School sessions

Our bespoke nursery and reception sessions are tailored to support learning at school. Our most popular sessions are insects, animals and schools in the olden days. For more information and to book an Early Years sessions you can get in touch with our learning team on education@fulhampalace.org or +44 (0)20 7751 2432.

Our new storytelling bag, Maisy Goes to the Museum, is now available. This storytelling bag allows nursery and reception aged children to recreate Maisy’s trip to the museum by dressing puppets in costumes of different historical periods, encouraging dexterity and creativity.

View the storytelling bag here

Our storytelling bag The Very Hungry Caterpillar promotes and inspires nursery and reception children to recreate the adventures of the hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through a huge range of foods.

View the storytelling bag here

Princess Catherine of Aragon Needs Your Help!

90 mins/£130 per session

One of Fulham Palace’s most famous residents needs the help of apothecary apprentices to discover how to cure her illness. In 1506, Catherine and her household were sent to live at Fulham Palace, believing the country air would be beneficial for her health. King Henry VII has been sending letters every day to ask after her health.

Examining the roles of apothecaries, physicians and surgeons, pupils will uncover fascinating and amusing facts about medicine. How did Tudors cure headaches? What illness was treated by wearing the skin of a donkey? What were the Four Humours? A trip to the Palace vinery is a chance to investigate the herbs and cures used to help Catherine get better.

We explore the unknown story of Henry VIII’s first wife and the importance of Fulham Palace as an estate. Pupils will think critically, weigh evidence and develop new perspectives.

National Curriculum links

History KS1

·         Study the lives of significant individuals who have contributed to national achievements.

·         Understand the complexity of Tudor monarchy through the life of Catherine of Aragon.

Book your school session

Bishop, butler, mistress and maid

90 mins/ £130 per session

How did the Victorians live?

This immersive workshop transports pupils to the Victorian period, where they live the life of children at the Palace- both rich and poor. The session takes place in Victorian buildings, including the stunning chapel. Pupils explore the differences and similarities of life between the classes by handling historical objects, taking on the role of servants and dressing in appropriate costume. They are introduced to Bishop Tait and his large family, then experience the 1867 opening of the chapel at Fulham Palace.

National Curriculum links

History KS1

• Identify similarities and difference between Victorian rich and poor and life in modern times
• Gain historical perspective by studying social history

Book your school session

90 mins/ £130 per session

Is a tree a plant?

Explore exiting and unique botanical specimens in the historical garden of Fulham Palace. Pupils learn about the plants of Fulham Palace and their history, such as rare specimens imported by Bishop Henry Compton, and a 500 year old tree which Elizabeth I would have seen. Pupils engage in a variety of tests, such as identifying plants from botanic drawings, the parts of a plant, and finding and identifying different trees in the Palace grounds. Finally, they meet George London, the head gardener during the reign of Charles II, to be tested for a gardening position at Fulham Palace. To complete their time in the Palace grounds, they make and take home their own herbarium.

National Curriculum links

Science KS1

• Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees
• Identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees

Let’s play: toys of the 20th century

90 mins/ £130 per session

How have toys changed through the 20th century? What everyday materials are they made from?

Interactive and stimulating activities allow pupils to learn about the science of materials by handling authentic and replica 20th century toys. Pupils discover toys played with by children during the early, mid and late 20th century.

By sorting toys onto a timeline, and creating imaginary toys, pupils explore the properties of materials such as wood and why these were used at the time. They also touch a real Victorian porcelain doll, produce their own ‘make do and mend’ peg dolls, inspired by the Fisher family who lived in the Palace during World War II. Finally, with a focus on recycling, they handle modern toys made from reused waste plastic.

National Curriculum links

History KS1

·          Changes within living memory

Science KS1

Year 1

• Distinguish between an object and the material from which it is made
• Identify and name a variety of everyday materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, water, and rock
• Describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials
• Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties.

Year 2

• Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses

Book your school session

90 mins/£130 per session

Could you survive in a Stone Age community?

Stone Age is an exciting, all-outdoors exploration of life in a community which lived at Fulham Palace 6,000 years ago. Pupils create their own Stone Age settlement using the plentiful resources of the land and river. The spiritual importance of the river challenges pupils to ask perceptive questions including why archaeologists discover prehistoric objects within its watery depths.

Pupils handle replica Stone Age tools found at Fulham Palace, such as flints, arrow heads and hand axes. To build the settlement, they devise traps and shelters, identify and look for useful plants and use art to make the community space their own. Finally they will take part in a ceremony to celebrate the importance of the river.

National Curriculum links

History KS2

• Devise and ask perceptive questions
• Develop a secure knowledge about the Stone Age

Book your school session

90 mins/ £130 per session

Who were the Romans? What was Roman life like? How did the Roman Empire change Britain?

Travel back in time to AD 208, and experience living in the Fulham Roman villa. Pupils wear costumes from our extensive collection; grind spices on mortaria, and handle original Roman objects. Pupils will put themselves in the sandals of Britons and Romans, and learn how daily life was changing under the rule of Emperor Septimius Severus. They will recreate the villa, discuss and debate the issues of the time including changes in culture and beliefs.

National Curriculum Links

History KS2

• Explore the historical concept of change, cause and consequence
• Study the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain including technology, culture and beliefs through the study of the Fulham Palace villa site

Book your school session

War or peace?

90 mins/ £130 per session

It is AD 878, Viking Invaders are in their longboats, journeying across the stormy seas, around the rocky British coast, safely up the Thames to finally settle at Fulham.

