On Wednesday the Year 2 children were lucky enough to experience life in London in 1666. They were greeted by Master Patrick who put the children straight to work. The children started the morning by becoming apprentices on the streets of London, learning skills common for workers of the era: leather working, metal working, sewing, etc. The city survived an outbreak of bubonic plague the previous year and the city was crowded and rats filled the streets. The children had to work tirelessly in their shops and also on the streets to get rid of the rats to prevent the plaque from spreading.
As the children learned their trades, a fire was spreading. There was also gossip spreading all around the city and no one was sure how the fire had started but it was rumored it began in Thomas Farriner’s bakery. With the flames drawing closer, the children had to take action and try to put the fire out using leather buckets but it was not enough.
In the afternoon, the children excavated what was left of the charred city, looking for personal belongings and important legal documents to help the city start the process of rebuilding.
A fantastic day was had by all and it certainly enhanced the children’s learning of the Great Fire of London and brought the event to life. Thank you too all our parent volunteers who made the day possible and thank you to all the parents for this event and for the children’s wonderful costumes.
