Florence Nightingale visited us wearing her crinoline and long skirt! She told us all about her time in the Crimea long ago and the children impressed her with their knowledge too! Florence talked about the rats in Scutari Hospital, and showed us her Bible, her medicine bottles, her carbolic soap, sponge, toothbrush, candle and lamp. Did you know that medicine bottles used to have ridges on so that the doctors and nurses knew it was a dangerous medicine because their eyesight was not good! Did you know the toothbrushes were large and made out of horse hair?
The children learnt about Florence's method of writing and had the opportunity to use dip ink pens to write carefully. They also used slate boards with chalk and a slate pencil to draw nature pictures and write the alphabet.
Lastly, the children went to nursing school and Florence taught the children how to bandage soldiers. everyone got into pairs and practised bandaging different body parts! They then had to roll up their bandages precisely or Florence would have made them clean the bed pans!
We had such a lot of fun and learnt a great deal- it was a wonderful way to experience history!
