Wakefield Museums and Castles

Ilbert the Dragon flying above the castle bailey on a summer's day

Exploring with Ilbert the Dragon

Ilbert the Dragon, a friendly yellow and purple dragon mascot

This is Ilbert. He is a friendly dragon.

Ilbert lives at Pontefract Castle.

The curtain wall and keep at Pontefract Castle with the leafy branches of a large tree in the foreground

Visit Pontefract Castle to take part in Ilbert’s favourite activities.

Some of these activities could also be done at home or in a park!

Large trees in leaf around the main drive at Pontefract Castle

Tree spotting

Look for trees that have:

  • A wide trunk

  • Leaves bigger than your hand

  • Birds nesting

  • A bat box fixed to the trunk

Listen for the birds in the trees. Copy the noise they make.

Stretch your arms and flap like a bird or dragon. Be careful not to fly into anyone!

If a leaf has fallen from the tree pick it up. Describe what you can see and feel.

A child holding a magnifying glass to their face in front of the Medieval Herb Garden at Pontefract Castle

Wonderful waiting games

Explore the colous, shapes and sizes around the castle. Look all around to find answers for each of Ilbert’s questions:

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is big. What can you see that is big?

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is yellow. What can you see that is yellow?

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is small. What can you see that is small?

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is tall. What can you see that is tall?

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is brown. What can you see that is brown?

  • I spy with my little dragon eyes something that is long. What can you see that is long?

What other things can you find?

A child smelling the lavender hanging over the wall in the Medieval Herb Garden

Smells and colours

Find the Medieval Herb Garden. It is near the Visitor Centre.

  • How many plants do you recognise?

  • Point to the plants in flower. Which is your favourite?

  • What colours of flowers can you see?

  • Do the leaves smell as well as the flowers?

  • Which plants do you think smell nice? Why do you like them?

  • Which minibeasts and other creatures can you spot in the herb garden?

  • Are there any ladybirds resting at the herb garden? How many spots do they have?

A cloud shaped a bit like a heart

Grass gazing

Take a few minutes to rest. Lie down on the grass in the middle of the castle bailey, or in your nearest park. Look up to see if there are any clouds in the sky.

  • What shapes can you see? Do any of the clouds look like birds, flowers or dragons?

  • Discuss if clouds make a noise. Make the noise of a cloud moving across the sky.

  • Count how many clouds you can see in the sky.

  • What colours can you see when you are lying on the grass?

  • What does the grass feel like?

A person using their hand to create a shadow a bit like a rabbit

Make a shadow picture

Ilbert really enjoys making shadow pictures. He finds the best time to make shadow pictures is during the daytime, when it is nice and bright.

  • Stand in the sunlight and see where it casts your shadow.

  • Move your arms and legs to make different shadows.

  • Can you work together to create a giant shadow picture?

  • Can you use just your hands to create a shadow picture?

 No sunlight today? Use the torch on a mobile phone to create your own light. Shine it against a wall to make your shadow pictures!

50 things to do before you're 5 logo

You can use this activities for your 50 things to do before you're 5. 

Playing these games together can link with:

  • Number 9: Mini Beasts and Bug Hunting

  • Number 11: Making Connections

  • Number 19: Growing

  • Number 46: Wonderful Waiting Games

  • Number 49: Grass Gazing

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