Create your own exhibition

With expert advice from our curators, designers and conservators, learn the skills you need to create your own exhibition. Work with real objects, find out how to research your theme, display your information and promote your exhibition.

Suitable for Levels 1 & 2 (P2-7)
10:15 (4hrs – please bring packed lunches)
You can download resources for this workshop here.

What will my pupils do in the workshop?

Thinking about exhibitions

Select a favourite museum display and through note taking and drawing, explain their decision. Explore the things that can be found in a display, how it can look and how it can be marketed.

Meet the experts

Watch short film clips and hear from staff about their role in putting on an exhibition.
- An Exhibitions Officer
- A Curator
- A Conservator
- A Designer
- A Marketing Officer
Take notes under suitable headings that will help them put on their own exhibition.
Use flashcards to recall the key information from the films.

Curatorial activity

Using a range of real museum artefacts:
- Experience responsible handling of artefacts.
- Think about and write down their own opinions about an object.
- Research and write an object label.
- Work in a small group to create and write a story panel.

Design activity

Draw a full-size or scale version of an objects
Select and appropriate 2-D object stand for their drawing
Work in groups to lay out objects in a 2-D case
Work in groups to set up 3-D displays of their objects, object labels and story panels, using the 2D layout as a guide.

Marketing activity

Work in groups to design a poster and a badge for their exhibition

Curriculum areas & key learning outcomes

Literacy & English
Listening and Talking
Finding and using information	As I listen or watch, I can identify and discuss the purpose, main ideas and supporting detail contained within the text, and use this information for different purposes. LIT 2-04a
	As I listen or watch, I can make notes, organise these under suitable headings and use these to understand ideas and information and create new texts, using my own words as appropriate. LIT 2-05a
Understanding, analysing and evaluating	I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own. LIT 2-07a
Reading
Finding and using information	Using what I know about the features of different types of texts, I can find, select andsort information from a variety of sources and use this for different purposes. LIT 2-14a
Writing
Tools for writing	I consider the impact that layout and presentation will have and can combine lettering, graphics and other features to engage my reader. LIT 2-24a
Creating texts	I can convey information, describe events, explain processes or combine ideas in different ways. LIT 2-28a
Expressive Arts
Art & Design	Through observing and recording from my experiences across the curriculum, I can create images and objects which show my awareness and recognition of detail. EXA 2-04a
	I can develop and communicate my ideas, demonstrating imagination and presenting at least one possible solution to a design problem. EXA 2-06a
	I can respond to the work of artists and designers by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others’ work. EXA 2-07a
Social Studies
People, Past Events and Societies	I can use primary and secondary sources selectively to research events in the past. SOC 2-01a
	I can discuss why people and events from a particular time in the past were important, placing them within a historical sequence. SOC 2-06a
People in society, economy and business	By experiencing the setting up and running of a business, I can collaborate in making choices relating to the different roles and responsibilities and have evaluated its success. SOC 2-22a
Technologies
Craft, design, engineering and graphics contexts for developing technological skills and knowledge	During practical activities and design challenges, I can estimate and measure using appropriate instruments and units. TCH 2-13a
	I can use drawing techniques, manually or electronically, to represent objects or ideas, enhancing them using effects such as light, shadow and textures. TCH 2-15a
	Throughout my learning, I experiment with the use of colour to develop an awareness of the effects and impacts it can have. TCH 2-15b

Literacy & English

Listening and Talking

Finding and using information

As I listen or watch, I can identify and discuss the purpose, main ideas and supporting detail contained within the text, and use this information for different purposes.

LIT 2-04a

As I listen or watch, I can make notes, organise these under suitable headings and use these to understand ideas and information and create new texts, using my own words as appropriate.

LIT 2-05a

Understanding, analysing and evaluating

I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by responding to literal, inferential, evaluative and other types of questions, and by asking different kinds of questions of my own.

LIT 2-07a

Reading

Finding and using information

Using what I know about the features of different types of texts, I can find, select andsort information from a variety of sources and use this for different purposes.

LIT 2-14a

Writing

Tools for writing

I consider the impact that layout and presentation will have and can combine lettering, graphics and other features to engage my reader.

LIT 2-24a

Creating texts

I can convey information, describe events, explain processes or combine ideas in different ways.

LIT 2-28a

Expressive Arts

Art & Design

Through observing and recording from my experiences across the curriculum, I can create images and objects which show my awareness and recognition of detail.

EXA 2-04a

I can develop and communicate my ideas, demonstrating imagination and presenting at least one possible solution to a design problem.

EXA 2-06a

I can respond to the work of artists and designers by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others’ work.

EXA 2-07a

Social Studies

People, Past Events and Societies

I can use primary and secondary sources selectively to research events in the past.

SOC 2-01a

I can discuss why people and events from a particular time in the past were important, placing them within a historical sequence.

SOC 2-06a

People in society, economy and business

By experiencing the setting up and running of a business, I can collaborate in making choices relating to the different roles and responsibilities and have evaluated its success.

SOC 2-22a

Technologies

Craft, design, engineering and graphics contexts for developing technological skills and knowledge

During practical activities and design challenges, I can estimate and measure using appropriate instruments and units.

TCH 2-13a

I can use drawing techniques, manually or electronically, to represent objects or ideas, enhancing them using effects such as light, shadow and textures.

TCH 2-15a

Throughout my learning, I experiment with the use of colour to develop an awareness of the effects and impacts it can have.

TCH 2-15b