School resources on Discovering Shropshire's History

Key Stage 1

What was my town like in the past?

Interactive tours linked to old maps guide pupils around their local town. Maps of Oswestry and Whitchurch are linked to old photographs, paintings, myths and stories to allow pupils to explore their local environment.

Key Stage 1/2

Acton Scott interactive map

This will be an invaluable resource to make use of before and after visits to Acton Scott Working Farm Museum. Attached to a “hotspotted” aerial view of the farm will be old photographs and audio memories of farming in Shropshire in the early 20th Century. There will also be films of activities, such as dairying, at the museum so that pupils and teachers will be able to revisit scenes they will have seen on their trip and also see activities that were not exhibited when they were there.

Key Stage 2

Everyday life in Tudor Shrewsbury interactive map

A highly detailed bird’s eye view of Shrewsbury c1630 is the starting point for a look at a wealth of resources linked to the Tudor and Stuart town. Contrasts between rich and poor, leisure, markets and trade, government, defence and religion are explored in detail with large numbers of related images. Pupils can also look at a “Day in the life of Tudor Shrewsbury” through the eyes of key individuals such as a schoolboy, maidservant, merchant, preacher and lawyer, all based on real historic characters. This is a major resource which can support a large proportion of a key Stage 2 “Tudors” unit.
Information is provided on the process by which the map was created. This provides a valuable means by which the study of the interpretation of source materials can be studied at Key Stage 3.

Key Stage 3

Castles of Shropshire

Approximately 300 images of Shropshire castles together with plans are available to support an examination of the subject in the “Medieval Realms” unit. This will provide a resource to look at the distribution of, and everyday life in, medieval castles. This can also support Schools History Project “World around us” studies at Key Stage 4.