Page 5 We explored the plastic ballpoint pen in more detail, looking at the history of the pen from its early beginnings as the “reed pen” 800BC – 400AD, to the invention of the feather quill in 600 AD. The quill was the main writing instrument in the western world until the 1800s when it was replaced with the steel nib, and then the fountain pen. Students learned that to make a quill you need a primary flight feather from a large bird discarded during their annual moult. Goose, turkey or swan, were preferable as the shaft of the feather was thicker and could hold more ink, swan feathers were scarce and therefore more expensive. Traditionally most of the feather barbs are removed when making a quill as they would only get in the way when writing. The word pen is derived from the latin word for feather, penna. Each student learned how to carve their own quill using a turkey feather. They then practised how to write the alphabet with their quills and pots of ink. They learned that ink is of equal importance to any writing instrument, as without it nothing would get onto the paper. Beautiful cursive writing (calligraphy) is an art and this brought out the “Harry Potter” in many of the class, with students stating that while it was more challenging and time consuming to write with a quill, it was certainly more satisfying. Several students asked if they could use their quills in regular class activities!