LETHBRIDGE Primary School was transformed into a sea of costumes from bygone eras on Monday as the children launched themselves into new study topics.

The ancient Greeks, the Victorians and the animals from the East African country of Madagascar where among the themes on display.

The use of fun days complete with dressing up is a tool that the school has found helps to associate new topics with fun and excitement, meaning that the children approach them with increased interest and enthusiasm.

Lucy Pryke, who teachs pupils in year 1 and year 2, said: “The children are going to be starting their Madagascar theme so today they have dressed up and they’re watching the film.

“They will learn about where the country is and what animals can be found there – next week we’re off to Bristol Zoo which they’re all really looking forward to.

“It’s all cross curricular too, they’ll be looking at artists and doing some jungle artwork and also doing an investigation on the animals for science.

“English and maths is tied into it as well.”

The teaching team try to build a big launch event into each new topic and they’ve found that it not only helps the children to get interested but also brings parents on board too.

A lot of work had clearly gone into the outfit selections at home and parents continue their involvement with homework projects on the same topic.

Upstairs, it was toga-time as the older children in year 5 and year 6 focused on the history of Ancient Greece.

Along the corridor there was much commotion as another class, years 3 and 4, got the chance to experience children’s games from yesteryear.

“We’re reliving the heydays of Victorian games, this has become a Victorian classroom for the day,” said acting deputy headteacher, Caron Short. “We have spoken about how things were different then so they know they probably wouldn’t have been able to play games like this back then. It’s an important part of our curriculum but it’s an important part of Swindon’s history as well.

“We’re reading the fabulous Baker Street Boys which is set in that era – we like to weave in as much as we can around the topic.”

Last year the pupils studied topics including space where they learned about the planets and Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station.