This activity focuses on animals (which kids love) living in a very strange place years ago (the Tower of London) --animals which have been recreated in chicken wire by a gifted sculptor and have been on display at the Tower of London. The purpose of this activity is to encourage wonder and discovery in children.
THE TOWER OF LONDON
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A long time ago in London, England the king's castle was called "The Tower of London." In those days there were no zoos anywhere. No one had ever seen a elephant or a tiger. As far as they knew, those animals were no more real than a unicorn! But... one king decided he wanted to have those animals where he could see them--at his castle! Soon, powerful rulers tried to impress each other by exchanging living gifts. The exotic animals kept at the Tower of London showed how rich and powerful the king was. Animals arrived from all over the known world.
Henry III received a "white bear" from the king of Norway (1252) believed to be a polar bear. That was one lucky bear because he was put on a leash long enough so he could swim and catch fish in the River Thames. The biggest gift King Henry got was an elephant from the king of France.
What can you think of that the animals would like about living in the Tower of London?
What can you think of that the animals would not like about living in the Tower of London?
Why do you think King Henry III wanted to have the animals?
Life for these animals was hard. Wild animals, especially large animals, didn't do well traveling long distances cramped inside a ship. Sometimes the King would even have the animals fight each other to entertain his guests which was sad. The monkeys were kept in a fancy, furnished room --can you imagine the mess they made?!! Most animals were usually kept in cramped cages and often fed with food that was not part of their natural diet. It is not surprising that many died young.
The king's beasts eventually died and finally they were not replaced. Now, 750 years later, Kendra Haste's sculptures have returned the animals to the Tower of London. She is an animal sculptor who works with wire! Her sculptures are very life-life and are made entirely from wire.
What other things could be used to create animal sculptures? Let's look at the animals that were at the Tower of London and THEN look at Kendra Haste's sculptures of the animals!
Henry III received a "white bear" from the king of Norway (1252) believed to be a polar bear. That was one lucky bear because he was put on a leash long enough so he could swim and catch fish in the River Thames. The biggest gift King Henry got was an elephant from the king of France.
What can you think of that the animals would like about living in the Tower of London?
What can you think of that the animals would not like about living in the Tower of London?
Why do you think King Henry III wanted to have the animals?
Life for these animals was hard. Wild animals, especially large animals, didn't do well traveling long distances cramped inside a ship. Sometimes the King would even have the animals fight each other to entertain his guests which was sad. The monkeys were kept in a fancy, furnished room --can you imagine the mess they made?!! Most animals were usually kept in cramped cages and often fed with food that was not part of their natural diet. It is not surprising that many died young.
The king's beasts eventually died and finally they were not replaced. Now, 750 years later, Kendra Haste's sculptures have returned the animals to the Tower of London. She is an animal sculptor who works with wire! Her sculptures are very life-life and are made entirely from wire.
What other things could be used to create animal sculptures? Let's look at the animals that were at the Tower of London and THEN look at Kendra Haste's sculptures of the animals!
