IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The Education Department web-pages are currently being revised and some of the visit programmes on offer will be modified over the next three months. Please use the current Education web pages as a guideline, but for further information on the options for school visits to the Shrine please contact the new Schools Administrator, Brigid Harrison, on 01328 824200 or email: schools@olw-shrine.org.uk

Brigid will officially start work on 16th August 2010, working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 0830 to 1230. Her telephone number will then change to 01328 824205. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact her for information and advice.
 

Primary and (lower) Middle School - KS 1/2

(For KS 3/4 and A/AS level click here)

First Steps:

A half-day or day visit programme for Foundation Stage (ages 3 - 5); also adaptable for Reception/Year 1

A new programme especially geared and linked to the new National Framework for RE guidelines for Foundation Stage • a series of activities based on play, games and 'hands-on' discovery • children will be encouraged to explore and experience a special 'Holy Place' called a church • an introduction to the term 'Christian' • emphasis will be placed throughout the day on communication of thoughts verbally, through painting, sensory activities and other media

To be a Pilgrim:

QCA RE KS2 Units 1B, 1D, 1F, 2D, 3A, 3E & 6A. Also adaptable to KS1

A hands on experience of pilgrimage • estimate the historical roots of pilgrimage to Walsingham and other places • be a pilgrim for the day • make a procession, visit the Holy House and explore the Priory ruins.

P is for Pilgrimage . . . the bigger picture:

Linked to Key Stage 2, Local Agreed RE Syllabi/QCA Units on worship/beliefs/places of worship/practices - and in particular, pilgrimage

Exploration of major Christian sites of national religious significance as stipulated by the new National Framework for RE Guidelines • engages students in activities which explore other sites of pilgrimage across the world • encourages discussion/exploration of sacred places, holy places. shrines, etc. • be a Walsingham pilgrim - take part in pilgrimage activities on a pilgrim trail around the Shrine and gardens

Wonderful Earth Day:

KS2 - spend the morning exploring the Walsingham woodlands - their structure - tree variety - date and measure trees - bark rubbing - insect and animal habitats - food chains; in the afternoon - dance, music and poetry reflecting the wonder of creation, our stewardship of the planet Earth and the Christian beliefs.

Checkpoint Church:

QCA RE KS2 Unit 4D

Children are invited to be Church Detectives and to check in on the Walsingham churches trail • an ideal programme to supplement all aspects of teaching about Christian places of worship • visit the Methodist church, Orthodox church and the Shrine • interview a nun, compare and contrast the symbolism, atmosphere and worship styles.

The Big C - Christianity unpacked:

KS1/2 Linked to: QCA and Agreed Syllabi Units on visiting places of worship, beliefs and community

Life in a faith community - explore the Shrine and the Parish church • beliefs, behaviour and practices - rituals and practices • symbolism and language/religions and their artefacts • key figures - Jesus, Mary and the saints, how they are depicted in our churches.

Come to Bethlehem!:

For KS 1 & 2 linked to QCA RE Unit 4B 'Christmas Journeys'

A day of activities to enable children to make an imaginary journey to Bethlehem and visit the Christ child • lots of inter-active games/stories/drama and artefact handling to explore this special Christian festival  • children are invited to join Mary and Joseph on their journey to the stable and think about modern journeys to Walsingham or the Holy Land • make an Advent wreath and look at how Christians/churches prepare for Christmas • experience a special quiet time by the crib in the Holy House

The Walsingham Easter Trail:

KS2 linked to QCA RE Unit 4C

Easter as a Christian festival, its importance, symbols associated with it, the 'first' Easter • vocabulary - crucifixion, the road to the cross, betrayal, the Last Supper, resurrection, worship etc. •  procession, ritual and worship associated with the Easter festival in Christian churches. • music, song, candles, pictures, statues and prayers

Worship Round The World:

KS 1/2 linked to all QCA/Syllabi units on worship/Christian beliefs and practices, citizenship and spiritual/cultural development

An exciting multi-cultural activity day which explores how Christians express their faith in various parts of the world: • Christian traditional Indian dance workshop • music and song from around the world • prayer in many languages • crosses galore • discover the Shrine.

