Bringing History to life for Year 2

07.10.2026

Year 2 were recently transported back in time to London in 1666 for an exciting and immersive Great Fire of London workshop, led by History off the Page.

The girls were full of enthusiasm as they visited a range of activity stations, experiencing what life might have been like during this fascinating period in history. They made candles, embroidered cloth, created ink to write with a feather quill, embossed leather and plaited loaves of bread.

The girls also had great fun visiting the apothecary, where they made posies of herbs, and also the barber’s shop, where they discovered that a visit to the barber could involve much more than simply having a haircut! They learned that barbers could also carry out procedures such as using leeches and even surgery to treat ailments.

The girls learned about the spread of the Great Fire and worked together to recreate how people tried to stop it. They formed human chains to pass buckets of water along the line and used hooks to pull down houses to prevent the fire from spreading.

In the afternoon, the girls became archaeologists. They sifted through debris to uncover artefacts and then used their detective skills to work out what type of building the objects may have come from.

It was an exciting and memorable day that truly brought history to life. Through hands-on experiences and role play, the girls were able to immerse themselves in the past, develop their understanding of life in 1666 and discover new historical facts in a fun and engaging way.