School Visits

The Museum is an ideal place for a class visit and we have a range of resources and activities that can be used to support the teaching of many topics and curriculum areas.  School visits to the Museum are free of charge and must be booked in advance.

We have a new teachers’ information pack which will tell you all you need to know about a visit to the Museum, including curriculum links, hazard identification and pre and post visit ideas.

We offer many different activities for schools, including history workshops, outreach visits, object handling sessions, town walks, art activities and loan boxes.

There is a classroom area for school parties and resources currently include:

·               Activity sheets (Looking at the Past, Victorian Britain and Britain since 1930)

·               Loan boxes and handling collections

·               Victorian costume wardrobe

·               Victorian classroom

·               Alnwick Town Trail

·               An ‘Art Cart’ offering art and craft sessions for younger children linked to our temporary Exhibitions.

We currently offer the following workshops for schools:

·               Toys through Time

·               The Home Front

·               The Border Reivers/Tudors

·               Victorian Life

These workshops last a full day and are free of charge. Each workshop involves object handling and drama activities and can accommodate a class of approximately 30 children.  Workshops can take place either in the Museum or at school.

Object handling sessions on a variety of topics can be arranged and take place either at school or as part of a Museum visit. These sessions are free of charge.  Current topics include:

·               Homes in the Past

·               The Home Front

·               Britain Since 1930

·               Toys through Time

·               Tudor Life

·               Washday

Loan Boxes

Loan boxes can be used to enhance the teaching of many subjects, including history, art and design, science and drama.  We have a range of loan boxes containing real and replica artefacts and documents which can be borrowed free of charge for up to two weeks. The boxes come with an activity pack giving ideas on the use of the objects.

Boxes currently available are:

·               Pre War Domestic

·               Pre War Miscellaneous

·               World War Two

·               Post War

·               Toys and Games

·               Washday

·               The Home Front

·               Victorian Schoolday

·               Tudor Life

·               Upstairs/Downstairs

·               Irons

Adult and Community Groups

Adult learners and community groups are very welcome at the Museum and our popular loan and reminiscence boxes can be booked by groups and organisations. The boxes can be used to enhance a visit to the Museum or can be taken away to be used in reminiscence sessions.  Each box contains a variety of mostly original artefacts relating to a particular theme.  A reminiscence pack is also available giving ideas for use of the objects. Boxes can be borrowed free of charge for up to two weeks.

Family Events and Activities

A number of family events are held at the Museum. There are art and craft activities and workshops during most school holidays, as well as family fun days, talks and drop-in art sessions throughout the year.