Faith through the Arts:

KS2 linked to QCA RE Unit 6F and all units/agreed syllabi units on worship/places of worship

Explore how Christians use icons, statues and Stations of the Cross • encourage children to respond to paintings, music, song, vestments, incense, furniture and other artefacts •  to encourage oral, visual and aural responses and the expression of the children's own thoughts, opinions and feelings based on what they experience

The Walsingham Medieval Monks' Trail:

Linked to Local Agreed Syllabus for RE KS2 religions and life, community, beliefs and practices. QCA history Unit 4 - how did the medieval church affect people's lifes?

This offers children a series of carefully structured activities to enhance the children's background knowledge of life in medieval monasteries and its relevance in modern times • meet the canons • discover all about Walsingham Priory and the daily life of the monks • learn to sing some plainsong • meet a modern nun and find out what life in a convent is like today

Let's Celebrate!:

KS 1 & 2 Christian Festivals - linked to QCA Units 4B, 1C, 2C, 4C and RA

Christmas and Easter - Harvest - Mothering Sunday - Pentecost - Candlemass - Ascension Day • what do we celebrate in life and why? • why do Christians celebrate special festivals? • what do they do? • the Big Christianity Celebration Cake • the Shrine Festivals Carousel - a series of activities around the Shrine Church

Cross Curricular Carousel:

A day of exploration and activity to enhance National Curriculum/QCA units for Tudors, Saxons, medieval history. RE linked to QCA and Agreed Syllabus units on places of worship, beliefs and practices

Rotate around a series of cross curricular activities to gain optimum value from your day visit. Ideal for linking your RE across the curriculum. • geography - a village study/use of buildings/facilities • history - medieval or Tudor focus, drama in the Priory grounds/monastic life/the Dissolution • RE experience the Holy House/spiritual development/candles etc. • English - creative writing in the Shrine Church/responding to artefacts.

Medieval Moments:

KS2 - may be linked to National Curriculum history - Anglo-Saxon England

Bring your class for a day of exciting learning activities around the priory ruins, village and shrine • come dressed in Saxon attire (optional)  • life in a medieval village - homes/food/social classes; faith, miracles, healing, worship, monastic life • have a medieval banquet lunch (optional) with music and entertainment from a jester • meet the Prior Thomas and Lady Richeldis who'll take you back in time to unravel the Walsingham legend and lead you through a range of learning activities.

The Tudor Experience:

KS2 linked to QCA History Units 7 & 8 - an educational visit with a difference - fun, learning and delicious food!

Become a Tudor noble, townsperson or peasant for the day (costumes available for up to 46 children) • explore the village and the Priory • act out the dissolution of the Priory • take part in a banquet with jester entertainment (classes are encourage to contribute) • learn to the dance the pavanne • visit the Shrine - the "new" Holy House and the well

The Victorian Experience:

QCA History KS2 Units 11 & 12

Become a Victorian child for a day • explore life in the Victorian age; transport - the coming of the railways • crime and punishment - visit the court and prison • social history activities • experience school room activities, write on a slate, go to chapel and eat a Victorian lunch (optional)

What's Your Story?:

English, literacy and RE on the move! Why not think about bringing QCA/Syllabi RE themes alive through story, poetry and creative writing?

This day offers the opportunity to explore Bible stories (tell us which you would like) through storytelling and drama • be a poet - listen to poems about prayer/holy places/special times and write your own in response to special moments in the church and Holy House • learn about worship - icons, crucifixes, statues and candles • tell us what you would like to do and we will plan a programme of activities

A Special Day for Special Schools:

A focused activity day specially adapted for children with special educational needs

Hands-on activities using music, art, artefacts, active workshops around the Shrine • themes such as 'How Christians Worship' and 'Pilgrimage' • festivals and key figures for Christians - this can be adapted for children across the whole spectrum of learning difficulties

(Upper) Middle and Secondary School - KS 3/4 and A/AS level

The Big W:

Explore Christian places of worship in Walsingham - a day visit programme for KS3. Also ideal for GCSE and adaptable for A level groups

Suitable for individual class groups or larger scale year group visits • visit three/four places of worship in the village (Russian Orthodox, Methodist, the Anglican Shrine, plus the option of the parish church • focus on la out, furnishings, worship, vessels, icons, music and prayer • compare and contrast - with activity sheets • discover more about Christian pilgrimage to this famous holy site

