Discover what it was like to be an ancient Roman school child with Immersive hands on activities in our Roman Villa
Activities free with your admission! Normal entrance prices apply.
Drop in sessions available Wednesday 27th, through to Sunday 31st August (except for the afternoon of Thursday 28th).
Travel back in time with immersive drop-in workshops that bring the Roman world to life! This week, we’re turning part of our villa into a Roman classroom with the experts from the University of Reading’s Ancient Schoolroom project — join us to have a go with wax tablets, discover ancient Latin curses, hear Roman fables, and more!
In these informal, free drop in workshops, kids can explore the way ancient children learned, and try their hand at a range of fun and educational activities including:
Learn how to read and write the way the Romans did, using a tablet and stylus without word division or punctuation.
Try doing mathematical calculations in Roman numerals using dried beans and a counting board – discover what multiplication was like before multiplication tables had been invented!
Read the fables of Phaedrus and think about their morals, like Roman schoolchildren, or try learning Latin the way an ancient British student would have done, with a bilingual textbook.
Make your own Roman ink and use it to write your own Vindolanda tablet.
Discover ancient geometry using wet sand.
Find out how to make a magical gem.
Learn how to spin and sew the way Roman children did (27-8 August only).
For more information on the ancient schoolroom, see www.readingancientschoolroom.com.
Summer activities
Follow a free trail around the farm to discover more about ancient life
Get hands-on and learn an ancient skill like spinning or carving chalk
Meet our rare-breed sheep, goats and pigs.
Please be aware our school holiday activities may be subject to change on the day.
*Annual Passholders get free admission to the farm any day we’re open for general admission — you only need to visit twice before you’re quid’s in! Learn more.
DOGS: Please feel free to bring your dogs with you!
REFUNDS: If we aren’t able to open the farm on the day of your visit, you will of course be completely refunded. Unfortunately in any other circumstances we aren’t able to offer refunds.
COVID-19: We’re still being careful, and will follow the government advice at the time. We’re a mostly-outdoors site, and encourage people to mask indoors if it makes them more comfortable. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate when you’re due to visit, please stay at home and take care of yourself.