Monkey Business
Sat 28 and Sun 29 Jun, Sat 19 and Sat 26 Jul, 10:30 - 16:00
National Museum of Scotland
Free, drop-in
About Monkey Business
This summer, celebrate the opening of our new exhibition Monkeys: Our Primate Family with activities for all the family.
Join us for four days of monkeying around with fun, family activities for all ages.
Grab a seat at our craft tables, get hands-on with fascinating objects and more. Then discover the world of primates in our new exhibition, Monkeys: Our Primate Family.
Programme
Sat 28 Jun
Monkey Maths with Maths Week Scotland, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30–16:00
Join special guests Maths Week Scotland for some Monkey Maths and have fun with numbers through games and puzzles.
Suitable for ages 8+.
Monkey Town, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30-16:00
Discover a chimpanzee’s favourite food and test out your primate skills through games, activities, and crafts. Find out about the challenges primates face in the wild and what can be done to help them.
Suitable for all ages.
Sun 29 Jun
Being Human with The University of Edinburgh, 11:00–12:30 & 13:30–15:30
We use language to express our thoughts, to sing, to teach, to share stories – no other animal does it quite like we do. Join the University of Edinburgh to discover more about how animals communicate and what makes humans different to the rest of our primate family.
Suitable for all ages.
Monkey Maths with Maths Week Scotland, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30–16:00
Join Maths Week Scotland for some Monkey Maths and have fun with numbers through games and puzzles.
Suitable for ages 8+.
Monkey Town, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30-16:00
Discover a chimpanzee’s favourite food and test out your primate skills through games, activities, and crafts. Find out about the challenges primates face in the wild and what can be done to help them.
Suitable for all ages.
Sat 19 Jul
Monkey Movers with Shuffle Dance
Join inclusive dance school, Shuffle Dance, for an exciting, primate-themed dance and movement workshop that will let little imaginations run wild. Free sign-up on the day in the Grand Gallery.
| 10:30–11:15 | Ages 2-4 years + accompanying adult(s) |
| 11:30–12:15 | Ages 5-8 years |
| 13:30–14:15 | Ages 2-4 years + accompanying adult(s) |
| 14:30–15:15 | Ages 5-8 years |
Spaces are limited to 15 children per session. Adults must remain with children in the sessions for ages 2-4. Adults may stay with children in the sessions for ages 5-8. Maximum of 2 adults per child. Workshops take place in the Learning Centre.
Being Human with The University of Edinburgh, 10:30 – 12:30
We use language to express our thoughts, to sing, to teach, to share stories – no other animal does it quite like we do. Join the University of Edinburgh to discover more about how animals communicate and what makes humans different to the rest of our primate family.
Suitable for all ages.
Monkey Town, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30-16:00
Discover a chimpanzee’s favourite food and test out your primate skills through games, activities, and crafts. Find out about the challenges primates face in the wild and what can be done to help them.
Suitable for all ages.
Sat 26 Jul
Monkey Movers with Shuffle Dance
Join inclusive dance school Shuffle Dance for an exciting, primate-themed dance and movement workshop that will let little imaginations run wild. Free sign-up on the day in the Grand Gallery.
| 10:30–11:15 | Ages 2-4 years + accompanying adult(s) |
| 11:30–12:15 | Ages 5-8 years |
| 13:30–14:15 | Ages 2-4 years + accompanying adult(s) |
| 14:30–15:15 | Ages 5-8 years |
paces are limited to 15 children per session. Adults must remain with children in the sessions for ages 2-4. Adults may stay with children in the sessions for ages 5-8. Maximum of 2 adults per child. Workshops take place in the Learning Centre.
Caring for Primates with Edinburgh Zoo, 11:00–12:30 & 13:30–15:30
Meet members of Edinburgh Zoo’s Discovery and Learning Team in the Grand Gallery to learn how they keep the Zoo’s playful primates entertained.
Suitable for all ages.
Monkey Town, 10:30–12:30 & 13:30-16:00
Discover a chimpanzee’s favourite food and test out your primate skills through games, activities, and crafts. Find out about the challenges primates face in the wild and what can be done to help them.
Suitable for all ages.
Accessibility and facilities
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.
Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.
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