Whether you choose to come to us for a guided tour around the Cathedral or an art workshop linked to some of the things you will have seen in the building, or both! There is something here for everyone.
During your booking process we can talk through what you might like to do as part of your day and factor in timings for snacks and toilet breaks.
Pre-School and Nursery Cathedral Tour
Experience the awe and wonder of Winchester Cathedral on an interactive and sensory tour with our Learning Team. Spot the shapes, colours, textures and animals carved into wood and stone as you are guided around the building and listen to the stories.
Pre- School and Nursery Workshops
Workshops will take place in one of our wonderful spaces in our Learning Centre and led by one of our Learning Team. Our art-based workshops are designed in a way that all pupils will go away with a better understanding of the Cathedral and a piece of artwork to take back to school. The workshop briefs are straightforward so that those with less confidence will be able to achieve a finished piece, but open enough to give room for creativity and individual flare.
Experienced based learning through art is something that we are passionate about here in the Learning Team at Winchester Cathedral. We know that during school time there is never enough time for pupils to experiment and express themselves through different mediums and materials.
Aisha, our Learning and Heritage Officer, has a background in Fine Art and has used this experience to design our art-based workshops.
Green Men Workshop
Pupils will learn about the mysterious figures made from plants and leaves that are hidden inside the Cathedral. Pupils will then use paper plates and mixed media to create their own green man face to take home.
Great West Window Workshop
Pupils will learn what a stained-glass window is and why we have them in the Cathedral. They will then be shown a picture of the Great West Window, if they haven’t seen it in the Cathedral already, and compare it to other stained-glass windows they have seen. They will then be told the story of the Great West Window. For the activity, pupils will create their own piece to take home with them inspired by the Great West Window, made from tissue paper, tracing paper and PVA glue.
Tip: The pieces of work made in this workshop make fantastic classroom displays. Please bring something to take these pieces back to school in, as the glue may still be wet.
Using art to tell stories about the Cathedral is extremely rewarding. There is always a pupil who says at the beginning of the session “I am not good at art” but they always go away with something they are proud of. Seeing the joy on children’s faces whenthey realise they are going to spend the next hour making something together is wonderful.Aisha Al-Sadie, Winchester Cathedral Learning and Heritage Officer
