Things to do at home
Looking for an activity to fill the afternoon?
Why not bake like an Anglo-Saxon? Or make a Roman shield? Dig into our array of activities to uncover hoards of fun…
We’re always looking for new activity ideas.
If you have an activity that you would like to share with us please email us at yac@yac-uk.org
Archaeologist or Palaeontologist?
This game explores the differences between archaeologists and palaeontologists.
Bake a Medieval Simnel Cake
Simnel cake is a traditional yeast-leavened bread that is eaten during lent and at Easter (and is also associated with Mother’s Day). Originating in the medieval times, it was special because it was made out of the highest quality flour possible, simnel. The name may derive from the Roman ‘simila conspersa’, meaning ‘fine flour’.
Bake a Tudor-style tart!
Get a taste of 16th-century feasting with our delicious recipe for a Tudor-inspired cheesecake tart! This tasty recipe from YAC HQ is inspired by several recipes from the period 1500-1700 that used soft cheeses, spices and dried fruit. Perfect for some weekend baking or as part of a group project on historical food!
Bake an eggless cake
There was a shortage of eggs during the Second World War. Many people used powdered eggs or used recipes that did not need eggs at all. Why don’t you try making this easy eggless cake?
Bake Tudor Marchpane
Christmas dinner as we know it today started to appear in Tudor times – they started off the tradition of eating turkey and mince pies! In fact King Henry VIII was one of the first people to turkey as part of his Christmas dinner. Another popular Tudor recipe was for a sweet (a bit like marzipan), called Marchpane. Have a go at making your own Marchpane with this tasty activity!
Bake Viking Flatbread
Archaeologists have found flatbread loaves in Viking graves at Birka in Sweden. You can make some Viking bread using our recipe. It is based on an old recipe from Normandy in France. It is believed to be as near to an old Viking flatbread as is possible.
Activity highlight
Make your own Maya worry doll
The Ancient Maya were an extraordinary civilisation who lived in what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. They built vibrant cities, created beautiful art, developed the only full writing system in the Americas, invented the concept of zero and made remarkable discoveries about the stars.
A worry doll (muñeca quitapena in Spanish) is a tiny handmade figure made from colorful textile leftovers. Worry dolls are important in Maya tradition and stories. Sometimes they are linked to the creation goddess Xmucane. Around 8 million Maya people still live today across Central America. Many continue to speak Mayan languages, make traditional crafts and wear
colourful, hand‑woven clothing. Maya weavers are highly skilled at spinning, dyeing and weaving and many of their designs carry special meanings. We can learn a great deal from living Maya communities as well as from the archaeological artefacts left behind.
According to Maya tradition, if you tell your doll your troubles before bed, then place it under your pillow by morning the doll has carried those worries away. Click here to watch a video of a Maya mother explain how these dolls are passed down from generation to generation.
This activity is part of our Ancient Maya resource pack, produced by Archaeodiscovery. Explore the full resource pack here.
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