We are open all year for school visits!
Self-led visits to the museum are available all year, priced at £2.50 per student. All visits must be pre-booked. Our learning and engagement team is happy to advise the best itinerary to suit your class. Our specially designed workshops are available with any school visit and are charged at £5 + VAT per student.
What Am I? KS1 & 2
Have you ever wondered what a Museum Curator does? Learn how to investigate and read objects by looking closely, asking questions, and making deductions using objects from the Museum’s collection which includes textiles, musical instruments, and world culture items.
Curriculum Links: History; PSHE.
Museum Safari, KS1 & 2
Explore the Museum’s animal dioramas. See different habitats that Percy experienced and spot some of the incredible animals that he encountered. This session focuses on adaptation, food chains, and habitats.
Curriculum links: Science
Percy’s Travels, KS1 & 2
This is an interactive storytelling session where your group uses objects, drawings, and clues to find out about the real-life travels of Percy Powell-Cotton. Become a detective and use the objects and clues to decide what you think happened when Percy met a lion. Then listen to Percy’s account to see if you were right.
Curriculum links: English; History.
Drawing from Nature, KS1 & KS2
Drawing from Nature brings Art and Science together by looking closely and drawing our collection of animal skulls and bird taxidermy. It’s a fascinating way to compare animals and look at their teeth. This session works well with Museum Safari.
Curriculum links: Art; Science
Adinkra Textile Printing Workshop, KS1 to 4
In this hands-on workshop, learn about the traditional printing techniques of the Adinkra people from Ghana West Africa and the symbols used in their designs. Explore the basics of printmaking using traditional Adinkra Symbols and learn what they represent to create and block print cloth to hang up in the classroom.
Curriculum Links: Art, Printing, Geography, History, Africa Around the world, Maths
Mibtims Pottery Workshop, KS1 to 4
In this hands-on workshop, learn about the Ceramist Mibitm the Zande (South Sudan) Potter and discover how he made beautifully designed coil pots with tools he found in his surroundings. Children will learn how to use clay and tools to produce original work in the style of Mibtim.
Curriculum Links: Art, Pottery, Geography, History, Africa Around the world
Suggested Itinerary
| Class size of 30 students | |
| Time | Class |
| 10:00 – 10:10 | Arrival & Introduction to Museum |
| 10:10 – 11:10 | Workshop Choice A |
| 11:10 – 11:30 | Break |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Workshop Choice B |
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Lunch & Gardens access |
| 13:00 – 13:50 | Museum Galleries |
| 13:50 – 14:00 | All aboard the coach and goodbyes |
What kind of visit can we book?
We are delighted to confirm that we are open all year for school visits- both self-led and workshop-based. Visits must be pre-booked.
What time can we visit?
We will arrange timings and itineraries to suit your class. Generally, we are happy to accommodate you between 9.30 am & 3pm however we can be flexible to meet your needs.
Is there a minimum group number?
We have no minimum group size. Itineraries for workshops will be scheduled according to the number of sessions you need.
How many teachers can come on the visit?
School years 1-3, (age 5-7 years) one adult for every six pupils 1:6
School years 4-6, (age 7-11 years) one adult for every 10 to 15 pupils 1:10/15
If you would like to bring additional teachers and helpers, please discuss this with us during the booking process.
Can we have lunch at the museum or bring a picnic?
We are happy for schools to bring a picnic and enjoy the lawns to the back of the museum. We will provisionally book our function room as a back up plan for wet weather, however taking lunch outdoors will be the preferred plan.
Can we visit the gardens?
Yes, your school group can visit the lawns and woodland at the back of the museum. The walled garden will not be accessible. Please note that we now have beehives in the woodland, however they are set back and have been considered in the gardens risk assessment.
Have you got a COVID-19 risk assessment?
All our risk assessments for learning visits have been reviewed in light of the current circumstances. Please contact our learning team directly for more information. We are happy to discuss and amend risk assessments with teachers to ensure a safe and well-planned visit.
Can I make a familiarisation visit?
We are happy for you to pop in for a familiarisation visit. Please get in touch and we will arrange a time and date.
How do we book?
Please contact our learning team directly to enquire about availability. We will then ask you to complete a booking form and discuss any special requirements or needs your group has. We are always pleased to adapt the visit to ensure the most valuable learning experience for all your students.
How do we contact the learning team?
You can contact us by email at learning@powell-cottonmuseum.org.
You can telephone us at 01843 842168 and choose option 2 from the menu to talk directly with the learning team.
Join us for our #HomeEducators day on 22nd June!
Are you learning about forces and flight?
Our Winging It – Aerobatics and Obstacles #STEAM event, especially for Home Educating families, is a great hook into this exciting topic. Learn how to make animal gliders and investigate how well they fly by playing our flight games.
Measure how far your glider can fly
Test your landing skills
Practise precision flying
Book via our website 🎫
#learning
Happy new school year! We’re looking forward to welcoming schools back. If you’re planning a museum visit, you might like our brand-new workshop: What am I? This workshop let’s children get hands-on with real museum objects. Together we explore how to read and interpret objects like a museum curator.
Find more information and how to book here https://powell-cottonmuseum.org/learning/school-visits/
#learning
We're really excited to welcome schools back to the museum from 17th May and our preparations are well underway. If you would like to book your class a visit please get in touch with our learning team on learning@powell-cottonmuseum.org
#Learning #BehindTheScenes
This week is #nationalstorytellingweek and we want to recommend a couple of our Learning Team’s favourite children’s books just to give grown-ups a bit of lockdown reading inspiration. We hope you enjoy:
👑 Don't Mess with a Princess by Rachel Valentine (Author) and Rebecca Bagley (Illustrator) 🏰
Emma-Jayne from our Learning Team says:
“If like me, you enjoy neo fairy tales then you’re certain to love Rachel Valentine’s action-packed story of using your talents and not allowing others to make decisions for you. A lovely message of strength and facing your fears running through the story, along with girl power. My advice; read it multiple times, the illustrations keep giving and you find something new each time.”
The Powell-Cotton Museum was not paid or asked to recommend this book. All opinions are our own.
#storytime #learning #dontmesswithaprincess