays and Tuesdays
10.30, 11.45, 13.15

1 hour
£90 plus admission
How to book >

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Tudor revels - in association with The National Archives

This whole-day session takes place at both The National Archives and Hampton Court Palace. Schools booking this session need to arrange transport between the sites. The session looks at how Henry VIII was portrayed during his reign through entertainment at his court. Students investigate original documents relating to masques and revels at the National Archives. The students split into two groups, both of which rehearsh a different masque. At the palace, pupils are taken on a tour of the Tudor areas and then both groups have the amazing opportunity of performing their masque in the Great Watching Chamber within Henry VIII's Apartments.
 

Available: 24th February - 7th March 2014
Capacity: 35 students 
£100 plus admission
How to book >

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