Tudor religion at the Tower
Many of the key events that affected religious change during the Tudor period occurred at the Tower, from Anne Boleyn’s coronation, to Jane Grey’s execution, to the interrogation of Jesuit missionaries during the reign of Elizabeth I. A costumed character will guide your group through these events in the spots where history happened.
Reflecting on religion over 70 years and the reigns of four Tudors, this session especially supports the key concepts of change and continuity and cause and consequence.
Monday to Friday
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
50 minutes
£90 plus admission
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Imprisonment, escape and execution
Students will put themselves in the shoes of a prisoner and hear exciting stories of the Tower's dark history from a costumed character. Where would they have been locked up? What were the prisons like? What crime might they have committed?
This session especially supports the key concept of interpretation and the key process of using evidence through analysing the historic environment as a prison.
Monday to Friday
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
50 minutes
£90 plus admission
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Under siege: the medieval fortress
Do the Tower defences have a weak spot? A medieval costumed character will help your students consider the Tower as a fortress, from the rudimentary Norman defences to the outer curtain built by Edward I.
By exploring the development of castlebuilding throughout the medieval period, this session especially supports the key concepts of change and continuity and cause and consequence, and the key process of using evidence.
Monday to Friday
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
50 minutes
£90 plus admission
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The Normans
It is 1097 and William I's greatest fortress and palace, the White Tower, has just been completed. One of William's courtiers will help students explore this magnificent keep, examining its exterior, defences and symbolic power as the great 'Norman fist on Anglo-Saxon soil'.
This session especially supports the key concepts of significance and interpretation, analysing the purpose and impact of the White Tower, and the key process of using evidence.
Monday to Friday
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
50 minutes
£90 plus admission
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Medieval music
Medieval scientists and musicians were attuned to music all around them: in dance, the motions of the planets, even the principles of architecture. Using recreated musical and scientific instruments of the period, a costumed presenter will help students learn how sounds and harmony are made. Modern stroboscopes and oscilloscopes will also be used to discuss sound in scientific terms of amplitude and frequency.
This session especially supports the key concept of cultural understanding of the medieval period, and the key process of historical enquiry.
Please note: a low intensity light strobe is used for short periods, and will be signalled to students and staff.
Fridays
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
1 hour
£90 plus admission
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Tower Hamlets: living in a diverse world
The Tower Hamlets area has been arguably the most diverse corner of the world over the last 400 years. The 'Hamlets' governed by the Tower of London have been home to generations of Irish, Jewish, Huguenot French, Bangladeshi, Somali and other immigrants of many nationalities. This session will explore the stories of the world's diaspora in the East End, and the ancient ties the Tower of London has with its diverse neighbourhood.
This session especially supports the key concept of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity through case-study examination of the borough.
Available: 22–26 March 2010
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
1 hour
£90 plus admission
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The history detectives
Enquiry-based workshops
These sessions use costumed characters as sources of evidence for your students to interrogate. After a preparatory session with our Education Officer, your students will get the chance to 'hot-seat' either a peasant from the revolt of 1381, King Richard III or Edmund Campion, Jesuit priest.
These sessions especially support the key concept of interpretation as students form their own opinions of historic figures, and the key processes of historical enquiry and using evidence.
Tuesdays
10.45, 12.00, 13.30
1 hour
£90 plus admission
Available topics:
The princes in the Tower
Did Richard III murder the two princes? Your students have the chance to ask the man himself! Richard's actions and subsequent reputation will be explored to evoke his personality and possible motives for seizing the throne, before students construct a line of questioning to put to the King in person.
The Peasants’ Revolt
The year is 1381 and the Peasants' Revolt has just swept through the Tower of London. Richard II is due to meet Wat Tyler at Smithfield tomorrow, and the young King is desperate to know the peasants' latest demands. Luckily, during the rampage in the royal palace, a peasant was captured. King Richard has asked your group to carry out the interrogation...
Elizabeth I
The year is 1580 and the Jesuits have arrived in England in secret. Edmund Campion has been captured and brought to the Tower. Debate rages in Elizabeth's council: is this Catholic man of faith a threat to the Queen or not? Students will be split into two opposing court factions, after which Campion will be brought forth for interrogation. The prevailing faction will decide his fate...
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Take a peek...
For the first time ever students can put on hard hats, access the conservation site, and take a closer look at the White Tower. Working in three different teams, students will investigate the fabric of the Tower firsthand, exploring the different approaches taken by a scientist, a designer and a conservator as they work on this amazing project. This session especially supports the key process of enquiry in Geography and Science.
Tuesday to Thursday
Autumn/summer only
11.00, 13.30
90 minutes
£100 plus admission
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Tower of London: a landmark setting?
The White Tower conservation project is a great opportunity to study how the setting and environment of the Tower of London has evolved throughout its history, most notably in the last 60 years. Is the White Tower still a City landmark? Students will enhance their analytical and creative thinking skills as they debate different attitudes and values associated with the Tower. This session especially supports the key process of geographical enquiry.
Tuesday to Thursday
11.00, 13.30
1 hour
£90 plus admission
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Curriculum information
Range and content: 'Monarchy', 'Imprisonment, escape and execution', 'The Normans', 'Under siege' and 'History detectives' relate to history 'd', the development of political power, including changes in the relationship between rulers and ruled. 'Monarchy' also relates to history 'e', changing relationships of the peoples of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 'Tudor religion' and 'Medieval music' relate to British history 'g', the way in which the lives, beliefs, ideas and attitudes of people have changed over time. 'Tower Hamlets' relates to history 'f', the impact of the movement and settlement of diverse peoples. 'Take a peek' connects in particular to Science section 3.4, 'the environment, Earth and universe', and Geography '1.5', physical and human processes. 'A landmark setting' connects to Geography '1.7', cultural understanding and diversity.
Across the curriculum: these sessions support English teaching, in particular the key concept of competence and the key process of speaking and listening. 'Medieval music' connects to Music key concepts of cultural and critical understanding, and content section 'e', consideration of contextual influences. 'Tower Hamlets' connects to the Citizenship key concept of identity and diversity, and content section 'e', migration.
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