Education Sessions for Primary Schools

Education room now open 

Hands-on education sessions for key stages 1 and 2 are available again at our new facility, which opened in May 2008. We offer a wide range sessions, led by museum staff, which cover citizenship, history, science, literacy and numeracy. The sessions use object handling and activities to introduce children to a broad range of topics and skills.

General class visits to the museum

School groups can also visit the museum for a general visit with their teachers to enjoy our new galleries with trails, activities, costumes and games. We can accomodate school groups of up to 30 for either morning or afternoon visits. Please contact the Museum to arrange a visit.

Sessions available at the Cuming Museum

Second World War education session for key stages 1 and 2

This session looks at the experience of ordinary people living in London, and particularly Southwark, during the Second World War with an emphasis on the Home Front. The session links with the new temporary exhibition 'Keep Smiling Through: Black Londoners on the Home Front', which opens on April 1 until November 1 2008.

School groups that book while the exhibition is open will be able to incorporate a visit to the exhibition as part of their visit. After the exhibition closes the new session will still be on offer on a permenant basis.

The Keep Smiling Through (pdf file 1077kb) exhibition resource pack includes text and images from the exhibition and is available as a pdf file.

To download the pdf file you will need Acrobat Reader. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.

Citizenship session

• Migration and diversity, Caribbean journeys key stage 2

Explore the historic movement of people to the Caribbean and movement of people around the world and to Southwark today through the themes of migration, interdependence and food. Through the use of maps and original and replica objects children are given the opportunity to learn about sameness, difference and diversity and to think about their own identity. The session covers citizenship topics diversity, global issues, community participation and active citizenship.

• Key stage 1 and 2, Active Citizens two e, f and i. Developing good relationships four a, b, c, d and g
• QCA links unit five, living in a diverse world

Some really useful background information for teachers, bringing their class to the citizenship session, can be found on our Untold Origins exhibition page. The page includes links to pdf files with text and images from the exhibition.

History sessions

• Victorian domestic life supports key stage 2 local history study unit.
• Everyday life of the Romans supports key stage 2 local history study unit.
• Everyday life of the Ancient Egyptians supports key stage 2 non-European society study unit.

Science workshops

• Switched-On supports key stage 1 physical processes and experimental investigation. Introduces the principal concepts and applications of electricity through hands-on activities.
• Light Fantastic! supports key stage 1 and two physical processes and light. Stimulates investigation into light sources through objects from Roman times right up to the 21st century.
• Material Madness supports key stage 2 science. Looks at materials and their properties through the exploration of a variety of everyday and historical objects.

Literacy and numeracy

• Archaelogy and numeracy, key stage 2, uses archaeological material to explore a variety of mathematical concepts including fractions, shape, problem solving, mental arithmetic and measurement. Suitable for years 3 and 4.
• Storybuilding, uses objects from the museum collection to create and illustrate a group story. The session supports the key stage 1 literacy curriculum.

For other education resources available for teachers see the Education Resources page.

How to book

Booking is essential for all educational groups visiting the muaeum. Sessions are available at either 10am or 1.30pm Tuesdays to Fridays. They can last approximatly 90 mins. The museum can accomodate a class of up to 30 children.

Sessions are free for Southwark LEA and grant maintained schools.

If you wish to book a session for your class please get in touch with the museum via the contact details below. If you would like a copy of the Hands-on Sessions for Primary Schools booklet, with full details of the sessions on offer please contact the museum and one can be sent in the post.

Contact us

School booking
Tel: 020 7525 2332
Fax: 020 7525 2345
Cuming Museum
cuming.museum@soutwark.gov.uk  
Old Walworth Town Hall, 151Walworth Road
London
SE17 1RY