Changes in Living Memory (EYFS/KS1)
- Learn how people lived between the 1950’s and today. Themes may include toys, transport, shopping, communication, entertainment.
- Look at toys and games from different decades. Compare these with toys we play with today. Play a matching pairs game.
- See and handle our collection of telephones and complete a telephone timeline.
- Make a simple card spinning top to take home.
Funnybones (EYFS/KS1/KS2)
- Find out about our Anglo-Saxon skeleton and think about how the bones in our body enable us to do lots of different things.
- Work together to assemble a teaching skeleton.
- Get hands-on with a mammoth tooth and tusk and match our animal bones with the correct pictures.
- Have a go at being an archaeologist with our sand dig activity. What will you find?
- Make a skeleton picture to take home.
Rocks, Fossils and Local Landscape (KS1/KS2)
- How were rocks and fossils formed? Learn about different kinds of rocks and features in our local landscape. Handle and identify samples from our geology collection.
- Consider how local materials have been used in local buildings.
- Hear some of the legends and stories associated with the landscape.
- Make a clay ammonite.
Stone Age to Iron Age (KS2)
- Explore the changes in Britain between the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. Look at and compare evidence from each time period. Handle objects and use your detective skills.
- Meet a Bronze Age metalworker and find out about different ways in which metal was used and how this changed everyday life in prehistoric times.
- Make a Neolithic style clay pot or a cave painting to take home.
Life in Roman Britain (KS2)
- Discover the changes in Britain after the Romans arrived. Investigate objects used in Roman Britain.
- Learn about everyday life by playing some Roman board games.
- Make your own large replica of a Roman coin in clay.
King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons (KS2)
- Meet King Alfred or his daughter, Aethelfled, and find out what made him Great. See our replica Alfred Jewel.
- See and handle objects to gain an insight into what life was like in Anglo-Saxon times.
- Draw items from our collection.
- Try dressing up as an Anglo-Saxon.
- Write your name in runes and solve rune puzzles.
- Learn the ancient art of weaving and use a peg loom to weave your very own bracelet to take home or make a Saxon style brooch to wear.
Victorians in the Vale (KS2)
- How did the Victorians cook and wash clothes? Look for evidence and meet a Victorian cook in our Downland Kitchen.
- See and handle a variety of different items of clothing and household objects.
- Travel an imaginary journey on the Wantage tramway to Arbery’s Department Store and reflect on how shopping has changed through time.
- Meet a tannery owner and find out about the importance of the tannery industry in Wantage in the past.
- Meet Lady Wantage, hear about her life and see some of the museum artefacts associated with her.
- Make and take home a phenakistoscope to create your own optical illusion!
Victorian Christmas (KS1/KS2)
- Did the Victorians invent the modern Christmas? Explore popular Christmas traditions in our festively decorated Downland Kitchen.
- Raise your voices to join in some Christmas carol singing with musical accompaniment.
- Go on an imaginary festive journey on the Wantage tramway to Arbery’s Department Store.
- Make your own Victorian style Christmas card to take home.
Wantage through the Ages (KS2)
This may include various elements taken from some of the other themes.
