Cambourne pupils turn school hall into First World War museum for Armistice Day

paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 18 November 2022

Children at Monkfield Park Primary School in Cambourne turned their hall into a First World War museum for Armistice Day.

The Year 6 pupils created activities and displays, then showed pupils from other year groups around the museum to help them learn about the war.

Silhouette art was on display at the Monkfield Park Primary School First World War museum. Picture: Keith Heppell

At the end of the school day, parents were also about to visit and look around the temporary museum, which included a striking display of wartime photographs, silhouette artwork from the pupils and a display of their clay models of medals, with information about soldiers.

Year 6 pupils Monkfield Park Primary School made a First World War museum, including a first aid station. Picture: Keith Heppell

A first aid station showed what was involved in helping soldiers in the field, while visitors were invited to match slogans to partially covered wartime propaganda posters.

Images from a visit by an expert with artefacts from the war were also on show.

Monkfield Park Primary School’s Year 6 pupils made a First World War museum for other year groups and parents to visit. Picture: Keith Heppell

Year 6 teacher Adam Frame said: “The museum has been a huge success.

“The feedback from children and staff has been extremely positive.

Pupils could make poppies at the wartime museum. Picture: Keith Heppell

“The most popular activity proved to be poppy making.

“The children also really enjoyed reading about soldiers from the Great War and admiring clay models Year 6 children made of their medals.

Pupils from other year groups were shown around the First World War museum. Picture: Keith Heppell

“Guessing the ingredients of the parkin cake was also very popular, although surprisingly challenging - I only managed to guess one correctly.”

There was a striking display of wartime photographs on display at Monkfield Park Primary School’s First World War museum. Picture: Keith Heppell

Bhavesh, in Green class, said: “I enjoyed tasting the parkin cake and guessing the ingredients and guessing the slogans for the propaganda posters.”

And Adeniyi, also in Green class, said: ”I liked looking at the medals the children have made from clay.”

Pupils at Monkfield Park Primary School made clay models of medals for their First World War museum. Picture: Keith Heppell

Aseye, from Phoenix class, enjoyed making the poppies for Remembrance, while Ayla, of Delphinus class, said: “I like how it looks like an actual museum.

“There are lots of fun activities and things to look at. I have enjoyed helping the younger children make poppies.”

Sofia, from Pegasus class, added: “It was really fun seeing the children from other year groups enjoying the activities in our museum.”

Monkfield Park Primary School Year 6 pupils made a WWI museum for the rest of the school to visit. Picture: Keith Heppell. (60600503)

Parents visiting were also invited to complete a short questionnaire on the school’s history projects.

Education News School South Cambridgeshire Paul Brackley