Discover - Learning: National Museum Cardiff

In this 1 hour* session children will gain a first hand understanding of real and replica museum objects through self directed exploration.

Workshop Breakdown:

Activity	Curriculum Links	Timing
Circle time where we explore what children already know about museums and the work they do. Discuss why we can't usually handle museum objects and also the role of labels and information panels in galleries.	Language, literature and communication. Knowledge and understanding of the world	10 mins
Explore – children investigate the gallery's collections using magnifying glasses and the microscopes.	Knowledge and understanding of the world	20 mins
Choose and label – pupils pick one object from the gallery to display in their 'class museum'. Using the research material in the gallery they create a decorative label for the object	Creative development Language, literature and communication.	20 mins
Class museum. Once all of the objects have been assembled in the class museum pupils will be encouraged to share their favourite objects with their classmates	Language, literature and communication.	5 mins

*timings can be varied according to group's needs

Discover sessions can also be themed with an emphasis on certain objects within our collection. For example we have offered themed sessions on rocks, dinosaurs, bones and skulls, minibeasts and the seashore. If there is a theme you would like to explore please contact us.

Suggestions for Follow up Activities in School

Mini Museum

Ask if any children could bring in an interesting thing from home to make a mini museum, e.g. something from an overseas holiday or another culture, natural things like a large shell or old things like a game or photos. Ask children to write their own label explaining why their object is interesting or important.

Exploring objects

The following activities could be done using a selection of objects from your mini museum, or form a group of items you have selected. Photos of objects could also be used.

Sort it out

Organize the children into small groups, and give each a selection of objects (try and include a mixture of different materials, shapes, colours). Give each group some 'sorting circles' (small plastic rings, paper plates, or even the outline of a circle in string). Get them to sort the objects into different categories. This is a great way for children to practice communication skills, and decision making. At the end of the session ask each group to feed back their decisions and reasons to the class. Discuss the different approaches, some groups may have based their approach on a curatorial basis (material, age etc), others may have been more thematic. This exercise would be a good introduction to the principle of classifying living things.

What am I?

Ask a child to pick an object from the class museum (without revealing the answer to anyone!) Get them to describe the object to the class (without naming it). The rest of the class can have a go at guessing which object they are describing. To add another dimension, the class could draw the object based on the description

Shape Poems

A shape poem describes an object and is written in the shape of the object. Ask children to choose their favourite object from their museum visit. Firstly have them think of the reasons they chose the object, and some words to describe it. Ask them to write this down as this will be the 'ideas bank' for their poem. Then ask them to draw the object, and then write their poem within the shape.