History

Our Amazing Trip to Geevor Tin Mine!

Wow! What an exciting day we had at Geevor Tin Mine! We travelled back in time to learn about tin mining in Cornwall and even became miners for the day.

Wearing hard hats, we explored a real mine. It was dark, damp, and spooky! We saw how tin was separated from rocks, used old tools, and tried drilling and crushing rocks ourselves.

Next, we panned for gold and found gems—just like real treasure hunters! We visited the locker room, left just as miners had last used it, and ended the day with a fun Cornish sing-along.

We had an amazing time and learned so much.

Year 3 had an unforgettable experience this week when Clint from Geevor Mine came to visit us! He brought history to life with his fascinating stories about what it was like to be a miner in Cornwall, both in the 19th century and in the 1990s. The children were amazed to learn how mining has changed over the years and just how tough the job was!

One of the highlights of the visit was the chance to dress up in traditional mining clothing. The children had so much fun trying on the outfits and imagining what it must have been like to work deep underground. They also had the opportunity to feel the weight of real mining equipment—everyone was shocked at how heavy it was! It really helped us appreciate the hard work and strength needed to be a miner.

There were gasps of amazement when Clint told us that, in the past, children as young as three used to go down into the mines! It was difficult to believe, but it helped us understand just how different life was for children in those times.

We are now even more excited for our upcoming visit to Geevor Mine next week! We can’t wait to explore the site in person and see firsthand the places and equipment Clint told us about. Stay tuned for more updates after our trip!

Earlier this week, Year 3 dressed up in their finest Ancient Egyptian attire for a day celebrating their Ancient Egypt topic.

To start the day, the children showed off their dance moves to the song Walk Like an Egyptian.

Throughout the rest of the day, the children completed their own booklets filled with Ancient Egyptian activities, explored non-fiction books, and made their own papyrus.

There were lots of excellent costumes, and the day was enjoyed by all! Well done, and thank you, Year 3 (and parents!).

On Wednesday 13th November, Class 12 delved into the history of the Penwith area by visiting Penlee House and Museum and Carn Euny Stone Age settlement. In the morning, we participated in a Stone Age workshop, learning lots of information and taking on the role of historians and archeologists. As historians, we studied artefacts and handled replicas which helped us to understand more about the life of a Stone Age human. Inside the museum, we investigated artifacts that have been discovered in the Penwith area.

“I enjoyed the treasure hunt in the museum.” Noa

“It was great when we got to handle the replicas.” Noah

“Making the coin badge was really great, and I liked that I got to take it home.” Lucy

After lunch, we ventured down some narrow country lanes to the ancient site of Carn Euny village. After exploring the village and discussing how and why these people lived here, the children tackled a question that has been baffling archeologists and historians: What is a fogou (an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British-defended settlement sites in Cornwall).