S2-4 continued their Hidden Histories Wednesday Afternoon Activities with calligraphy using real goose feather quills and ink made from crushed oak galls, rusty nails and tree resin. They also studied patterns and made their own designs for pewter bracelets, taking inspiration from the ones found with the Galloway Viking Hoard.
P7 pupil Christy writes, “On the first day of Carlingwark we went to the beach to go rock climbing. When we got to the top we could see England in the distance. Then we had to climb back down! On the second day we went in the loch and went sailing and canoeing to an underwater island. Then at the end we went swimming in the loch.”
Following on from their Hidden Histories trip last week, s2 -4 learned ancient metal working techniques from Cathbad the Viking who set up his forge outside Dalry Secondary.
S2/3 pupils from Dalry Secondary met characters from the past at Threave Castle, Dundrennan Abbey and Buittle Castle on a trip put together by CatStrand and Sleeping Giants. The fun-filled trip presented the history of local monuments, and set the scene for follow-up activities this month such as craft workshops using ancient methods of metal working and stone carving (watch this space…)
CatStrand cultural centre in New Galloway are coming in every second Thursday after school to work with a group of young people on their creative writing skills.
Monday lunchtimes are an opportunity for young people (and staff) to learn a new language or practise one they’re already learning. Japanese seems to be the current favourite, perhaps because they are studying Japan in Geography lessons.