Special Activity Sessions 
Our special activities are very popular
and should be booked well in advance.
 Butter
Making
Students take turns to churn cream into
butter and can then taste the butter on
water crackers. During the activity, the
children observe the process of butter-making
and learn about its importance to 19th
century housewives - a far cry from getting
the margarine pot out of the firdge. 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!
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, R&EA.
Levels 1-4.
Tech. T K& U, T C, T & Soc
. Levels 1 - 5.
Clothing
Using dressed dolls and replica clothing,
we show the students the changes in fashion
between 1850, 1860 and 1870. Why did crinolines
give way to the bustle? - we dress two
girls to show them the practicalities
of these 19th century fashion items. How
would you like to wear a corset? Then
it's the boys turn to model our selection
of menswear ensuring the appropriate etiquette
is always maintained.
SocStudies. C&H, TCC, R&EA.
Levels 1 - 3
Courthouse
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 all 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.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, SO.
Levels 3-5
Digging up the Past
This is 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
by answering questions and sketching.
Students are taught the importance of
archaeology to a place like the Howick
Historical Village and to all of us in
order to learn more about our past. A
very educational and enjoyable treasure-hunt!
SocStudies. TCC, P&E, C&H, R&EA.
Levels 2-5
Tech. TK&U, T&Soc. Levels 2-5
 Indoor
Toys
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.
SocStudies. C&H, TCC, R&EA. Levels
1-4
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
1-4
Migrant Women
Using a combination
of poignancy and humour, an Irish woman
and her friend, together with children
picked 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’” ! Watch to see if
the items packed are similar to those
you would pack for an overseas trip and
laugh as some of the more humourous 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.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC. Levels
4-5
 New
Life in the Colony
Follow 12 year old Mary O'Brien
as she sets sail from England with
her Fencible father and the rest of their
family, and settles into
her new life in Howick. This is an evocative
and informative audio-
visual presentation, followed by in depth
discussion. It explores
issues involving emigration and resettlement,
and is an excellent
activity for the winter months, or inclement
weather.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC. Levels
2-5.
Nursery Rhymes
It is amazing how few Nursery Rhymes today’s
children know. We offer a selection of
Nursery Rhymes – all 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 would be most suitable
for Years 0 to 3 or 4 but we are certain
everyone will enjoy them.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, Levels
1-3
 Parlour
Games
Wonderful indoor entertainment which is
extremely suitable if the weather is doubtful
or if the area of study is ‘leisure
time’. Traditional parlour games
of the mid to late 1800’s have been
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!
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC. Levels
1-3
Rag Rug Making
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!
SocStudies. C&H, TCC, R&EA. Levels
2-4
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
1-4
 Raupo
Hut Model Making
Students from Year 5
upward have the opportunity to start building
their own miniature Raupo Huts. Two groups
of up to 15 students in each work cooperatively
on different aspects of the construction
e.g. the roof, the raupo bundles for the
walls, the framework and rope tying. We
have three Raupo Whares in the Village
for the students to inspect and instructions
for each part of the building process
will be given out. Depending on the efficiency
of the building techniques and speed of
work, 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 can be taken back to school to complete
as desired.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, R&EA,
Levels 3&4
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
3&4
School Lesson
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 and
ink for years 5 and above), arithmetic
and spelling, with a good dose of discipline
and 1850’s social comment thrown
in!
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC,SO.
Levels 1-4
Spot the Difference
All children love a treasure hunt and
this is one with a slight difference!
20th or 21st Century items have been craftily
hidden in some of our buildings and it
is 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.
 Unpacking
the Trunk
Watch enthralled as items are removed
from a typical Fencible trunk. With smaller
children, this activity is hands-on, with
each child given a turn to ‘light
the fire’, revive it with the bellows,
mash the potatoes or do the ironing etc!
This is a wonderful way to learn about
the uses of these household items and
the differences between the original Victorian
appliances and those used in the 21st
Century. Older students get just as much
satisfaction in guessing what completely
unfamiliar items might be and learning
how life was for 19th Century New Zealanders.
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, R&EA.
Levels 1-3
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
1-2
Victorian Outdoor
Games
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, diablos, hoops and
skimmers and graces while at the same
time learning about the way in which toys
were made and leisure time was utilised
in the 1800s.
SocStudies. C&H, TCC, R&EA. Levels
1-4
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
1-2
 Washday
We are delighted to allow the students
to do the village washing – 1850’s
style! Children learn about washing in
Victorian Howick and get to use scrubbing
boards, dollies and blue bags to wash
and rinse their laundry. Of course, they
have to fetch the water from the well
first using our finest coopered buckets
and a yoke! Clothes are then hung on the
line to dry using those wonderful old
wooden pegs and we also demonstrate the
different irons in use. Not available
in cold weather and prepare to get a little
wet!
SocStudies. C&H, P&E, TCC, R&EA.
Levels 1-3
Tech. TK&U, TC, T&Soc. Levels
1-2
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