Are you ready to go on an Iron Age Adventure? Imagine that you have stepped back in time to Ancient Britain. The Romans rule the land. You are part of the Iceni who live in the East of England, a little tribe who are causing a lot of trouble. The Iceni have risen up in rebellion against the Roman rule - they don’t like getting told what to do by the Romans. Unlike the Romans who are proper soldiers with fancy swords and shields the Iceni are farmers and ordinary folk but they fight with sheer determination. The leader of the Iceni is a fierce and fiery woman called Boudica. Boudica has put up such an impressive fight that the Romans are really embarrassed - they’re not used to being defeated in battle! The Romans will do everything in their power to stamp out Boudica’s memory so that history does not remember her. Now this is where you come in.

You are the Star Storyteller of the Iceni. Stories are often shared around a fire in the evenings, an important community activity to entertain and inspire.

You, Star Storyteller, have been charged with two tasks.

Task One

Create an exciting story about your travels with Boudica so that her legend lives on, never to be faded out by the Romans.

Task Two

Design a shield. The shield will be passed down through generations of future Story-tellers who regale your tale of Boudica. You can decorate your shield however you like but it must include one important thing. Boudica’ secret symbol. You can write or draw her secret symbol on the shield. But what is Boudica’s secret symbol? Follow the four steps to find out.

A shield template on a poster is available for download at the end of the course.

These four steps will help you to create a brilliant story to celebrate Boudica. Each step consists of two chapters and there are eight chapters all together. At the end of each step you will be rewarded a letter. The four letters once put together will spell the name of Boudica’s secret symbol.

At the end of the workshop you will have -

One - Adventured on a hero’s journey, created a world, a poem and a plan for your own amazing story. You can keep writing your story in your own time after the workshop.

Two - The letters to reveal the name of Boudica’s secret symbol. You can design a shield in your own time after the workshop. Why not send a photo of your shield in to National Centre for Writing?

As you follow the steps keep the following things in mind -

• Each chapter can be completed at your own pace. The suggested time for each chapter is 10 mins. But you can take as long as you like.
• You can take breaks in between each step.
• Everyone is a storyteller. Write with your own unique voice.
• Relax and have fun!