The team at Epworth Old Rectory are excited to bring you our new learning programme which will be available from September 2024. Engaging with cultural and heritage activities enhances children’s learning and here at the Rectory allows them to be fully immersed in multisensory experiences.
Located in the historic market town of Epworth, the Rectory offers a unique learning environment. Traditionally, the story of the Wesley family is told but there is so much more to the Old Rectory which can be explored through our exciting school’s programme.
The Granary is available for lunch.
Each of our workshops offer children an immersive and hands on experience to complement what they have learnt in class.
Workshops are designed to meet National Curriculum requirements.
Workshops can be adapted to meet the needs of your pupils.
Workshops are delivered by DBS checked members of staff
Four workshops have been written focusing on the story of the Wesley family. Our full workshop brochure, coming soon, contains history and science workshops meeting National Curriculum targets.
Wonderful Wesley’s
This full day workshop introduces children to the Wesley family. Children will learn about members of the family and will take part in four different activities including working in the Physic Garden, learning in Susanna’s kitchen classroom, a tour of the house and handling 18th century objects similar to those used by the Wesley family.
Walking with the Wesley’s
Walking around the town of Epworth, children will visit the areas closely associated with the John and Samuel Wesley. Children will hear how John Wesley returned to Epworth as an adult and how Methodism spread through the Isle. This workshop links to the KS2 R.E Curriculum and explores how John Wesley brought God’s message to the people, the hostility he encountered and how he overcame it.
Susanna’s Coverlet
This art-based workshop is inspired by a coverlet Susanna Wesley made between 1710 and 1735. Children will engage all the senses as they tour the house and grounds and gain inspiration from what they see, hear, smell and touch to help them produce their own coverlet using a variety of media. Children will work in groups and share their ideas to create a masterpiece which they can take back to school.
Powerful Plants
Children will be working in and around the Physic Garden which is inspired by John Wesley’s book ‘Primitive Physic’. Working through a series of investigations and experiments children will learn how plants grow, what conditions are required for different plants, record observations and report their findings to the rest of the group. Children will also learn how plants were used in the 18th century for medicinal purposes.
In addition to the workshops focused on the Wesley family, we offer a further three workshops:
Insect Investigators
Using a range of scientific equipment children will collect and observe a variety of insects found in different areas of the Rectory’s grounds. Children will learn about the importance of protecting and taking care of the grounds where these creatures live and what they need to survive.
Habitat Hunters
Exploring the grounds, children will investigate microhabitats and consider what animals call in their home, how the habitat changes with the seasons and what impact this has on the animals. Working in groups, children will then have the opportunity to create their own habitat for a chosen creature.
Portal to the Prehistoric
How did Prehistoric people live in the Isle of Axholme all those years ago? In this immersive workshop children will step back in time and learn how our ancestors lived over 2000 years ago. Children will examine real and replica objects and discover how these objects were used in daily life and how they changed over time. Using our secure outdoor area, children will learn a variety of techniques used in daily life to survive.
If you have any enquiries please contact our Outreach, Learning and Engagement Manager on: olem@epwortholdrectory.org.uk for more information.