Pupils will learn how archaeologists date items and use re-enactment to understand the past. Additional historical evidence is deciphered using the Anglo Saxon chronicles (AD 871-899), which record the events of AD 878. Pupils will be challenged to ask perceptive questions about Anglo Saxon defences at Fulham, why the Vikings left their homeland and what happened when they arrived on the border with Alfred’s forces at Fulham.

Pupils handle replica objects, such as Viking armour, weapons, jewellery and coins and wear Viking costumes. They re-enact the journey from Scandinavia through music and drama. To conclude the session, pupils discuss whether they think the Danelaw border at Fulham was warlike or peaceful.

National Curriculum links

History KS2

• Viking raids and invasion

Book your school session

Princess Catherine of Aragon Needs Your Help!

90 mins/£130 per session

One of Fulham Palace’s most famous residents needs the help of apothecary apprentices to discover how to cure her illness. In 1506, Catherine and her household were sent to live at Fulham Palace, believing the country air would be beneficial for her health. King Henry VII has been sending letters every day to ask after her health.

Examining the roles of apothecaries, physicians and surgeons, pupils will uncover fascinating and amusing facts about medicine. How did Tudors cure headaches? What illness was treated by wearing the skin of a donkey? What were the Four Humours? A trip to the Palace vinery is a chance to investigate the herbs and cures used to help Catherine get better.

We explore the unknown story of Henry VIII’s first wife and the importance of Fulham Palace as an estate. Pupils will think critically, weigh evidence and develop new perspectives.

National Curriculum links

History KS2

·         Study the changing power of monarchs

·         Consider the changes in an aspect of social history

·         Study of an aspect of history and site that is significant in the locality

Book your school session

Bishop, butler, mistress and maid

90 mins/ £130 per session

How did the Victorians live?

This immersive workshop transports pupils to the Victorian period, where they live the life of children at the Palace- both rich and poor. The session takes place in Victorian buildings, including the stunning chapel. Pupils explore the differences and similarities of life between the classes by handling historical objects, taking on the role of servants and dressing in appropriate costume. They are introduced to Bishop Tait and his large family, then experience the 1867 opening of the chapel at Fulham Palace.

National Curriculum links

History KS2

• Identify similarities and difference between Victorian rich and poor and life in modern times
• Gain historical perspective by studying social history

Book your school session

Follow our free maths trail around the Fulham Palace garden.

Download the trail and guidelines for teachers:

KS1 trail

• Trail
• Guidelines for teachers

KS2 trail

• Trail
• Guidelines for teachers
• Answers sheet

Follow our free literacy trail around the Fulham Palace garden.

Download the trail and guidelines for teachers:

• Trail
• Guidelines for teachers

This workshop explores what it means to know that there have always been alternatives to what has been given in the present. We are asking the ‘What if’ questions using Film and Photography and establish a framework on how to create works of art through the lens of Afrofuturism.

Through engagement with theatre and performance participants will explore the theories behind Afrofuturism and create some of their own work envisioning the future of society. This workshop is an opportunity to push the boundaries of what can be done and in doing so, imagine a whole new world, and possibilities for themselves.

The Dancing Decades’ workshop will explore dance styles that have their origins in the African diaspora. Participants will learn and celebrate iconic styles such as: 1960s ‘The Twist’, Line Dances and 70s Disco! Moving on to the 1980s with different style of breakdancing, 1990s hip hop and the 2000s modern dance.

Our storytelling workshops take a cross curricular approach to subjects such as literacy, history and drama. We explore stories first hand through theatre and performance and expose students to a range of techniques such as improvising, role-play, devising, imaginative games and many more. It’s a chance to get inside the minds of the characters and walk through the story’s world. We offer a range of children’s books and fairytales and books by Black authors in the UK.

Travel back in time with our time traveller as they navigate their way back through time and meet influential Black authors that have made an impact on Black British History

This workshop explores the cultural significance of Black Hair and through a practical interactive, students will learn and recreate braiding patterns that represents symbols of identity, resistance, creative expression and freedom.

We work with your staff to ensure maximum benefit across the school and that cross curricular opportunities are tailored to your school’s needs. We provide cultural enrichment that transcends boundaries without having to leave the school grounds.

• Bespoke fee: £500 half day / £950 full day

Pupils practice the historical enquiry skills used by archaeologists with fieldwork on the riverside followed by indoor activities learning how to identify and date artefacts. This programme is backed up by a much acclaimed resource pack for classroom use.

1. 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.
2. 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).

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Pupils are encouraged to raise questions about their local environment with fieldwork on the riverside, followed by indoor activities focusing on how to make the river environmentally sustainable.

1. Session 1: Fieldwork on the foreshore includes using a range of scientific equipment to record simple abiotic data (water temperature, weather, state of tide), assessing water quality through chemical tests and invertebrate sampling. Pupils will also observe river features and processes and will gain experience in identifying and naming birds and invertebrates, recognising how these organisms have adapted to the local environment. If time allows we will also collect foreshore archaeology as evidence of river settlement.
2. Session 2: Indoor activities begin with the revision of geographical features and the water cycle, through the River of Life floor game which involves creating a natural river habitat with food chains and adaptations. Pupils then look at how the river environment has changed over time and how pollution and human impact can pose a danger to living things. Through drama pupils will explore environmental issues and find “pollution solutions” to help devise a sustainable future for the Thames. Sessions will round up with a look at Fulham Palace’s museum (time permitting).

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