History

History of Toys

Take a captivating trip down memory lane with immersive VR. Students explore the fascinating evolution of toys across the decades, from wooden ducks to the Millennium Falcon, understanding how toys reflect technological and social changes over time.

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1,800+
Students per year
383,000+
Students reached
EYFS–Y6
All ages welcome
Children exploring historical toys in a Spark2 workshop

Duration

35–40 mins

Class Size

Up to 32

Suitable For

KS1–KS2

What's Included

VR + Resources
About This Workshop

Step back in time to explore how toys shaped childhood

The History of Toys workshop uses a blend of object-based learning and virtual reality, enabling students to experience classic toys from different eras. Rather than just reading about history, children walk through a 360° VR toy museum, seeing and interacting with toys in their historical context.

Every session is adapted to your year group. Reception and Year 1 explore toys through storytelling and tactile activities. Year 2 students investigate how materials have changed, comparing wooden toys to plastic ones. All activities build chronological understanding and awareness of technological evolution.

Book a full-day visit and choose a different VR topic for every year group — making it super specific to each class's curriculum and exceptional value for money.

Immersive VR Experience

Immersive VR Experience

Each session includes a Virtual Reality segment where students are transported back in time. Using class sets of VR headsets, children explore 360° recreations of historical environments — from walking through ancient temples to witnessing the Great Fire of London.

360° Environments
Fully immersive historical recreations
Shared Headset Experience
One headset between two, per screen time recommendations
Guided Experience
Facilitator-led narration throughout
Curriculum Aligned
Mapped to National Curriculum KS1/KS2
What Students Do

Six hands-on activities, adapted by age

Every activity is designed to bring history to life. Your facilitator selects and adapts activities based on the year group.

1

Toy Timeline Exploration

Create a simple timeline of toys, from early wooden toys to digital favourites, helping students visualise how toys have changed over time.

All year groups
2

Wooden Duck Toy Discovery

Examine a classic wooden duck toy, allowing students to understand traditional toy-making and appreciate the charm of handcrafted toys.

All year groups
3

Tamagotchi Introduction

A gentle introduction to digital toys, as students explore the impact of Tamagotchis, connecting to early digital play experiences.

All year groups
4

Millennium Falcon Adventure

Take a fun virtual trip inside the Millennium Falcon, introducing students to iconic toys and their cultural impact.

All year groups
5

3D Toy Design in VR

A VR experience where students can arrange and explore toy shapes, encouraging creativity and an understanding of how toys are designed.

All year groups
6

Old vs. New

A simple comparison of historical and modern toys, helping students observe differences in materials, design, and function.

All year groups
Learning Outcomes

What students take away

Every session is designed around measurable outcomes that align with the National Curriculum and build historical thinking skills.

Chronological understanding

Students can sequence events and understand that history unfolds over time.

Material and technology evolution

Students recognise how technological advances have changed the toys we play with.

Social and cultural awareness

Students understand that toys reflect the society and time period in which they were made.

Curiosity about the past

Students develop a genuine interest in history and how people lived in different times.

The children were mesmerised by the VR toy museum. One Year 1 girl kept asking 'Was everything made of wood before plastic?' — that simple question showed she was really thinking about cause and consequence.
Year 1 Teacher
Primary School, Leeds
Pricing & Your Workshop Day

Simple, transparent pricing

We bring everything — facilitator, VR headsets, resources, activity kits. You just tell us the date and year groups. No hidden costs, no extras.

Half Day

Up to 4 sessions
£599
Up to 128 students · £4.68 per student
  • 40 min (Y3–6) · 35 min (Y1–2 & EYFS)
  • Up to 32 students per session
  • EYFS–Year 6 adaptable
  • VR & all resources included
  • Dedicated facilitator
Best Value

Full Day

Up to 6 sessions
£799
Up to 192 students · £4.16 per student
  • 40 min (Y3–6) · 35 min (Y1–2 & EYFS)
  • Up to 32 students per session
  • EYFS–Year 6 adaptable
  • VR & all resources included
  • Dedicated facilitator
  • Reach most classes in your school
VR headset batteries support up to 6 sessions per day

Sample full-day timetable

Here’s how a typical full-day VR history workshop fits around your school day. KS2 sessions run 40 minutes; KS1 & EYFS sessions run 35 minutes. We’re flexible — we’ll work around your timetable.

9:00–9:40
Session 1
Y3 · 40 min
9:45–10:25
Session 2
Y4 · 40 min
10:25–10:40
Morning break
10:40–11:20
Session 3
Y5 · 40 min
11:25–12:05
Session 4
Y6 · 40 min
12:05–1:00
Lunch break
1:00–1:35
Session 5
Y1 · 35 min
1:40–2:15
Session 6
Y2 · 35 min
Want to combine History VR with our Future Skills workshops?

Mix and match your workshop day

Schools love booking a VR History day alongside our hands-on Future Skills workshops — giving students a full spectrum of immersive learning experiences in a single day or across the term.

View Future Skills Workshops →
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Bring this workshop to your school

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Email us at hi@spark2.org — we reply within one working day.