Today, Year 5 and 6 visited Colchester Castle to learn more about the Romans and Celts, linking closely with our current history topic. The children had a fantastic time discovering how Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain in AD 43 and made Colchester — known then as Camulodunum — the first Roman capital of Britain.
We explored the story of Boudicca, the Celtic queen of the Iceni tribe, who led a famous rebellion against the Romans in AD 60/61. The children were fascinated to learn that Boudicca’s forces attacked and burned Colchester to the ground. In the museum, we even saw artefacts that had been scorched in the fire — including a charred piece of Roman bread!
The children also learned that Roman soldiers were required to serve for 25 years — unless they were killed in battle — and were rewarded with land or Roman citizenship upon retirement. We talked about how the Celts, although brave and determined, were at a disadvantage because their weapons were not as advanced as the Roman army’s, which helped the Romans win many battles.
We particularly enjoyed the museum’s interactive exhibits and the atmospheric underground vaults beneath the castle. It was a brilliant and memorable day out. A huge thank you to the parents who helped make the trip possible!
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