School Travel Organiser focuses on Tatton Park’s 2016 Roald Dahl centenary celebrations and educational programme.
Tatton Park in Cheshire is celebrating 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl with a series of events starting in April; and an accompanying educational programme has also been revealed.
The programme lends itself to English, Maths, Design Technology and Science via story telling sessions, outdoor workshops and creative courses, all suitable for Key Stages 1 and 2.
The different events to choose from all have a different Roald Dahl book theme. Favourite characters appearing throughout the summer include Matilda, Fantastic Mr Fox, and James (of giant peach fame).
The entire Tatton Park site will be involved in the centenary celebrations, and children can join in workshops both inside the Tatton mansion as well as in the park and gardens.
James and the Giant Peach Garden Experience
Subjects: English and Science
The James and the Giant Peach workshop takes place in Tatton Park’s orchard. Students will learn about mini-beasts living in the undergrowth, not unlike those in the story (think grasshopper, spider and centipede).
Pupils will also learn all about plants, flowers and trees, as well as the fruit and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden.
The day ends with a storytelling session, with extracts read from James and the Giant Peach.
Matilda Mansion Experience
Subjects: English
This is an indoor workshop, during which pupils will delve into the themes from the book Matilda.
The class will be encouraged to take on some tricky puzzles in a classroom styled like that of Matilda’s teacher Miss Honey.
This session will be followed by a storytelling tour around the Tatton mansion; children should keep their eyes peeled for important objects from the book.
Danny, the Champion of the World Garden Experience
Subjects: English, Science and Design Technology
In Roald Dahl’s Danny, the Champion of the World, Danny and his Dad make a lot of exciting inventions together, and it is this that is reflected in the garden workshop experience.
Pupils will work as a team to navigate an obstacle course to locate pheasants – those not familiar with the book should note that pheasants feature quite a lot throughout the story.
The class will then take part in a kite making workshop, followed by listening to extracts from Danny, the Champion of the World.
Fantastic Mr Fox Farm Experience
Subjects: English, Science and Maths
This session takes place around the onsite farm at Tatton, and pupils will find out if they are quite as fantastic at navigating as Fantastic Mr Fox is.
Pupils will explore a trail; they’ll have to navigate their way to a fox’s den using a map and their compass skills.
This workshop also shows what working on a farm is like, linking to the farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean in the Dahl story.
Pupils will also get to meet animals that live on the farm before finishing the workshop with some storytelling from Fantastic Mr Fox.
School trip information
All the Roald Dahl sessions are 90 minutes long and available for teachers to book between April and July.
It costs £5.80 per pupil for each workshop; however, if teachers are booking two workshops in one day, the rate will be discounted, costing £8.80 per pupil for both. Classes will then be able to enjoy one Roald Dahl workshop in the morning and one in the afternoon.
A lunch room is available to hire on site for £20, although this is included free for teachers booking two experiences.
Further highlights
Across the month of October, Tatton Park will be participating in The Big Draw; a nationwide celebration of art and drawing.
This arty festival will have its details confirmed closer to the time; organisers can expect a Roald Dahl-esque twist though.
Teachers should also look out for news about Roald Dahl Christmas sessions, details of which will be confirmed later in the year.
For further school travel information visit www.tattonpark.org.uk/learn.
