What we did to find out about our topic and create our exhibition
We took 90 Year 3 and 4 students to visit to Kirkleatham Museum to see The Saxon Princess exhibition, handle artefacts, listen to exciting stories and participate in super activities. It was also a great opportunity for our children to explore a real museum and begin their thinking about what they wanted in theirs. We had already started to explore the topic and had looked at its place in history. Back at school, together with children, we reflected on the visit and started to explore ideas and activities for our museum. Once all the ideas were collated, we gave each class 6 areas to focus on. The children were asked which area they would like to research and take responsibility for. This is then how the children were grouped. Each group had the opportunity to work independently as well as with teachers and TAs to guide and support them. The children used books and the internet to research their focus and shared their creative ideas with each other.
Our exhibition included:
- Saxon film tent – films written and performed by the children
- Welcome banners, visitors’ guide, feedback book
- Café/gift shop
- Interactive activities; Saxon games, coordinates map using Bee bots, weaving
- Portrait gallery of Saxon kings
- Alternative medicine cures
- Saxon clothing, helmets and shields displays
- Authentic artefact display with descriptions written by children
- Replica Saxon jewellery made by the children
- Archaeological dig
- Clay pottery
- Musical instruments researched and made by the children