Casting a spell in the class room
Stratford’s unique and magical attraction ‘The Creaky Cauldron - Where Magic Begins’ has announced a number of exciting new initiatives for schools and groups. The education programme has been designed to offer students maximum educational value through unique and stimulating learning experiences.
Along with risk assessment, free teacher visits prior to the trip, a range of educational resources, the organisation also offers various activities that are linked to the National Curriculum and specific programmes of study.
The Creaky Cauldron is one of Warwickshire’s premier attractions featuring the world famous wand shop, Victorian Apothecary, Tea Garden, the world’s oldest and largest collection of magical spells and the Enchanted Manor. On offer is a range of talks, walks, workshops and lectures, providing inspiring educational experiences from Early Years through to A ‘Levels.
The Spellbound Literacy Trail is aimed at Key Stage 1 & 2 and Years 2 - 7. Armed with worksheets, pupils are encouraged to use their observational skills whilst using interpretation and explanation skills to describe thoughts, experiences and ideas. Topics covered include verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, antonyms and compound words. The cost is £3 per student (teachers go free) and includes a magical question and answer session.
The Business of Leisure and Tourism is aimed at those studying both Leisure and Tourism GCSE and A-Level. Students can learn about the Creaky Cauldron’s commitment to customer service and gain an insight into the marketing strategies employed at the successful attraction. The workshop costs £5 per student (teachers go free).
Potions with Dr Thaddeus Bombay is aimed at Years 2 & 3 and enables children to learn about herbs and flowers that have been used for hundreds of years in the Apothecary. Children can find out what happens when different herbs are mixed together and thrown into a cauldron. The cost is £4 per student (teachers go free).
A Morning at Magic School is available for Years 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and provides children with an enchanting morning of magical lessons. Along with story-telling, children will have the opportunity of mixing potions, learning about herbal cures and traditional remedies and creating their own magical creatures. The cost is £12.50 per student and includes light refreshments and study packs to take away.
Ghost Tours and Potions Lessons are available for years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and enable children to learn about potions, grind herbs in mortars and pestles and make ancient herbal remedies. The cost is £4 per student and includes a tour of the attraction with ghost stories.
The programme also incorporates a ghostly history walk of Stratford Town Centre. The guided walk will inform and entertain students as they learn about the plague, historical hauntings and myths of Stratford’s history. The cost is £4 per student.
Dave Matthews, CEO of Seek the Magic Org said "Our educational programme offers a range of exciting, entertaining and stimulating walks, talks and workshops for all ages. Children always enjoy participating in our classes and return to visit us time and time again. Where else can you learn about magic, potions and history all within a 450 year old building? School trips should challenge pupils, fill them with enthusiasm and let them experience history and culture first hand which is exactly what we do.”
A copy of the Guide to the STMO education programmes for 2011/2012 "Casting a Spell in the Class Room” is available as a downloadable PDF document on the website at wheremagicbegins.co.uk. The Creaky Cauldron is open daily from 10:30am – 5:00pm.
