Pre-Prep and Prep School Humanities Week 2026: Gold
During Humanities Week, pupils from across Pre-Prep and Prep School took part in an exciting exploration of gold, a precious metal that has fascinated humanity for thousands of years.
Through a wide range of activities, pupils developed their historical and geographical understanding while engaging creatively with the theme.
In Prep 2, pupils learnt about the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb and treasure. On 4 November 1922, Hussein, a water boy working in the Valley of the Kings for Howard Carter, accidentally found a smooth stone while placing water bottles. This led Carter and his team to uncover steps descending into the young pharaoh’s tomb, revealing over 5,000 ancient artefacts.
The class acted out the discovery, with Cian playing Hussein and, alongside Nicoletta, leading the archaeologists into the dark tunnel before the tomb was opened.
In History lessons, Prep 3 and 4 pupils learnt about the importance of gold in Ancient Egypt and explored how it later shaped events during the Australian and American Gold Rushes of the 1800s. Pupils examined why people travelled great distances in search of gold and how these discoveries transformed societies.
In Geography, Prep 5 and 6 pupils focused on how gold is mined in South Africa. They considered the physical processes involved in mining and discussed the environmental and social challenges this can create for local communities. These lessons encouraged thoughtful discussion about sustainability and responsibility.
Both Pre-Prep and Prep pupils greatly enjoyed the midweek assemblies, where they were visited by a real pirate who brought historical quests for gold to life. A fiercely competitive House Humanities Quiz also took place, with pupils showcasing their impressive knowledge of history and geography topics from across the school year.
The week culminated in a day of workshops. Pupils learnt how gold is used to make jewellery during an inspiring session led by Maria Francesca Pepe, where children designed and created their own signet rings. Prep 5 and 6 pupils also took part in an engaging gold trading workshop led by Jo Duncan, exploring how recent world events have influenced gold prices on international markets.
A huge thank you to our parent community who supported this fun and engaging week and to all the Ibstock staff who helped make it a great success!
