Education and Lifelong Learning
HISTORY WORKSHOPS
History workshops for Key Stage 1 & 2 available to book now.
Key Stage 1
1. Toys in the Past: Children have the chance to learn about toys from the past, incorporating learning about Victorian times, how children lived, their social environment and the differences with life today. A qualified, experienced workshop leader will show the children how to play with toys such as ‘bat & catty’ and ‘cup & ball’, and other more well-known traditional games such as snakes & ladders, providing a lively and educationally stimulating experience. This 2 hour workshop gives Key Stage 1 children the opportunity to learn through play, and is an ideal curricular ‘gallery’ visit which affords scope for further development in school afterwards.
Maximum number per group is strictly 45 plus adults (1 adult per 7 students)
Key Stage 1 & 2
Homes in the Past: (Key Stage 1)
This workshop is designed to give an insight into Victorian life, the social environment and how different life is today. In a gallery setting of ‘Victoriana’ – an original kitchen range with pots and pans, flat irons and tongs, tin baths and gas lamps - children interact with a qualified and experienced leader in a stimulating workshop, which is enquiring and engaging in its participation. Handling of artefacts and related activities make this an ideal topic for further development in school afterwards and as an ideal link to the new travelling trunk ‘Victorian Washday’ now available.
Homes in the Past: (Key Stage 2)
As above with variations for Key Stage 2 based curriculum activities
Keystage 1 Maximum per group is strictly 35 plus adults (1 adult per 7 students)
Keystage 2
Maximum per group is strictly 35 plus adults (1 adult per 7 students)
Cost per workshop is £3 per student, with accompanying adults free.
There is a minimum charge per group of £50. A Risk Assessment Sheet is available on request and the museum has toilet facilities plus gift shop and café.
ART BASED WORKSHOPS
For School & Adult Learning Groups
Japanware & Art Decoration
An Art & Design workshop introducing students to the decorative art of the famous Pontypool & Usk Japanware, in a split session of theory and practical work. Incorporating basic Art History as a background to this local, cottage industry and highlighting its industrial links in Pontypool, students will be able to handle artefacts and take notes in the gallery currently housing the National Collection of Japanware, on temporary loan from Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museums Wales. Followed by a session of design work with an experienced workshop leader & artist, students will use their design to decorate a small item, in the ‘Japanware style’ to take home (which is included in the cost).
This workshop covers national curriculum areas of Art, History & Art & Design, and is an ideal curricular gallery visit to learn about the local area and its social and industrial history. Cost is £3 per student (with accompanying adults free).
‘MUSEUM IN SCHOOL’ visits now available:
Ideal for new skills based curriculum.
Qualified staff-led sessions for Foundation Phase/ KS1 and KS2 classes, held in your school. Wide variety of topics available including: Wash Day; Old Toys; WWII Evacuee & Japanware Art session.
Cost £110 inclusive for 2 hours of hands-on activity.
Use as ‘stand alone’ sessions or link with ‘Travelling Trunks’ for many of the topics including WWII Home Front, Story of Japanware & Victorian Wash Day.
TRAVELLING TRUNKS
New concept for 2009/10: Teachers – have the museum in your classroom!
1. Coal – a box of mining related artefacts and extensive teachers notes plus a CD Rom of pictorial evidence (for use on a whiteboard). Teachers notes include primary sources, suggested activities and real accounts of life in the local mining communities from 1850-1950.
2. Victorian Washday – experience wash day as it was! Washing and clothing artefacts and accompanying teachers notes plus a CD Rom of pictorial evidence (for use on a whiteboard). Teachers notes include activities, historic information, informative adverts and pictures from the early 18th century to the rise of the ‘modern machine’ after World War II.
3. Japanware – try a new approach to learning about the world famous cottage industry of Pontypool and Usk. With replica and original artefacts, ideas for activities and art projects, links to dedicated websites, historical notes and pictorial evidence from the late 17th to 19th centuries, photocopiable sheets and a DVD slideshow. (The museum is currently exhibiting the National Collection of Japanware from Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museums Wales).
4. World War II - trunk now available.
Travelling Trunks are available to book for a calendar month (to be collected and returned by the school) for £50 per calendar month.
Ideal for multi-class use, these trunks can be linked to both museum workshops and a museum and gallery visit. Reductions for workshops are available to groups who have previously booked a Travelling Trunk – we anticipate high demand – so book now!
Available in 2010 - ‘World Musical Instruments’
2010 CHALLENGE PACKS
For School & Adult Learning Groups to be used to complement your independent visit to our museum & gallery:
1. History Challenge Pack – with photocopiable activity sheets and CD Rom copy (for use on whiteboard) covering a range of topics on show in the galleries, including the local Ironmaster family and their servants from the 16th – 20th centuries, local commerce and industry from Victorian to modern times and our special exhibition on World Musical Instruments.
2. Art & History Challenge Pack – with photocopiable activity sheets and CD Rom copy (for use on whiteboard), covering Pontypool’s famous Barker family of artists and Japanware decorators. Full teachers notes including history of art, additional sources covering local history, the Japanware decorative art industry, Pontypool in the 18th century and suggested internet based activities.
- These packs are linked to areas of the National Curriculum as well as making your museum & gallery visit an enjoyable and educational experience.
- Packs cost £10 each including CD Rom and are available in English, Welsh or bilingual. (+ postage & packing) per group with students at £1 each, accompanying adults free , (1 adult to every 7 students).