Bursledon Windmill

This week the Oasis VIP club visited Bursledon Windmill. One of our pupils wanted to know what a windmill was when she came across one in her class work. Unfortunately, at the time Bursledon windmill was closed for important restoration work. However, not deterred Mrs Sampson got in contact with the Windmill and arranged the first visit available (even before the grand re-opening this coming weekend!) once restoration work was completed.

 We were taken through a hands-on story of the 'Grain chain'; how wheat becomes bread. This matched the work our Year R pupil has been doing about the story 'The Little Red Hen'. So first we planted the corn. All the pupils had a chance to explore the texture and smell of a bucket of corn.

 This then grows into a head of corn, long and thin with a spiky top.

 The corn is then beaten out with 'threshers'.

 Then to 'sort the chaff from the wheat', we go outside to do some 'winnowing'.

 The corn and flour was stored in this shed which was up on mushroom stilts to keep the rats out.

 We had a go at grinding corn by hand at first. With the smaller grinder, you could feel the corn rolling beneath the two stones, being crushed.

 Then we went up into the Windmill taking great care not to bump heads on some of the low handing beams.

 There were three massive grinding stones set into the windmill's floor. We explored the thick groves carved into the stone as well as the mighty turning beam running down through the heart of the windmill. 

 Outside on the sail deck we could appreciate the size of the huge white sails.

 The children were really sensible and careful inside the windmill; as well as brave and trusting in a very unfamiliar environment. They listened brilliantly and enjoyed exploring the hands-on elements on the ground floor of the windmill.

 A large touch screen interactive virtual tour of the windmill was a great resource.

 As were geared models which showed a simplified version of how the windmill works.

 Despite a chill in the air and a lot of wet weather we had a brilliant afternoon at the windmill. Thank you to all the staff at the windmill for making sure our visit could happen and for being so welcoming and kind. It was an excellent hands-on learning experience. The windmill re-opens to the public this weekend...

THANK YOU