The Art Gallery has a small education team, which includes freelancers and artists. The museum can devise sessions to meet your needs and respond to current teaching programmes. The following workshops for school groups are offered.
Nursery, Reception, Key Stages 1 and 2 and SEN groups
War Horse Joey decorated by children in the activity space
Woodland Magic: Working with our collection of British mammal specimens, the children will explore different animal worlds and create a 3D animal habitat using an assortment of collage material and clay.
Fighting Armour and Paper Dragons: Children will be able to examine and handle examples of replica armour from different periods, and have fun making origami paper dragons ready for battle!
Natures Treasure Trove: Be inspired by a wonderful display of rocks, shells and fossils, collected by Victorian fossil hunters and geologists from around the world! Children can observe the shapes, colours and textures and replica patterns by drawing (with charcoal) and make fossil impressions.
Reception, Key stages 1 and 2 and SEN groups
Fossil fun!: This activity encourages children to explore and handle our wonderful collection of fossils, rocks and minerals. They will have the opportunity to sort the specimens, make charcoal observation drawings, and create a clay fossil reincarnation. After looking at the tools of the geologist (and dressing up!) teams will be able to make exploding volcanoes, and experiment with volcanic lava.
Key Stage 1
One of the rock and fossil exhibition cabinets in Worcester Museum. Wonderful specimens!
Portrait Workshops: The children have the opportunity to study a number of portraits from the museum collection. The paintings reflect varied styles, media and fashion. The class will be able to create a ‘silhouette’ self-portrait and a portrait of a friend, working in pastel and chalk. Period dressing-up hats will be available to introduce a variety of characters!
Toys of the Past: How are our toys different from those in the past?
An opportunity for children to discover the magic of our toy collection and to make a simple moving puppet!
Key stage 1 and SEN groups:
Worcester at War – ‘Remembrance’ : Designed to support the teaching of Unit 17. This workshop includes object handling and discussion, focused on our WW1 collection. Children will make single poppies, and a collective poppy wreath. There will also be a story session with Gwen Williams from Theatre Company ‘Pattern 23’ – during which the children will be transported to settings so different from today, but the themes will link with the present – school, travel, pets, siblings and helping at home.
Key Stages 1 & 2
Activity space at Worcester City museum
Munching Caterpillars and Beautiful Butterflies: This workshop can be adapted for Key stage 1 and 2. The group can discover our wonderful butterfly and moth collection. Inspired by the incredible shapes and colours, children can create their own 3D insects, and portray working in charcoal.
Gloves and Shoes: Discover more about our local industries, and the tools and materials used to make fine gloves and shoes!
Choose to create a ‘3D’ shoe or glove from collage materials.
Key Stage 2
Children in the Second World War: For the last 3 years we have been offering workshops for Key stage 2 groups in The Worcestershire Soldier Galleries, to support the teaching of Unit 9: Children in the Second World War. Using objects, historical sources, stories and role play our aim is to bring the Home Front alive!
- Option 1 ‘War time Worcester!’ Led by Paul Harding from the re-enactment group ‘Discover History’.The children will be transported back to war time Britain. They will take on the role of the Civil Defence – an ARP Warden, a Land Army Girl and a member of the Home Guard! The children will be immersed in the daily activities and drills, and respond to a major bomb hit at the Meco Works, Bromyard Road, Worcester!
- Option 2 ‘Morton’s Militia!’ Led by Gwen Williams from specialist Theatre Group ‘Pattern 23’.This is an adventure story set in wartime Worcester, with characters Jimmy, Liz, Polly, Peter and friends. The story will portray the evacuee experience – rationing, salvage collection, expectations and duties, and enforced changes to family life.
For further details please visit their website.
Email Access and Learning Officer: kphillipson@worcestershire.gov.uk
Phone Kate Phillipson, Access and Learning Officer: 01905 25371