What's Pilgrimage?:

For KS 3/4 - ideal for GCSE - adaptable for large or small groups

Programme A - visit the Roman Catholic National Shrine (the Slipper Chapel) at Houghton St Giles • walk the Holy Mile barefoot the way medieval pilgrims did (optional!) • reach the Anglican Shrine and have a picnic lunch • explore the Shrine site - gardens, Stations of the Cross, the holy well, the Shrine Church and Holy House • meet a nun or a priest and find out about vocation and lifestyle • Sprinkling at the well • (Programme B - without the visit to the RC Shrine and with Sprinkling optional)

Pilgrimage - the Whole Story!:

For KS3 - ideal for GCSE groups - adaptable for large or small groups; this programme offers links with medieval/Tudor history plus a full historical background to Walsingham as a place of pilgrimage, then and now

Introductory activities in the classroom - the Walsingham background • out and about to the Priory ruins - the first Holy House, the ruins of the great Priory church, what happened in the crypt in 1538? - the monks' bath and the holy wells • picnic lunch • focus on modern pilgrims • explore the Shrine and be a pilgrim

Dialogue Day - for KS 3/4:

Debates and workshops - meet faith leaders from Christian denominations and other world faiths - opportunities to grapple with key issues such as war, the Iraq crisis, euthanasia, racism, marriage and sex.

Mix 'n' Match:

A cross-curricular programme for KS3

Offers the opportunity for several departments (in particular history and RE) to work together in planning a day or residential visit for a class or year group •  we suggest a blend of medieval/Tudor history/RE  (pilgrimage and worship, creative English - poetry based on artefacts, paintings, icons, statues, candles) and geography - effects of tourism and pilgrimage on the village. Dance/drama also an option • activity sheets provided • opportunities to extend this into a residential visit and other Christian churches in Walsingham, the RC Slipper Chapel, coastal geography work, a visit to Norwich (cathedral and castle), Castle Acre (castle and priory ruins) and the King's Lynn museums could be included. We can help plan this for you.

The Big Questions!:

A special programme for students following short course GCSE/A level - also adaptable for KS3

A day programme that offers activities that enable students to discover the spirituality of the Shrine and find out about pilgrimage and worship and its modern relevance • structured discussion/debating groups led by priests/visiting speakers/nuns on key topics such as euthanasia, "A just war?", environmental issues, "Should women be priests?", abortion and other moral issues • opportunities to find out about the vocation to the religious life by meeting and quizzing Shrine clergy, nuns and Orthodox priests • exploratory activities - religious art and symbolism

Across the World:

A new and exciting programme for KS3 that explores how Christians worship world-wide

A global faith • worship through dance (traditional Indian Christian dancing led by Susanna Harrington) • songs of praise in many languages • prayer across the world • One Body - The Eucharist/The Mass across the world • altars, candles and other such symbolic objects

Festivals:

Why do Christians celebrate festivals and what are they? A programme especially geared towards lower KS3

Why is Christmas important to Christians? • Who was Jesus? Resurrection . mystery, fiction, fable or fib? • what's the Holy Spirit? • symbols, objects, funny clothes, candles etc. - how are they used in worship and to celebrate festivals? • quiz a priest or nun about why these festivals are important to their faith • a series of rotational activities taking place in the Shrine Church chapels and Holy House

Signs and Symbols - and a glimpse at faith through art:

This popular programme for primary schools has now been expanded and is now on offer for KS3

A day that focuses specifically on the importance of signs and symbols in Christianity and other world faiths • what are symbols and signs? • symbols used by the very first Christians • are symbols used by other world faiths? • how have artists interpreted key Christian figures and beliefs through painting and sculpture? • key Christian symbols - in the Shrine • an aid to worship and prayer?

Suitcase Programmes:

Why not consider a residential mid-week visit?

Many schools at KS2 and KS3 already do it • book a building for your exclusive use mid-week - shared rooms on various floors available • full board and packed lunches available for trips out • beaches, historical/heritage sites, cathedrals and more • make a cross-curricular trip - we'll help you plan it • any of our programmes can be adapted to fit in with a residential visit

Find out what the Youngsters and Teachers think.