As part of the redevelopment at the National Museum of Scotland,
The Robertson
Trust have funded a project to develop a way for pupils to
experience the museum at their own schools. The project,
Museum2Go, will expose the museum’s
collections to previously unreached audiences and encourage these
people and their families and friends to visit the museum for
themselves.
We are working with Methilhill Primary and Community School,
Fife and Park Primary School, Clackmannanshire and Knightsridge
Primary to develop handling boxes for use out in schools. The four
topics we are focusing on are: Ancient Egypt, Rainforest, Africa
and Carnival of the Animals. The ideas for the topics and the
research is all being developed by the kids, with help from our
curators and the Community Engagement team.
Africa: Methilhill Primary
On 2 February we ran a community event at Methilhill Primary to
showcase the pupil’s work. Around 130 pupils and parents
visited the exhibitions over the day and in the afternoon parents
were treated to a performance by the children of African drumming
they had learned earlier in the day.
Above: Pupils drumming with Chief Chebe.
Above: Pupils get their groove on.
Above: Pupils show parents and teachers what they have been
learning.
You can see a film made on the day
here.
Rainforest: Park Primary, Alloa
Over the past year our Community Engagement team worked with
Park Primary School, Alloa putting together a box of museum
objects. This box will be used by other schools to learn about the
Rainforest. In this video the pupils
and teachers explain in their own words what the project has meant
to them.
Above: Pupils examining animal skulls.
Above: Rainforest display at Park Primary School.
Coming up
With two more community events with the schools to go, and a
little bit of rainforest dancing too, it’s sure to be a fun term.
We will also be running a similar project in the coming months with
nursery schools in the same areas. Watch this space to hear
more!
Contact project officer Conor Hull c.hull@nms.ac.uk for further
info.