Ulster American Folkpark : Learning : Schools : Winter Workshops : Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland

Winter Workshops

Winter workshops provide first hand practical experience of traditional crafts and agricultural/domestic skills which were once a vital part of rural Ulster and American life. The workshops which usually take place in the authentic surroundings of the Old and New World buildings, include participation in crafts, dressing up in traditional costume, role play activities and the examination of historical objects. Involvement in these workshops provides a valuable opportunity to use a cross-curricular approach in both primary and post-primary schools.

Numbers:
Each workshop has as close to the maximum number as possible.

Time:
Each workshop takes approximately three hours, it is unlikely that an individual group will have sufficient time to participate in more than one activity during their visit.

Dress:
Pupils should wear suitable outdoor clothing. When "dressing up" avoid wearing ill-fitting boots or trailing garments.

OLD WORLD WORKSHOPS

1. UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS [max. 5 pupils]
Based in the Campbell House, Pupils learn about and participate in the routine chores involved in caring for a large Ulster farmhouse. Activities include the tasks of the servant boy and girl, such as cleaning, laundry work and mending, as well as those of the mistress of the house. Seasonal activities are included where relevant.

2. ULSTER FARMHOUSE COOKING [max. 7 pupils]
Participation in traditional food preparation in the Mellon House. Recipes and ingredients are supplied, but please bring cloth aprons.

3a.ADVENTURES IN WOOL [max. 6 pupils]
Demonstration and participation in the crafts of hand carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. While most of these processes can be attempted during a three-hour session, teachers are advised that much more can be achieved from a series of at least three visits.

3b. FLAX AT HOME [max. 6 pupils]
Demonstration and participation in the process of the domestic linen industry. Take part in breaking, scutching, hackling, spinning, weaving and finishing. Teachers are advised that flax is a much more difficult fibre to process than wool, so this activity is only suitable for pupils in P7 and above. (Limited availability).

4.THE BLACKSMITH'S CRAFT [max. 5 pupils]
Learning about the importance of the blacksmith to the agricultural community in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and discovering how he bent iron, shod horses and hooped wheels. Participants can make a simple metal object. Only pupils in P5 and above.

5.CORN DOLLY MAKING [max. 8 pupils]
The traditional art of making lovers' knots, corn dollies and other decorations from harvest straw and field rushes.

6.TEXTILES IN ULSTER [max. 8 pupils]
Concentrating on needlework skills of the Old World, pupils are introduced to the skills of patchwork, embroidery and crochet.

7.BASKET WEAVING [max. 5 pupils]
The craft of making turf creels, potato baskets and other useful containers from willow (sally) rods. Pupils make a practice piece and work together to make a small basket. Limited availability. After Christmas only. Suitable for pupils in P6 and above.

8.FARM WORK [max. 4 pupils]
Participation in seasonal activities on an Ulster farm, such as flailing and winnowing oats, working with the horse, carrying out general farmyard chores and studying farm implements. Warm outdoor clothing essential.

9.GOING WILD [max. 6 pupils]
Using the natural environment in the 19th century - heather, nettles, gorse, rushes, wild fruit etc. Based in the single room cabin, activities will vary according to availability of raw materials. Autumn term- suitable for primary pupils only.

10.SCHOOL ROLE PLAY [min. 10 pupils, max. 30 pupils]
Work and play of a typical day in an 1850's National School. Activities include learning by rote; toeing the line; writing with quill- pens and slate pencils; and participating in traditional games at break time. Pupils are encouraged to wear traditional costume so that the experience is complete. An advice leaflet on early Ulster and American dress is available from the Folk Park.

STREET WORKSHOPS

11.PRINTERS' DEVIL AND CHEMIST'S ASSISTANT[max. 8 pupils]
Pupils become apprentices for the day in the 19th century printshop and 'in a turn of the century chemist.' Pupils print a shipping poster and try their skills at pill rolling and preparing traditional toothpaste.

12.POST BOY AND SADDLER'S APPRENTICE[max. 8 pupils]
A look at letters and parcels in the later 19th century including the opportunity to wrap and weigh a parcel using traditional methods, and to address and seal a letter. Find out about working with leather in the saddler's shop and make a small item to take away.

13.ROPEMAKER AND SHIP'S BOY [max. 8 pupils]
Pupils practise the basic skills of ropemaking and find out about their 19th century uses including their uses on board ship. In addition they learn some of the skills of the sailor on the Atlantic run.

NEW WORLD WORKSHOPS

14.PIONEER COOKING [max. 4 pupils]
Participation in various food preparations in the Log Cabin. Using frontier staples such as cornmeal and apples, pupils prepare and sample various cornbreads and apple dishes. Please bring cloth aprons.

15.PENNSYLVANIA FARMHOUSE CHORES [max. 8 pupils]
Demonstration and participation in candle dipping, soap making, curing and smoking meat. Other seasonal activities may be included. Outdoor clothing essential.

16.AMERICAN TEXTILE CRAFTS [max. 8 pupils]
An opportunity to learn about pioneer textiles such as samplers, rag rugs and patchwork quilts. Pupils make a patchwork square to an American design. This workshop would be a valuable follow-up to Adventures in Wool or Flax at Home.

17.STENCILLING [max. 10 pupils]
Learning the techniques of stencilling by preparing and applying traditional American patterns on textiles and wood. Suitable for primary children only.

18.AMERICAN WOOD CRAFTS [max. 5 pupils]
Log construction, fence building, woodturning and shingle making using traditional wooden tools. Participants will make a simple wooden object.

19.AMERICAN PASTIMES [min. 10 / max. 30 pupils]
Perform the Virginia Reel and other simple dances, participate in traditional frontier games and hear an American Jack-tale. Pupils are encouraged to wear traditional American costume - an advice leaflet is available.

20.NATIVE AMERICAN ACTIVITIES [max. 30 pupils]
Based in our modern Education Centre, we consider the lifestyle of the original inhabitants of Eastern America - The Woodland Indians. The programme begins with an audio-visual presentation on their life-style following which the pupils subdivide into smaller groups to look at methods of communication, adornment including beadwork and masks, and their significance in Native American Culture. Time permitting, all pupils make an item to take away.

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ULSTER AMERICANFOLK PARK

Winter Workshops

ULSTER AMERICAN
FOLK PARK