Grandparents have returned to the classroom to help young schoolchildren discover more about their past.

The nostalgic look at yesteryear is all part of the My Home themed learning for Year 1 pupils at Chilton Primary in Ramsgate.

The older visitors chatted with the children about their lives, lifestyle and their jobs and just what Ramsgate was like many decades ago.

And they showed their enthusiastic young audience a range of black and white and colour photographs that helped bring the past to life.

Images included grandparents in their younger days in organisations such as the cubs and guides, pictures of old and bulky television sets and a variety of transport, old cameras and hand-held film viewers.

The journey back in time was further illustrated with stories from old children’s favourite annuals, a meeting with a well-loved old teddy bear and a performance by a dancing puppet on strings.

Deputy Head of School and Head of Early Years Hannah Cheshire said: “What a fantastic way to start the Year 1 learning about My Home – My Town. Our fantastic grandparents really painted vivid pictures of life in their days as children growing up, discussing the how their own lives had changed through the years.

“They brought in an array of memories and artefacts including old photos, postcards, toys and personal treasures that they shared.

“The children were amazed to see a cassette tape and had some weird and wonderful ideas about what it might be.

“There really was true awe and wonder in the classroom. The experience gave the children a true sense of what life used to be like in Ramsgate.”

As the topic develops the year group will discuss how their own lives and surroundings have changed since they were babies, explore their family’s timeline and history, and investigate why it is important to know about people from the past and what they can learn from them.

These will include the 19th century architect Augustus Pugin who lived and worked in the town, and who designed the interior of the Palace of Westminster in London, and its iconic clock tower that houses the bell known as Big Ben.

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As a broader part of their learning they will also know how to identify the main differences between a city, town and village; discuss the human features of their area such as shops and houses and how they have changed over time; explore maps and create their own of their school environment.

Chilton Primary is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Upton Junior School, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

**For more information contact Head of School Alex McAuley on 01843 597695