About Butter Making

In this fun, hands on workshop pupils discover where milk, cream and butter come from. After learning about the history of butter making, pupils will churn and taste their own butter. 

What will my pupils do in the workshop?

This session takes place in our Learning Centre.

In this fun, hands-on workshop pupils discover where milk, cream and butter come from and will

Learn about modern and traditional milking techniques and the history of butter making
Use our plunge churn and butter paddles and make and taste their very own butter

Classes can also visit our working farm and meet our herd of Ayrshire dairy cows.

Dietary Requirements

Please let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements upon booking as this workshop will include food tasting. 

Great learning experience to develop understanding and enthusiasm for a Farming topic.
P3 teacher, East Lothian

Staff were very helpful. Children enjoyed butter making and tasting their produce. There are great playground facilities for wind down time after the busy day.
P1 teacher, Glasgow

Curriculum links
LIT 0-10a LIT 1-10a   LIT 2-10a TCH 0- 04a TCH 1- 04a  TCH 2-4a TCH 0-05a   TCH 1-05a HWB 0-35a HWB 1-35a HWB 2-35a HWB 0-30b,  HWB 1-30b SOC 0-04a  SOC 1-04a    SOC 2-04a SOC 1-09a SCN2-15a
Sustainable development goals
2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 15, 17
Meta skills framework
Self-management: Focusing, Adapting Social intelligence: Communicating, Collaborating Innovation:Curiosity, Sense-making

Available dates

November 2025

Tue 4 Nov 2025 (10:15 and 11:45)

Wed 5 Nov 2025 (10:15 and 11:45)

Thu 6 Nov 2025 (10:15 and 11:45)

January 2026

Tue 13 Jan 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Tue 14 Jan 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Thu 15 Jan 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

February 2026

Tue 3 Feb 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Wed 4 Feb 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Thu 5 Feb 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

March 2026

Tue 10 Mar 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Wed 11 Mar 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Thu 12 Mar 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Tue 31 Mar 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

April 2026

Wed 1 Apr 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Thu 2 Apr 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

May 2026

Tue 5 May 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Wed 6 May 2026 (10:15 and 11:45)

Request a visit

Booking Terms and Conditions

Payment process

Scottish State schools should raise a Purchase Order through their Local Authority procurement system for the cost of charged sessions. Purchase Order numbers should be notified to schools@nms.ac.uk at least 7 days in advance of the visit.
Independent Schools will be invoiced after the visit. Payment terms are 15 days from date of invoice.

Cancellation Policy

National Museums Scotland reserve the right to charge a fee for short notice cancellations or no-shows.
Bookings cancelled less than 3 weeks prior to the visit will incur an administration fee of 50% of the value of chargeable events.
Bookings cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to the visit will incur an administration fee of 100% of the value of chargeable events.
A charge of 100% of the value of booked sessions will apply to no-show or last-minute cancellations.
In certain circumstances National Museums Scotland may waive the administration fee.
Cancellations should be notified in writing to schools@nms.ac.uk.

Free access for SIMD 1&2 schools

National Museums Scotland (NMS) Free Workshop Policy: Terms and Conditions

Eligibility and Access Policy for Free Workshops

As part of our commitment to inclusive education and community engagement, National Museums Scotland (NMS) is pleased to offer 20% of our educational workshops free of charge to schools located in areas designated as SIMD 1 and 2, based on the Scottish Government's Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The following terms and conditions apply:

Eligibility Criteria

SIMD Designation: Schools must be located in areas classified as SIMD 1 or SIMD 2 to qualify for free workshops.
Verification: Eligibility will be verified using the latest SIMD data provided by the Scottish Government. Schools may be required to provide documentation or additional information to confirm their eligibility.

Workshop Availability

Limited Slots: Free workshops are subject to availability, with 20% of our total workshop offerings reserved for eligible schools.
Exclusions: Please note that this offer only applies to workshops delivered by National Museums Scotland staff and excludes special events, study days and special exhibition visits.
Advance Booking: Schools are encouraged to book early to secure a place, as free workshop slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Waiting List: In the event that all free workshop slots are filled, eligible schools can be placed on a waiting list and will be notified if a slot becomes available.

Terms of Participation

No Transport Cost Support: NMS does not provide financial support for transport costs. Schools are responsible for arranging and funding their own transportation to and from the museum.
Cancellations: Schools must notify NMS at least two weeks in advance if they need to cancel a booking. Repeated cancellations without adequate notice may affect future eligibility for free workshops.
Feedback: Participating schools may be asked to provide feedback on the workshops to help us improve our educational offerings. Participation in feedback activities is appreciated but not mandatory.
Class cap: Workshop offer is limited to 4 classes from a school for each school session.

Application Process

Application Form: Interested schools must complete the appropriate section in the booking request form.
Supporting Documents: Schools may need to submit supporting documents to verify their eligibility based on SIMD status.
Confirmation: Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email with details of their workshop booking.

We are dedicated to making our educational resources accessible to all and look forward to welcoming eligible schools to National Museums Scotland.

By participating in our workshops, schools agree to adhere to the above terms and conditions. NMS reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time.

July 2024

Butter Making