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 "While
the historical information was obviously interesting (I thought
so!) the kids loved the opportunity to have ‘hands’ on
experience…" W
Clanthie – Wantirna College 2002
Interestingly, this
means that in the last few years we have greatly reduced the number
of props we bring to schools. We used to have
whole sessions that involved passing one prop after
another. Now we have a
carefully chosen minimum number that give just enough tactile and
visual support to enhance the narrative of the session.
Our Fashion and Dress
topic (see picture above) for instance: used to include almost
enough props to dress up a class of 26 students, until our follow
up research revealed that students rarely recall more than half a
dozen of the items displayed. Now it involves just
seven costumes: with tactile examination and detailed
discussion of each. Result? Students tend to remember
all seven, and can usually recite the development story which
underlines the presentation.
Again, we believe that
show and tell is useless unless they actually learn something
valuable and can remember it weeks later.
We
also make an effort to make those props look realistic.
Which
means we try to avoid flashy stainless steel, and un-realistic
modern materials.
In
fact we take the brand new armour and clothing items we buy or
produce, and get a little creative with scratches and dents and
frayed edges and stains, so we can incorporate realistic
discussions of lifestyle into our presentations.
(Fully-fitted
white ‘plate’ armour for instance, was about as common in the
medieval world as private helicopters are in the modern
world!)
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