Be a history detective; learn about household artefacts, compare them with the modern day equivalent. 

Monday - Friday
Duration : 45 minutes
Location : Lavant
Maximum Number: 15 Children
Session leaders:  Museum voluntary staff.
Sessions must be booked in advance.
KS1

These are some suggestions as to how you may like to run this session. 

Session leaders will begin by asking the children to sit on the benches, ready to listen.  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.  The session leader can then move onto objects displayed on top of the mini farm, each object can be discussed, what do the children think it is?  What does it feel like?  How is it different from the objects we use today? 

Each session is designed to help pupils learn about household artefacts, comparing them with the modern day equivalent.  The core of the session will run as follows.  The children will be split into two groups, one group will occupy one side of the room, which will have a table displaying various objects, and the other group will occupy the other side of the room which again will have a table display (There will be about 5 objects on each table).  Each table will require an adult leader, to prompt the children; this can be the school teachers or Museum voluntary staff.   

Once you have your group seated you can begin the activity.  You may like to encourage the children to guess the names and uses of the artefact to begin with.  Hold up the flash card illustrating the modern iron, ask one child in the group to match the flash card with the Victorian iron on the table.  Once the child has correctly done this, allow the children to touch and feel the Victorian objects. This will trigger discussion about the differences in the household objects we use today, where does the power source come from?  Is it heavy and hard work to use?  Do the same process with the other artefacts on the table. 

Once the children have identified all the objects on the table, it will be time to swap the groups over and do the same again on the different tables.  When the activity has come to an end, ask all the children to listen and face back into the centre of the room, ask the children what they’ve learnt during the session and then direct the school party to Whittakers, where they can see some of the objects they’ve learnt about during the session. 

The children remain the responsibility of the teacher or teacher/helper during these workshops. It is vital that the children behave in a safe and responsible manner. 

Below is an example of some household objects that may be displayed on the activity tables (artefacts will vary depending on age of children).

Museum Risk Assessment

                                                       
Bookings

Please give a copy of this page to each group leader, and make them aware of the need for observing the safety issues outlined on the Information for Group Leaders.