Just the same old leapfrog -
children playing the age-old game in a Peter Breugel painting

A new workshop based on how children played in Tudor times has been developed by the Museum’s Schools Service.

During the Winter Schools Service Manager Jennie Peel worked with colleagues and volunteers to develop this interesting new workshop. When we study people from other times and cultures, we are most often struck by the differences between their lives and our own. However children’s play seems remarkably similar. Using as a starting point, the Breugel print Children’s Games, pupils are encouraged to explore the differences and similarities and to make comparisons with their own lives. By providing replica toys and games from the period they have the chance to discover how children learned and played. After trials with a local school the Museum is offering this activity either as a workshop at the Museum or through Outreach and as a loan box. The Museum’s semi retired carpenter, Roger Champion, made the project possible by studying the Breugel print and creating the replica toys. Norman Bartlett, a volunteer at the Museum, made some of the games.

“I’m now considering extending this theme into the Victorian period, as it has been so well received,” says Jennie, “and perhaps relating it to an historical timeline in different cultures, and a cross-curricular project including Art and Design Technology.” The Schools Service Department is also looking forward to its involvement with the Year of Food and Farming, being run nationwide in 2007, as it will give the Museum the chance to explore different approaches with young people about food and farming issues, and to develop best practice in this area of Learning Outside the Classroom.  

Background Information

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The schools service welcomes over 25,000 schoolchildren a year for workshops and teacher led visits covering all aspects of the curriculum.

Note to Editors

For more information about this workshop contact Jennie Peel, Schools Services Manager on 01243 811028 or email

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. For further information call Rachel Neville on 01243 811459  or schoolbookings@wealddown.co.uk.

Full details about the services to schools offered by the Museum can be found on the website www.openairclassroom.org.ok.

Full details of the Museum and all of its activities can be found at www.wealddown.co.uk