Museum Led Workshops

These exclusive day long courses are designed to offer schools a taster experience of a particular period of history. Schools have unique access to several of the Museums buildings.

Content and delivery will be differentiated according to age and ability. If you require a specific focus for your study please discuss it with the Schools Services Manager in advance so that staff can be briefed.

November - February:

These exclusive day long courses are designed to offer schools a taster experience of a particular period of history. Schools have unique access to several of the Museums buildings.

March - October:

Any of these individual workshop components can be booked as separate workshops.

November - December:

Both the exclusive day long courses and separate individual components are available.
 

Note that you may choose any four components from the above list.

Life on a Tudor Farmstead
KS2&3

Note that you may choose any four components from the above list.

Life in Stuart Times
KS 2&3

This workshop covers the main aspects of domestic and working life in Stuart Times with particular emphasis on The Plague and its remedies, The Great Fire of London and fire hazards. The activities include the basics of bee keeping and the production of honey/beeswax culminating in a candle making activity. Together with the talk on fire there is a creative drawing session using charcoal and chalk.

Victorian Rural Life KS1-3

This workshop has been designed to offer schools an experience of domestic and working rural life in the Victorian period based on Victorian exhibits at the Museum, including Whittaker's cottage, the School, Walderton Cottage and agricultural buildings.

There will be four modules which will cover life in an agricultural labourer's cottage, Victorian food and recipes, daily domestic tasks, agricultural activities which may have a seasonal variation and role playing a lesson in the school. We will consider the roles and occupations of men, women and children in the countryside and how that might differ from urban life. Written and visual sources will be used where relevant to illustrate different aspects of Victorian life.

Be a history detective.  Various household objects will be displayed around the room to stimulate discussion and explanation.  For example, a discussion can be built up about the fireplace and the tools surrounding it. Each session is designed to help pupils learn about household artefacts, comparing them with the modern day equivalent, 

Six Trolleys, each explaining one aspect of building construction - timber framing, topography, room use etc.

Click here to see the Museums' risk assessments associated with some of the activities that may be included. 

Details

An introduction to traditional historical farming in the morning at the Museum and an afternoon spent in the dairy and arable Home Farm on the Goodwood Estate.

Collections Quiz
KS2-4

Schools Event Days

HARVEST HOME

Date by arrangement

A day full of activities relating to the Harvest season, a celebration of the food grown on the land - bread making, corn dollies, and creative activities to celebrate Harvest time.
 

FIRE & LIGHT

Date by arrangement

A day full of activities about the importance of fire and light to coincide with the summer solstice. Charcoal burning, bread making, whistling kettles, lantern making, candle dipping and dances to celebrate the sun.  

To help with planning your visit see Museum Risk Assessment for School Event Days

Special Events for Teachers

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING CONFERENCE

Thursday, 25th June 2009

Building on the success of our previous conferences, this one day conference is an opportunity to reflect on and engage with the transformational process of developing a whole school creative approach to learning from Early Years through to Key Stage 3.

During the day delegates will be able to connect with highly motivated children, inspirational leaders, teachers and experts from across the phases who are at the cutting edge of best practice.

Who is the conference aimed at? Irresistible Learning is aimed at school leaders, teachers, governors and others interested in developing a first class curriculum that provides the best learning opportunities for all children and young people.

Venue: Weald & Downland Open Air Museum

Organiser: Primary Matters – Jane Evea jane@eveas.co.uk
                                       Nicky Powell nicola@primarymatters.co.uk
 

Children's Activity Days

During the Spring, Summer and Autumn half term holidays, and every Wednesday during the Summer holidays, children's activity days provide an astonishing range of activities for children (and their parents and carers!).

For full details of the current programme visit the Museum website special events listings

Activity Sheets

These activity sheets are included either as Word documents so that you may print them or edit them to suit your own requirements.  Others are Acrobat .pdf files.
 

Mathematics and Science

Science

History

Examine Bayleaf Farmstead in detail to find out about medieval farming. 

Art and Design

• Bayleaf
• Hangleton
• Pendean Farmhouse
• Poplar Cottage
• Whittakers Cottages
• Wittering School
• Lurgashall Mill
• Shepherds Hut
• Toll House
• Forge

Treasure hunts and Trails

Other Information

We have assembled other supporting documents that you may wish to use in developing your visit. 
 

Resources for Teachers

Further information for teachers can be found in the News Section under

• Projects
• Submitted Students Work
• Submitted Teaching Materials  

Adult Courses

The Museum offers over 100 courses in historic building conservation, rural trades and crafts and period homes and cooking.  Full Listing.