Schools at the County Museum at Hartlebury

Prehistoric Archaeology

The workshop takes place in two locations, a teaching area and the archaeology gallery.

The Museum staff-led session will look at the way in which life was lived, and resources available in prehistoric times, with activities to illustrate how archaeologists establish a temporal framework for their work. The teaching programme will aim to introduce the principal resources available to early man migrating to the British Isles after the glacial periods

In the gallery, the activities will be teacher led and work around a question sheet which will encourage the children to look at the objects and read the captions to gain further information.  The gallery also contains exhibits from historical periods (Roman, Anglo Saxons and Mediaeval) which will be used to put the work on prehistoric cultures into context.

Curriculum Links

History: Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, a local history study

Literacy: spoken language and reading skills, listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers, ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and build vocabulary and knowledge. Participate actively in collaborative conversations. Use their findings to inform creative writing opportunities.

Numeracy: Undertaking maths activities with particular regard to extended periods of time.

Science: materials and their uses, thinking and working scientifically, processes. Behaviour of materials and atoms.

Key Stages 2 (but can be modified for KS1 and 3) , 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

We’re going on a shapes hunt

Guided by the museum puppet, John Boy, children will explore the museum’s collection of historic Gypsy caravans, looking for shapes in the structure and decoration of these amazingly colourful homes. John Boy will talk about his family and lifestyle as a Gypsy at the start of the last century. They will also experience a hands-on exploration of 2 and 3 dimensional shapes, exploring characteristics of objects and using mathematical language to describe them. They will learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions. Sessions can be adapted to suit all ages and ability groups.

Curriculum links:
Mathematics – Recognise, create and describe patterns; explore the characteristics of objects; model shapes and patterns they have observed. Personal, social and emotional development: self-confidence and -awareness; share ideas within a familiar group; choose resources they need; say when they do or don’t need help; critical thinking.

Early Years Foundation Stage, 45 minutes, maximum 15 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95

Below Stairs

Apply for the positions of Boot Boy and Scullery Maid; use authentic equipment in our reconstructed scullery and laundry. Children will gain an insight into life ‘below stairs’ as if starting their working life in service. Our Housemaid will explain about the conditions of employment, contrasting a servant’s life-style with that of his or her employer. The children will be prepared for the wide variety of duties performed in a typical upper-middle class household in the late 19th century by demonstration of equipment from this period, before taking part in a number of practical activities.
Sessions can be adapted to suit all age and ability groups. Content can be used to focus on an overarching study on the lives of children in the past; were their lives better then or now?

Curriculum links:
History: know where people and events fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences with different periods; understanding changes within living memory and in national life; a study of British history beyond 1066. English: listen and respond appropriately to adults and peers; ask relevant questions to extend understanding and knowledge.

Key Stages 1 & 2, 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

Toys From the Past

A hands-on activity looking at the similarities and differences between toys today and toys in the past. To reinforce concepts of ‘old’ and ‘new’ and to provide a wide range of opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening skills.

Curriculum links:
History: develop an awareness of the past; discover where the people and objects studied fit within a chronological framework; use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms; understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and how it is represented. Science: identify and name a variety of everyday materials; describe the simple physical properties of a variety of everyday materials. English: ask relevant questions to extend their understanding; articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions; maintain attention and participate in conversations, initiating and responding to comments.

Key Stages 1, 45 minutes, maximum 15 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

Victorian Schoolroom

Experience a typical Victorian school day with one of Hartlebury Castle’s resident school teachers. Take part in a Victorian lesson in our schoolroom, use slates and pencils and find out about school punishments. This will be followed by a traditional playtime with whipping tops, hoops, skipping ropes and yo-yos.

Curriculum links

History KS1 – know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. Changes within living memory. Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life

History KS2 – A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066

Key Stage 1 & 2 – English: spoken language

Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers. Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge

Key Stages 1 & 2, 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

Homes from the Past

A hands-on activity looking at the similarities and differences between our homes today and during Victorian times. To reinforce concepts of ‘old’ and ‘new’ and to provide a wide range of opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening skills. To provide an understanding of elements of life in the past.

Curriculum links:
History: changes within living memory of national life; know where the people and events fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. English: ask relevant questions to extend understanding and knowledge; articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions; maintain attention and participate in conversations, initiating and responding to comments.

Key Stages 1, 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

Classroom at War

Using the schoolroom at Hartlebury, children while have the opportunity to learn about the life of a Wartime evacuee, suitably attired with their gas mask boxes. Our ‘WVS leader’ or ‘ARP warden’ will talk about evacuation and children’s experiences. Once the children have found out about life during WW2, they will be able to take part in a series of hands-on activities including packing an evacuee’s suitcase, sending Morse code messages, playing with wartime toys and shopping with WW2 coins.

Curriculum links:
History: a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066; a significant turning point in British history; events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally. English: listen and respond to adults and peers; ask relevant questions; articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions; maintain attention and participate in conversations.

Key Stages 2 (can be adapted for KS1), 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.

Make Do and Mend

The Scullery at Hartlebury has been created for children to experience a day in the life of a Wartime child. Our WW2 housewife will lead the activities. The room is equipped with a variety of make-do-and-mend items to give a real flavour of the period, and children will have a gas mask box each. Once the children have found out about life during the Second World War they can take part in a series of hands-on activities including finding out about ration food and tasks for children around the home. These activities give the children an opportunity to learn and develop new skills.

Curriculum links:
History: a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066; a significant turning point in British history; events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally. English: listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers; ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge; articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions; maintain attention and participate in conversations, initiating and responding to comments.

Key Stages 2 (can be adapted for KS1), 1 hour 45 minutes, maximum 30 children.

£80 per half day, £140 per full day plus £3.85 per child admission. Extra Adults (above free 1:10 ratio) £5.95.