Primary school sessions
We are pleased to offer a variety of sessions at Fulham Palace for Early Years, KS1 and KS2. All sessions relate to Fulham Palace and a wider field of knowledge.
Our sessions include costume, archive material and object handling where appropriate.
We have a large lawn which is perfect for picnics. But in case of rain, a lunch room is available.
Booking is essential for all sessions. 2012/13 sessions cost £80 for schools from Hammersmith and Fulham and £85 for other borough and private schools. 2013/14 sessions cost £85 for schools from Hammersmith and Fulham and £90 for other borough and private schools.
Special needs
Fulham Palace welcomes special needs schools. The tranquil building and gardens is a sympathetic environment. All of the sessions below are available with a sensory curriculum.
Fulham Palace is fully accessible for wheelchair users.
For specific queries and to discuss the needs of your class please contact our learning team.
Organise a school visit
To make a provisional booking, please download our booking form below, and email it to mail@fulhampalace.org or call 020 7610 7169 for more information. We will be in touch shortly to either confirm the date, or suggest alternatives if the date chosen is unavailable.
Download:
Fulham Palace Schools Booking Form (pdf)
Fulham Palace Schools Booking Form (Word)
Primary school sessions
The following Schools Programme can also be downloaded through clicking the link below:
Fulham Palace Schools Programme for 2012-2013 (pdf)
Fulham Palace Schools Programme for 2013-2014 (pdf)
Romans
Archaeology, river transport, domestic life on the Palace site. Use the handling collection of real & replica objects, wear Roman or Celtic costume to experience Roman life, try on soldier’s helmet.
Period costume offered for all the children in your class.
- Sessions:
10am, 9 September – 25 October 2013
10am, 7 January – 6 March 2014
Tudors
Use the market stall or have a banquet to re-enact and compare lives of rich & poor. Wear Tudor costume & handle objects, even try the costume of Henry VII or Elizabeth I! Experience life as a poor man or a nobleman in Tudor times, relating to the Palace & the wider world.
Period costume offered for all the children in your class.
- Sessions:
11 March – 24 May 2013 (market) Mondays & Tuesdays only
10.30am, 11 September – 25 October 2013 (banquet)
10.30am, 7 January – 14 February 2014 (market)
10.30am, 11 March – 22 July 2014 (market) Mondays & Tuesdays only
Medieval Fayre New session
Re-enact and compare lives of rich & poor. Wear Medieval costume & handle objects. Experience life as a poor man or a nobleman at the time of the Magna Carta.
- Sessions:
10.30am, 24 February – 6 March 2014
Austerity Britain: Fulham Palace in WWII
Real life stories of bombs & hiding for air raids, & evacuation of London children. Step into the life of an evacuee by putting on 1940s costume and learn about rationing & scarce food. N.B. This is an atmospheric session with lots of role-play.
Period costume offered for all the children in your class.
- Sessions:
4 March – 26 April 2013
10am, 11 March – 11 April 2014
The Science of Materials
View examples of materials from the palace & on-site archaeology. Using the handling collection, learn about the characteristics of different materials & what can be made from them.
- Sessions:
10am, 7 January – 14 February 2014, Tuesdays-Fridays only
Victorians
Gain insight into children learning & living in Victorian times, compared with the life of the modern child. Up & downstairs in a grand house & chapel, with costumed role-play to tell the stories of the Bishop’s household, whether servant or grand family.
Period costume offered for all the children in your class.
- Sessions:
3 June – 12 July 2013
10.30am, 4 November – 13 December 2013
The Science of Growth
Explore the Palace’s gardens to discover features and functions of plants. From seed to plant look at how plants grow & what they need to grow. Plus dissect growing seeds to uncover the process of growth. Perfect for KS1!
- Sessions:
29 April – 28 June 2013
10.30am, 28 April – 11 July 2014
Creepy Crawlies
Get first hand investigatory experience: exploring a variety of habitats in the gardens. Children search for insects and collect them with pooters, record their finds. A very popular session, book early! Great for nursery & KS1.
- Sessions:
29 April – 28 June 2013
10.30am, 28 April – 11 July 2014
Toys
What is a toy? What makes toys work? How are they made? Children get to play with and compare a selection of old & new toys. Discover how children played at Fulham Palace & in other parts of the world. Popular with nursery & KS1.
- Sessions:
1 – 19 July 2013
10am, 4 November – 20 December 2013
10am, 3-28 March 2014
10am, 30 Jun – 18 July 2014 , Tuesdays-Fridays only
Routes to the Palace
Fulham Palace is the oldest building in the borough. Follow a map to reach us. Understand why the Palace is situated next to the Thames and the significance of the river. Learn to read plans & using the model, explore the building, grounds & park. We look at the significance of landmarks and draw on this to make your own maps.
- Sessions:
11 September 2012 – 19 July ’13 (except school holidays)
10am, all year, Tuesdays-Fridays only
Edwardian Holidays in the Park New session
Take a trip back in time to see our re-creation of an urban seaside! Visit Bishops Park to see how children would have spent their summer in Fulham. Hear stories from the past, play garden games. Great for KS1.
- Sessions:
10am, 28 April – 23 May 2014, Tuesdays-Fridays only
KS2 Maths Trail FREE
Follow our free maths trail around the Palace’s gardens with practical maths tasks. Written in partnership with All Saints Primary School’s Yr 6 pupils. Available all year.
Archaeology for All: Hidden Treasures of the Thames
Pupils practice the historical enquiry skills used by archaeologists to learn how fragments of history can build up a picture of the past. This programme is backed up by a much acclaimed resource pack for classroom use.
- Session 1: Fieldwork on the riverside includes recording river features and evidence of human use. Work on the foreshore involves collecting and identifying historic artefacts as evidence of past river use.
- Session 2: Indoor activities show pupils how to distinguish between different materials and identify and date the artefacts using specially designed colourful and easy to use sorting boards. We also investigate how artefacts found around the Thames help us build up a picture of London’s settlement. Sessions will round up with a look at Fulham Palace’s collections (time permitting).
This session is run throughout the year by Thames Explorer Trust for Fulham Palace, however days and times are dependent on the tide. For more information or to book, call Thames Explorer Trust on 020 8742 0057 or click here. Costs per group: full day programme (2 hours fieldwork & 2 hours of indoor activities) £250, half day programme (2 hours of fieldwork & use of lunch area) £160.
