Bayeux Tapestry online workshop for Year 5!

Last week, Year 5 stepped back in time nearly 1,000 years for an exciting online interactive workshop hosted by the British Museum.

Although our main history topic on the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans isn't until later this school year, we couldn't miss out on this fantastic learning opportunity!

During the session, pupils had the chance to put their historian hats on and examine high-resolution images of the famous artifact. One of the biggest discoveries of the day? Learning that the Bayeux Tapestry isn't actually a tapestry at all—it's an embroidery! Unlike a true tapestry, where designs are woven into the fabric itself, this famous piece of art was hand-stitched onto linen using wool thread.

Some of the questions the children submitted: 

'What do the patterns around the edge show?' - Jamie 

'Why are there more men in the images than women?' Michelle 

Our young historians acted as real history detectives, closely analyzing scenes, characters, armor, and Latin captions to piece together the dramatic events surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Year 5 didn't hold back with their curiosity—they asked insightful questions directly to the museum experts, diving into everything from how the embroidery survived so many centuries to what daily life was like for the people featured on it.

It was an inspiring morning that brought history vividly to life right in our classroom. The children are already full of enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to dive even deeper into the world of Saxons and Normans later in the year!