IT WAS all hands to the pumps when an air raid warden dropped in to share his knowledge of life during a world war.
Pupils from Barnard Castle Preparatory School were taught how to put out fires with buckets of water and stirrup pumps as well as tackle incendiary bombs with sand bags.
They also gained first-hand experience of a host of World War II artefacts including gas masks and hand cranked air raid sirens.
Historic Workshops expert Rob Pinches spent the day with Year 6 pupils at an immersive World War II school workshop.
The event followed on from a recent visit to London’s Imperial War Museum and feeds into Remembrance Day memorial services and the Year 6 Achievement Award, the school’s alterative to taking SATs, which will also be on World War II.
Year 6 teacher Katie Shearn said: “The children have been reading about the lives of evacuees in Goodnight Mr Tom, so were very quick to immerse themselves in the day. They had so many questions on what life was like for children during the war. They absolutely loved it.”
Mr Pinches, who dressed as an air raid patrol warden, added: “We address the subject through the eyes of a child and share what life was like for them on the home front. The Barney children were so focussed and asked hundreds of questions, they were superb.”
Headmistress Laura Turner said: “Our pupils greatly benefit from interactive learning which is why we organise so many trips and immersive sessions. These are the days the children will remember into adulthood and the many beaming faces I saw on the day were proof that our learning is engaging and fun.
“Pupils will continue to study World War II as part of their Achievement Award which we firmly believe is a more effective, far less stressful and much more relevant alternative to sitting SATs exams in Year 6.”
