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2nd November 2011, 05:39 PM
Hi everyone
I'm due to do a day at a centre for adults with learning disabilities on archaeology as part of their Roman week. I've been given some good ideas alrady but am casting around for more.
The ability level of the clients is incredibly variable, but would mainly centre around activities based around a young primary school age, although I'd potentially need to scale up the complexity to more a teenage level for other clients.
I'm already planning to do the standard digging stuff out of sand boxes, and possibly look at reconstructing a skeleton in some way.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
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2nd November 2011, 07:21 PM
Being Roman, with mass-produced goods, eg pottery, how about how a single distinctive sherd (eg an amphora handle) can tell what the whole pot looked like, and in the case of an amphora, what it tells you about origin, function, trade, shipping etc etc...just an idea
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2nd November 2011, 11:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 3rd November 2011, 09:08 AM by Wax.)
If you are dealing with a wide range of abilities be very adaptable. Don't go in with a very fixed programme but go in with a wide range of props give them the opportunity to be very hands on. You might be surprised at the enjoyment that can be got from washing and handling finds. Making crayon rubbings from patterns on objects, sorting objects and looking at the materials they are made of. Above all enjoy yourself and be prepared for some surprising questions. Try dressing up in togas etc think of the things you would have fun doing, whatever their abilities if people are having fun they will learn. Enjoy:face-approve:
Oh and above all do not be patronising, yes their levels of skills and understanding of the world will be different from yours but you might be surprised at their ability to cut through the bull.
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4th November 2011, 01:05 PM
Wax Wrote:If you are dealing with a wide range of abilities be very adaptable. Don't go in with a very fixed programme but go in with a wide range of props give them the opportunity to be very hands on. You might be surprised at the enjoyment that can be got from washing and handling finds. Making crayon rubbings from patterns on objects, sorting objects and looking at the materials they are made of. Above all enjoy yourself and be prepared for some surprising questions. Try dressing up in togas etc think of the things you would have fun doing, whatever their abilities if people are having fun they will learn. Enjoy:face-approve:
Oh and above all do not be patronising, yes their levels of skills and understanding of the world will be different from yours but you might be surprised at their ability to cut through the bull.
Thanks Wax!
I have worked with adults with learning disabilities before and they can be sharp as hell
Never to be underestimated!
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10th November 2011, 06:05 PM
Hope you had fun DB, Was there anything you found that worked particularly well? I am always on the look out to borrow (steal) new ideas.
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11th November 2011, 09:23 AM
Wish I had seen this before.
How did it go (as Wax says) what did you do? etc etc etc...!
I have to confess to hating sandboxes
but wanna hear about what you did. Can help me as well. I am always open to more ideas. In fact, it would be useful to all collaborate and come up with a BAJR guide to working with learning difficulties and challenging individuals.
:face-approve:
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11th November 2011, 10:12 AM
It starts on Wednesday so still have time yet!
Apart from the usual sand boxes, we're doing a relay race for two teams with skeleton parts to put together.
I also have ideas about building mini ballistas or catapaults and doing some target practice, which hopefully won't devolve into chaos or injury
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11th November 2011, 10:26 AM
OOh I like the skelly race ( where did you get the bits ? I have found the medical plastic skelly well out of my price range). Loosely scrunched up newspaper makes excellent ammunition a bit light but I will not hurt any one (in theory)
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11th November 2011, 02:21 PM
Wax Wrote:OOh I like the skelly race ( where did you get the bits ? I have found the medical plastic skelly well out of my price range). Loosely scrunched up newspaper makes excellent ammunition a bit light but I will not hurt any one (in theory)
Don't use grapefruit as ammo, there was a bit of an incident with a bishop's fence back in the 80s, luckily everyone had dived for cover in time.....(although hopefully your catapult won't involve half a hundredweight of highly tensioned twisted animal sinew!)
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21st November 2011, 01:51 PM
The day went really well after - everyone seemed to enjoy it
Used mainly "traditional" open day stuff - sandboxes, showing artefacts, photos, etc. Skelly relay was fun - we used a blown up skelly drawing cut up and laminated into different bits.
My girlfriend in fact works at the centre which is how I got involved and she has expressed interest in helping to produce a BAJR guide if you would still be interested Mr Hosty?
