History Remixed Blog

Civil War character interviewed with a modern twist!

Interviews with characters from Newark’s Civil War history.

Newarkenders – A Soap Opera

Civil War themed ‘Soap Opera’

Muskham Primary create new marching songs for the Royalists and Parliamentarians

Pupils begin to work with Dave Wood

On 18th November 2010 Key Stage 2 pupils from Muskham Primary School took part in an exciting creative writing workshop led by Dave Wood (of Writing East Midlands) and musician Victor Scott.

The pupils had worked with their teacher Miss Francine Pimperton throughout the autum term to research aspects of the English Civil War.

Pupils had also been on a visit to Newark to take part  in a Civil War tour of the town centre led by staff from Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Museum team. Pupils visited the Castle, the Gilstrap Centre’s Castle and Conflict exhibition and were able to see some of the surviving buildings from the period and find out about the role they played during this turbulent time.

Pupils were devided into two teams of Royalists and Parliamentarians. Objects from the museums handling collections were used with as a starting point to spark initial  ideas for the songs.

Pupils handle a replica helmet.

Pupils clap out the beat as they read their verse

Pupils try out rhythms with the drums

Pupils work with Victor Scott

Victor Scott works with pupils from Muskham Primary

 Here are the words to the final songs that pupils created on the day of the workshop:

 Royalist Battle Hymn

By Muskham Primary School

The hat has a feather on it

This lady has a skirt and fits

The ball’s heavy and doesn’t sit

Da de da de da de da

Da de da de da de da

The helmet is very heavy!

The metal bar stops a sword swipe!

The drummers beat out the orders!

We will eat horse on the plate!

The plate is made out of metal!

You need a strong helmet to fight

We are marching into battle!

Parliamentarians die!

Parliamentarian Marching Song

By Muskham Primary School

The jester hat is drinking wine

The goblet is always on time

In Parliament they talk and talk

The Royalists they walk and walk

The Royalists they eat and eat

Drummers have a very good beat

The Royalists have a red flag

King Charles was a very mad man

The hat keeps my head warm it is black

She gets ready for work and she packs

The cannon ball is in a sack

Da de da de da de da

Destroy, Destroy, The Royalists!

They are, they are some spoilists!

They are some spoilists – Huh Huh

LALA  LA  LA  LA  LA  PUH  PUH

Silly Silly Royalists

Blast those Royalists    Na! Na! Na!

Bust Those Royalists    Fight! Fight! Fight!

Kill those Royalists!     Knight! Knight! Knight!

Working on rhythm.

‘Haiku’ Poetry with Dean Hole Primary School

Key Stage 2 pupils from Dean Hole Primary School took part in a Civil War tour of Newark town centre, led by Museum staff in October. Pupils visited buildings and sites that played key roles during the time.

As part of our work on the MuBu project we were able to work with Dave Wood, a creative writer from Writing East Midlands, to offer the pupils an opportunity to take part in a  Haiku poetry writing activity in school.

‘Haiku’ poetry is a traditional form of Japanese poetry! Poems consist of three lines. The first and last lines have five syllables and the middle line has seven syllables. For example (and to help you remember) here is an example:

I am first with five

Then seven in the middle

Five again to end

Pupils think of descriptive words

Pupils were asked to get into small groups and write a story about  a particular picture. They had 10 minutes to do this!

When the pupils had created a story they were asked to act it out  and present this mini drama to the other groups.

Back to the story … the pupils were asked to work in groups to retell the story as a Haiku Poem. 5,7,5 words /syllables per line.. and think about what is at the beginning, middle and end.

Pupils repeated the performance… but had to use only the Haiku as a script, hence the presentations became more dramatic!

Later, (in groups of two) pupils wrote a response to an image from the tour as a ‘Haiku’ poem (using format of  three lines of 5,7,5 words or syllables per line).

As an added twist Dave asked for another poem to be created… this time using words which had the opposite meaning to ones used! This certainly created ‘History Remixed’!

Finally pupils presented their creations to the rest of the group.

Here are some examples of the completed poems :

The Font  (Haiku)

Babies get christened

It was here since Civil War

It was made from stone

The Font  (Opposite Haiku)

Adults get christened

The font was made yesterday

It was made from sponge

Church Spire (Haiku)

Hole in the Church roof

Cannon ball hit the roof top

Disaster ooh na!

Church Spire (Opposite Haiku)

Broken Church broken

Hole under the window

Broken Church broken

Siege Coin (Haiku)

They used siege money

This was in the Civil War

1646

Siege Coin (Opposite Haiku)

 We have lots of coins

Notes pounds two Ps and lots more

In this century

The Civil War Collection

Find out about the objects and documents within Newark and Sherwood Museum Service’s collections.

Civil War tours for schools

Details of Civil War tours of Newark Town Centre for schools led by Museum staff.

Why was Newark on Trent known as the ‘Key to the North’?

Why was was Newark important to both sides during the English Civil War?

Why did Newark on Trent support the King during the English Civil War?

If you want to know why Newark supported King Charles I during the English Civil War read on…