Putting on a Pageant 1578

‘Putting on a Pageant 1578’ (POP 1578) is a FREE* online primary school heritage education programme. Through the lens of local history, POP 1578 explores the exciting story of Queen Elizabeth I’s journey across East Anglia culminating in magnificent festivities in Norwich in 1578.

Using a methodology called ‘Structured Stories through Immersive Adventures’** we approach the telling of Queen Elizabeth I’s unique visit to Norwich using film clips of an archivist and a ‘real’ Elizabethan called Thomas Churchyard. The clips are further supported by story maps, drama games, animation, and craft activities. POP 1578 acts as a springboard for historical study and storytelling across primary key stages.

Starting the POP 1578 programme could not be simpler. Curious Spark offers free in-school or live online training sessions to support teaching staff to become familiar with the content of POP 1578 and how to deliver it in class.

POP 1578 uses one Google Slide for each session. Each session Google Slide includes a series of film clips, activities and recaps. The teacher simply clicks through each slide page to enjoy and complete the session with their pupils. All session resources are downloadable/printable from the POP 1578 website including teaching guidance for each session, lesson plans, aims and objectives, and pre-written letter templates and tasks to send home.

There will be some preparation and printing of resources needed and organising occasional art resources and implements to be available ahead of time.

Explore More at Home

To truly embed the POP 1578 approach, we ask that the parents/carers of your pupils become involved with ‘Explore More at Home’. This involves short, simple talking activities as ‘homework’ as well as 3 exciting filmed parent/carer and child  creative activity sessions, including; filmed drama games, animation and art sessions which can be enjoyed by children, parents and carers at home or as in-school session. Explore More at Home’ fosters good communication skills and parent, carer, school connectivity.

There are ‘Explore More at Home’ letters home already included as resources for you personalise with school details, dates and times so it is a good idea to plan when to send these out to gain the maximum attendance by parent/carers.