On Thursday 16th January, Year 5 students from Caversham Preparatory School were invited to Leighton Park for a truly immersive experience, combining history and cookery in a special Hungry Historians workshop.
The day began in the classroom, where the pupils explored the rich and fascinating world of the Tudor period. Led by Head of History, Helen Tatlock, the children learned about the diverse food trends of the time and how ingredients were sourced from all over the world. They examined an ingredients map, tracing the journeys of spices and luxury foods like dates, rice, currants, and nutmeg, which travelled across continents to reach England. The lesson also highlighted the significance of lavish foods in the Tudor court, where extravagant meals were not only a symbol of wealth but also a reflection of the changing times.
After their history lesson, it was time to roll up their sleeves for a hands-on cookery session in LP’s Food Tech room. Under the guidance of Food Tech teacher, Karen Hicks, the children set about making a delicious Renaissance Rice Pudding, based on a Tudor recipe. The dish, rich in butter and cream, was infused with the exotic spices and dried fruits which the Tudors would have considered luxury ingredients.
The workshop built on the students’ existing knowledge of the Tudor period, as they have been studying this fascinating era in their own school history lessons, giving them a deeper understanding of how food connects to culture, trade, and the changing world. Overall the experience was a perfect blend of historical learning and practical skills including weighing, cracking and separating eggs, as well as knife skills and cooking on the hob. And, of course, they got to take away the fruits of their labour at the end!
Year 5 Caversham Prep student thought the workshop was “fabulous” and remarked “It was amazing and I loved that we made the rice pudding with no help”. Ella agreed and thought the “cooking was lots of fun!”. Meanwhile, Alek commented “It was so fun! I really liked learning about the trade routes as well as the cooking.”
You can see more photographs from this event here.
Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.
Δ