For Teachers: Primary Resources

Explore a range of activities suitable for pupils working at Early, First and Second Levels, including Mandarin, writing a story, maths and numeracy.

Suitable for: P3-7

Explore your local biodiversity by using our bug safari or pitfall trap guides. Get creative using our instructions to make a bug hotel, or a 'litter' bug!

Find out more

Suitable for: First Level Primary Pupils

African author and storyteller Chief Chebe has created two storytelling adventures at the National Museum of Scotland - a tour of his favourite things and a tale about a Ghanaian boy named Kofi.

Pupils can enjoy Chief Chebe's stories before searching for their own favourite objects in the museum and for teachers, there are extension activities to use with First Level pupils covering literacy and health and wellbeing outcomes.

Resources needed: A downloadable PowerPoint with suggested learning activities is provided

Museum Stories with Chief Chebe

Suitable for: Upper Primary pupils

Explore transferable work skills and future careers paths, including the role of our Enablers. The careers covered by our resources include those in the museum and across wider industries reflected in our collections. Featuring films, activity packs, workbooks and trails, these resources can be used in both classroom and home settings, providing learners with a range of opportunities to increase their expectations, aspirations and awareness of future careers. 

Resources needed: Workbooks can be printed or edited on a PC/laptop

Careers Resources

Suitable for: Early Years-Primary pupils

This 9-minute film guides you through seven poses, inspired by museum objects. Afterwards, you can explore more about the objects and make up your own poses based on what you might see at the museum. 

Resources needed: A clear space on the floor for pupils to bend and stretch

Watch the film

Suitable for: Early Years-P7

Ask your pupils to recreate their favourite museum objects and places using the LEGO® or DUPLO® they have at home. Design a 'hide and seek' trail, build a mini Concorde, or build any number of amazing objects. 

Resources needed: Building blocks

Awesome Bricks at home

Maths Week Scotland have created a range of short films, each featuring a woman for whom maths is at the core of their work. Get your pupils involved by investigating how their parents and carers use maths and share their findings with Maths Week Scotland. 

This film features Rachel Wood, a Civil Engineer who works on the Forth Road Bridge. Read more about Rachel and see the other videos here.

Suitable for: P5-7 pupils 

To support your 1+2 work, pupils can discover how to say colours in Mandarin with Dàhăi the dragon and create their own object card.

Resources needed: Pencil and paper 

Mandarin at the Museum resources

Suitable for: For P3-5 pupils. Available in Gaelic. 

Museums are great places to uncover stories. Pupils can use our Build a Story activity, created with Scottish Book Trust, to inspire their own writing, using our museum objects or objects in their own home. 

Resources needed: Pencil and paper

Build a Story

Suitable for: P5-7 pupils

Explore a range of Scottish stories from the Second World War, including life on the Home Front.

Includes a range of hands-on activities for pupils including making VE day anniversary crafts, a code-breaking challenge to tackle with family members, and a Spitfire template.

Resources needed: Pencil and paper, printer required for Spitfire template.

Second World War Stories

Suitable for: First Level  

Challenge your pupils with audio quizzes presented by BBC Scotland’s Catriona Shearer.

Turn your pupils' daily walk into a treasure hunt adventure. Discover how to create a trail in your local area with examples from Anderston Primary School. 

Suitable for: Second Level 

Explore Edinburgh Castle through maths eyes with our Castle Quest, now adapted for use at home.

Mathsweek.scot