Students take turns to churn cream into butter and can then taste the butter on crackers. During the activity the children observe the process of butter-making and learn about its importance to 19th century families - a far cry from getting the margarine pot out of the fridge. The remainder of the butter is sent back to the school with the teacher. If the children are lucky, the teacher may do some baking!

Code cracking - step back in time to pre-internet encryption, when spies communicated in secret languages to foil the enemy, using only symbols and patterns. See if you can crack the code! Students investigate the ways we used to communicate in the past — pigeon post, morse code, pen and ink— in a time without digital devices. Braille was invented in the 19th century and this activity students will be studying how to use it to compose their own personal message. Suitable for Year 3 and above.

Using replica clothing, students become acquainted with the changing fashions of Victorian times. Some of the students are dressed Victorian style to demonstrate the practicalities of 19th century fashion items. Girls - would you like to wear a corset? The boys model a selection of menswear ensuring the appropriate etiquette is always maintained. Extra dress-up options are offered for the longer session.

Year 4 and above. Winter months only.

Students measure, mix and cook using our old wood-fired range. All this while experiencing the atmosphere and ambience of a Victorian kitchen. They compare the gadgets of yesteryear with modern technology, admire the dining room set ready for the evening meal and take their cooking back to school.

Step into our authentic 1848 Howick Courthouse and play the parts of real 19th Century Howick characters embroiled in a genuine court case. Learn about the development of our justice system and compare this historic court case with what happens in the 21st Century. Learn about the different ideologies held by people in 1848 which are demonstrated by the court case This is an exciting and challenging activity for students who are good readers, usually Year 6 and above.

An opportunity for students to participate in their own mini archaeological dig. Students use special equipment to dig for a variety of artefacts which are buried in sand-filled boxes. All findings are recorded by students in their own booklets. Students learn archaeology tells us of our past and learn the importance of archaeology to a place like the Howick Historical Village. An educational and enjoyable treasure-hunt!

Fill your trug with herbs from our garden. What were they used for in Victorian times? Are they still used now? Are they crushed, boiled, or applied unchanged? Discover all this and more.

Students from year 4 upwards
It's a race! Work as a team to assemble a trolley in the time given. A wonderful technology-based activity where children cooperate to find the best and quickest method of construction. Using a picture as a guide with the nuts, bolts, pins, wheels and axles supplied, the trolley is assembled!

Using a combination of poignancy and humour, an Irish woman and her friend, together with children chosen from the audience, pack for the journey to New Zealand or unpack on their arrival - no wonder they have difficulty knowing whether they're "comin' or goin'"! Are the items packed similar to those you would pack for an overseas trip? Laugh as some of the more humorous items are revealed! This first-person interpretation challenges older students to reflect on the 'push-me/pull-you' factors behind the momentous decision of families to join the Fencible scheme.

It is amazing how few Nursery Rhymes today's children know. We offer a selection of Nursery Rhymes popular in the 19th Century for children to sing along and to do the actions. The history of some of these rhymes is fascinating and we give a brief background and then launch into hand-clapping games such as Mulberry Bush and Oranges and Lemons and perhaps a march to the Grand Old Duke of York. This activity is more suitable for Years 0 to 3 or 4 but can be readily adapted to older classes.

It's amazing today that some children have never walked on stilts, thrown a quoit or played with a skipping rope! For this dry weather activity, students get the chance to learn how to play with a wide range of Victorian outdoor toys such as log-walkers, diabolos, hoops and skimmers, and graces while at the same time learning about the way in which toys were made and leisure time utilised in the 1800s.

Wonderful indoor entertainment which is extremely suitable if the weather is doubtful or the area of study is 'leisure time'. Traditional parlour games of the mid to late 1800's are chosen to suit all age groups and to enable all the children to participate for all of the time. Often the venue is our authentic Parlour in Puhinui Homestead and a good time is guaranteed for all.

A relaxing and therapeutic activity which gives students the chance to start making their own mini rag rug on hessian. A question and answer session encourages the students to consider the reasons behind rag rug making and the origin of the resources used. This sociable activity is enjoyed by students of all ages, both girls and boys.

Students from Year 5 upward have the opportunity to start building their own miniature Raupo Huts. Goups of students in work cooperatively on different aspects of the construction e.g. roof, raupo bundles for the walls, framework and rope tying. We have Raupo Whares in the Village for students to inspect. Instructions for each part of the building process are given. Depending on the speed of work and efficiency of building techniques, students may also use their imaginations to furnish the huts. This technology -based activity relies on problem-solving abilities to achieve a satisfactory outcome. The huts are taken back to school to complete as desired.

Once you enter our authentic Victorian classroom you step back in time to 1850 and participate in a school lesson which was typical of that time. Children are expected to be on their best behaviour and woe betides those with dirty hands or fingernails! The lesson includes handwriting (slates for years 0-4, pen & ink for years 5 and above), arithmetic and spelling, with a good dose of discipline and 1850's social comment thrown in!

Children love a treasure hunt and this is one with a difference! 20th or 21st Century items have been craftily hidden in some of our buildings. Its a race to see which group can identify all 12 items and get back to the starting line first. No running allowed! The items are more obvious for our younger visitors but much more challenging for the older ones, to encourage investigation into what discoveries initiated inventions and when and how things developed.

This activity is every child's dream - to be surrounded by wonderful toys and to be able to play with them all. Students are encouraged to think about the differences between their toys and those from the 19th Century. Questions are posed about the physics and technology involved with the making and operation of the toys, appropriate to the children's age-group. They are shown a variety of authentic and replica toys and then it is time to explore and have fun.

Watch enthralled as items are removed from a typical Fencible trunk. This activity is hands-on. Children can light the fire, revive it with bellows, mash potatoes, prepare a meal, or do the ironing, etc, etc! A wonderful way to learn about the uses of Victorian household items and the differences between original Victorian appliances and those used in the 21st Century.

Year 6 and above

After viewing some genuine Victorian Women's garments displayed by our costume expert in her pristine white gloves, GIRLS (only) design and create their own Victorian jacket out of paper using illustrations and a bit of expert advice from the Educators.  This is a fun, challenging activity, combining the History of Fashion with Fabric Technology. One girl per group models the creation and the best outfit is assessed by popular vote.

We are delighted to allow students to do the village washing 1850's style! Children learn about washing in Victorian times and get to use scrubbing boards, dollies and blue-bags to wash and rinse their laundry. They have to fetch the water from the well using our coopered buckets and a yoke! Clothes are hung on the line to dry using wonderful old wooden pegs and we demonstrate the different irons in use. Not available in cold weather and prepare to get a little wet!