Things to do at Home
Animations to Watch:
Pupils in Year 5 made these animated stop-motion films, as part of ‘Helston Makes It!’, with the help of artist Amanda Lorens. Watch the films and create your own animated characters.
- ‘Museum of Change’ 2019 by Parc Eglos Schools imagines what museum objects would like to be.
- ‘Recyclemation for our Nation’ 2018 by Nansloe Academy considers the impact of pollution and importance of recycling.
Craft Demonstrations to Watch:
- Carving with John Samworth and Rodger Gluyas from Cornwall Woodcarvers (who also are in a social bubble)
- Guitar making with Martin Douglas
- Quilting with Sara Price
- Whittling with John Samworth from Cornwall Woodcarvers
Things to Make and Do:
Inspired by the museum collection we have created a set of making ideas based on things we think you will have at home. Use our activity sheets and watch the videos then have a go and see what you can create:
- Advent or Celebration Count-Down Calendar– make a hanging arrangement with gifts in each envelope
- Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics plus activity sheet
- Archaeology Snap cards and how to play the game
- Bicycle Decorations – Create tassel handle decorations
- Bookmaking – make your own books, bookmarks and paper-projectors
- Cards – make your own envelopes and pop-up cards
- Carts & Carriages – make your own wheeled vehicle
- Coasters – create coaster as part of your own Tea Treat party
- Colouring-in Sheets – the Cannon from the wreck of HMS Ansen, the Grylls Monument, Helston on Flora Day
- Drawing with Thread – make a gift inspired by our embroidery collection
- Flower Dome – make your own Victorian inspired flower display
- Lantern Making – make your own lantern for Halloween
- Lucky Horseshoe – make your own mobile
- Magic Lantern & Slides (here is an example of the Nursery Rhyme This is the House That Jack Built)
- Musical Instruments – raid your recycling to create playable instruments
- Paper Flowers – how to make four different paper flowers
- Peg Dolls – design your own outfit for a Peg Doll
- Paint – homemade paint from things in your kitchen cupboard
- Pom-Pom Farm Animals – reuse your wool to create your own animals
- Printing & Packaging – create your own letters to make packaging
- Photo-collage – use old photos to make new artworks
- Scales – make your own scales and get weighing
- Signalling – learn to communicate using semaphores, cup-telephones and aircraft moving hand signals with an Activity Sheet to help.
- Toys – design your own Jigsaws, dominoes and snap cards
- Utensil Holders – design your own 1950’s inspired kitchen item
- WW2 Spitfire – make your own paper aeroplane with an Activity Sheet to help.
Things to do at the Museum
School Visits:
We offer guided workshops and tours for schools, colleges and universities. Teacher led visits to the Museum are free, but please check in advance that we have no other events planned on the day you would like to visit.
All booking requests for workshops should be made via the Education Workshop Booking form. Please wait until confirmation before arranging transport or sending out letters etc. All our workshops are run by volunteers who may not be available on your first date of choice.
Primary Schools
All workshops are for a school class of up to 30 students. Workshop sessions last approx. 2 hrs and cost £3.50 per student
Toys: Foundation Stage
This workshop includes a look at our toy-shop display, a chance to play with some modern replica toys, a discussion of materials used then and now, a timeline activity using cuddly toys and a chance to make a toy to take away, such as a peg doll or similar.
Henry Trengrouse: Key Stage 1
This workshop combines finding out about this most famous son of Helston together with an investigation of how we can improve our safety around water. Students will try their hand at creating a ship to shore rescue line and work in teams to spot water danger in our fun card game.
Key stage 2
Combine The Henry Trengrouse workshop with an exploration of our Marconi exhibits and investigate Morse code.
Victorian Life: Key Stage 2
This workshop combines a hands-on look at genuine domestic artefacts and their place in the Victorian household, with a chance to experience a lesson in our Victorian Classroom. The children have the opportunity to dress up in costume and try their hand at acquiring new skills such as writing on slates.
World War 2: Key Stage 2
Experience what life was like for children who were evacuated to Cornwall during 1939. The workshop includes a classroom experience. Students can try their hand at activities such as using an ink pen to write a postcard home or investigating how pounds, shillings and pence work,. We also have a selection of artefacts and source materials to investigate. Note: This workshop can be expanded to a whole day with 4 activities, for which there will be a charge of £5 per pupil.
World War I
After a visit to the museum’s WWI display pupils will be able to handle real artefacts from WWI using the Museum’s handling box. The group will be set a series of tasks to guide them to explore key aspects of life during the war.
We have organised our offer according to Key Stages but we understand that some smaller schools have classes which can have a wide age spread, should this be the case our Education Co-ordinator will liaise with the class teacher to design activities which will suit the age groups concerned.
Can’t see the subject you are currently studying but want to visit our fantastic museum? Our highly experienced education team are always happy to investigate creating you a specific workshops as long as it relates to the objects in our collection. To allow for resourcing we charge £4 per pupil for made to measure workshops.
Click here for our School visit Risk assessment .
Contact us via phone: 01326 564027 for more details or download the booking form at the top of this page which also contains useful information.
Arts Award:
As an Arts Award Supporter we can help you gain your Arts Award at all levels from Discover and Explore, through to Bronze, Silver and Gold.
We offer:
- Free Entry to the Museum
- Workshops on a range of themes for Primary and Secondary age students
- Holiday Workshops Click Here for more information on upcoming workshops
- Opportunities to meet curators and other museum professionals
Schools and Group leaders – contact us to see how we can work together to enable your students to gain their award. We can work with you to create a bespoke project to fulfil Arts Award at all levels.
Individuals – If you your school or group are not offering Arts Award but you would like to take part contact us. Our staff are trained to deliver Arts Award at all levels and Museum of Cornish Life is an Arts Award Centre.
For information about Arts Award at Museum of Cornish Life please contact Isobel King on 01326 564 027 to email communities@museumofcornishlife.co.uk
