YOUNGSTERS from Oakfield Primary School found out what the Romans did for us - and picked-up some ideas for when they take part in Ryde's forthcoming Mardi Gras.

On June 29, the New Carnival Company’s (NCC) popular parade will take place in Ryde, and preparation for the ‘Biosphere Island’ theme is now underway.

All participating school and community groups are joining forces with an expert organisation to help research their Island-based subject, and last week, Oakfield Primary School became the first group to visit their ‘Historical Environment’ partner, Brading Roman Villa.

The 84 pupils gained valuable insight into how the Romans lived, to inspire designs for their costumes which will represent Brading Roman Villa in the parade. The children enjoyed a tour of the villa, made mosaics, handled artefacts and worked out what different objects were used for.

Education Officer Spencer Brown said, “We’ve been helping the children to explore the villa so they can feel what it was like to be a Roman living at Brading. "Visits always inspire and engage, and this has been a springboard into their topic on the Romans as well as laying the foundations for our collaboration with the NCC and the Mardi Gras parade. The children threw themselves into the activities and created a day they will never forget. Everyone will see this in the parade.”

All pupils will be involved in designing outfits in class, before making the selected costumes which will be worn at Mardi Gras.

Diane Robinson, Lower Key Stage 2 teacher at Oakfield Primary School said, “We’ve linked our curriculum topic, ‘Life in Roman times’ with Mardi Gras, but people shouldn’t assume we’ll all be dressed as Roman soldiers. Evidence suggests Brading Roman Villa was a farm not a fort, and the children have been learning about the other ‘F’ words associated with this villa including food, floors, fields and fences. We’ll be concentrating on these aspects, and not the fighting.”

Frankie Goldspink, creative director of the NCC, said, “Mardi Gras 2019 is supporting the IW’s bid to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and creating a parade that celebrates the best the Island has to offer. By partnering heritage and environmental organisations with schools and communities in this process, we are really embracing the concept of Biosphere, and getting everyone to feel part of it.”

To date, 30 groups and 25 heritage organisations are signed up for the Mardi Gras project, but it’s not too late to join. Contact NCC on 716095 to find out how.