Primary 5 recently went to the Robert Burns Centre to take part in a ‘Remembering Rabbie’ workshop.  This included learning about Burns’ life in Dumfries, visiting Burns House and finishing the day with a walk to the Mausoleum to lay a wreath – as our visit coincided with Burn’s birthday – 25th January.

During the day we were listening about his life, told to us by his friend John Syme as well as Jessie Lewars who was a family friend and nursed Robert Burns in his final months.

We sang songs, learned some Scot’s language and also acted out the well known poem – Tam O’ Shanter.

This is some of us acting out Tam O’ Shanter.  Abigail Reilly played the part of Kate, Tam’s wife.  Abigail Ross played the part of Tam.  Callan played the part of Tam’s friend Soutar Johnnie.  Olly played the part of the deil (devil).  Connor played the part of Nannie (Cutty-sark).

Soutar Johnnie and Tam O’ Shanter were at the bar and Tam stayed too long – Joe M

Tam O’ Shanter shouted out ‘Weel done, Cutty-sark!’ Nannie began to chase Tam on his horse, Meg. He knew if he crossed the bridge then the witch wouldn’t be able to chase after him.  But, Nannie managed to catch Meg’s tail and pulled it off – Callan

My favourite part of the story was Callan (aka Soutar Johnnie) drinking beer in the bar – Evan

Here we are at Burn’s House.

We got to see Robert Burns’ kitchen and how they made their washing smell better whilst washing it using water from the River Nith.  They would use dried rose petals. – Abigail Ross

There were seven knitted dolls around Burns’ House to represent the seven children who lived there – Abbie

In one of the rooms upstairs, which Burns called his ‘closet’ where he wrote many of his songs and poems, Burns scratched his signature onto a pane of glass in the window. – Joe A

The family would cut up old tea-towels and fabric and tie it together to make a rug – Thea

Finally we visited the Mausoleum.

Inside the Mausoleum we looked around to find the mouse from the poem ‘To a Mouse.’ We managed to find it!  Will

While we were in St. Michael’s churchyard and at the Mausoleum there were photographers and videographers taking pictures and videos of them.  This was because our visit was on Burns Day.  Noel

Just before we went to the Mausoleum, we were looking out for grave stones with a blue plaque on them.  This showed us that these people had been friends of Burns.  Jessica

 

We enjoyed our day out of school.