Learning
Pack
Introduction
Learning Pack
Introduction
Welcome to Leeds City Museum!
Leeds City Museum and its collections belong to you. We are here to
help you access the collections in the best possible way for you and
your students. Have a browse, find something that interests you, get
curious, follow a train of thought, experiment, visit, try something new,
revisit old skills or get in touch. We are here to help.
The Museum opened in its current location, the Leeds Institute
Building, in September 2008; however, Leeds has had a museum since
1820. The original museum on Park Row was damaged during World
War II. The Museum originally had three Egyptian mummies, however
two were destroyed during the World War II bombings.
There are 6 permanent galleries in the Museum:
Life on Earth displaying the Museum’s natural history collections
Collectors Cabinet telling the story of collecting
World View showcasing the Museum’s world collections
Brodrick Hall with a giant floor map of Leeds
The Leeds Story following the story of Leeds from geological
times to present day
Ancient Worlds exhibiting items from the Ancient Egyptian, Greek
and Roman collections
There is also a Special Exhibitions Gallery where displays change
on a six monthly basis. See the website for further information:
www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries
1.2
Learning Pack
Introduction
How do I use this pack?
This pack is designed to support self-led school visits to Leeds City
Museum. It looks at a number of curriculum-linked themes and contains
teacher notes and activity trails for pupils to use independently, in
pairs or in groups. All the notes and trails can be photocopied.
To make life easier, we have designed a key to help you navigate
through the pack:
discussion in pairs or in a group
a drawing activity
something to think about
a doing activity
a writing activity
learning objectives
There is also our parliament of owls to help guide the students around
the museum, led by Leodis, our Leeds owl. At the start of the pack,
there is a worksheet to prepare the students for their visit to the
Museum and an information sheet to copy and give to any adults you
have helping with the visit.
How do I plan a visit?
It’s really easy. Just follow our five step process:
1. Have a look at our current workshop offer at: www.leeds.gov.uk/
museumsandgalleries and work out whether you want to have a
workshop or run an entirely self-guided visit.
2. Select a few possible dates for a visit. We get booked up quite
quickly, so having a few dates often helps both parties come to an
agreement. You will need to book at least two weeks in advance.
3. Ring up or email the Museum and request a date or dates to visit.
It’s often useful to have to hand the school’s address (including
postcode) and telephone number, your preferred dates, the
number of children and any additional needs.
4. The Learning Officer will confirm details and ask a bit about your
group, that way we can tailor the session to suit your group and
help you get the most out of your visit.
5. Come on a familiarisation visit to conduct your risk assessment,
talk to the Learning Officer, pick up resources and iron out any
potential issues.
1.3
Learning Pack
Introduction
What happens on the day of the visit?
You will be met by a member of Museum staff as you enter the
museum and asked to sign in the group in the shop whilst the
students store their coats and bags. The group will then be given
a Health and Safety briefing, and then you will be spilt into your
workshop groups or go on with your self-led visit.
How do I get in touch?
Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH
T: 0113 224 3732
e: [email protected]
When are you open?
Open: Tuesday-Friday 10.00 -17.00 (Thursday open to 19.00)
Saturday-Sunday11.00 -17.00
Closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays
Where are you?
Cookridge St
Great
George St
n St
Headro
w
ane
A64
Park Row
Wellin
gto
Leeds
City Museum
Vicar L
Inner
Ring
Ro
ad
Leeds City Museum is on Millennium Square, between the Civic Hall
and the Carriageworks.
DSS
Clarence Dock
1.4
Learning Pack
Introduction
Is the museum and the learning programme accessible?
Physical access: There is wheelchair access to all areas, seats
throughout the galleries and all stairs have hand rails. Toilets with
disabled access are situated on every floor. Please let us know if
you have students with physical access needs and we can alter our
workshops or programme to suit.
Sensory access: Lots of our work is carried out through object
handling and hands on learning. Guide dogs are welcome in the
museum and we can provide large print resources on request. We
can accommodate BSL signers in all programmes. Please let us
know if you have students with sensory access needs and we can
alter our workshops or programme to suit.
Intellectual access: We differentiate all our workshops and
programmes according to the needs of the group whether that’s a
high-flying Gifted and Talented group, or a class who needs a little
more support and nurturing.
Is there somewhere we can eat our lunch if it’s raining?
It often rains in Yorkshire. We have a space that can be booked for
group lunches. It’s very popular, so needs to be booked in advance
with the Learning and Access Officer.
Is there somewhere to store our coats and bags?
There is a school cloakroom next to the Learning Space on the first floor.
Are there any do’s and don’ts for students in Leeds City
Museum?
We actively encourage:
Chat
Sitting on the FloorEnjoyingDrawing
Laughing
LookingDiscussing
Making things
But we try to avoid:
ShoutingRunningDisturbing other visitors
Group leaders are responsible for the behaviour of their students
whilst at Leeds City Museum.
1.5
Learning Pack
Introduction
Working to keep everyone safe
Leeds City Museum is committed to keeping everyone safe. All staff
receive safeguarding training and staff who work closely with children,
young people or vulnerable adults are DBS checked every three years.
As part of Leeds City Council, we adhere to the Leeds Safeguarding
Board’s policies and procedures and practise safer recruitment.
1.6
What is a Museum?
Hello, my name is Leodis. I live at
Leeds City Museum because I love
exploring all the galleries. Me and
my friends help the archaeologists
and the curators at the museum.
WORD ALERT
An archaeologist is someone who:
When you visit the Museum, you will be able to see all the amazing
things we have – including dinosaur poo, a real mummy and a gigantic
tuna fish skeleton!
There are some things in the Museum which you can touch so you
can feel what things are like. But there are also some things which you
shouldn’t touch.
Why do you think you shouldn’t touch some of the things in the Museum?
1.7
Talk about it
Think about it
Write about it draw it
do it
What is a Museum?
A museum is somewhere which has loads of objects in it. Some objects
are from the past, some are millions of years old! Some objects are from
other places in the world.
Every object can tell us a story about what life was like in the past, or in
other parts of the world.
The best thing I own is my magnifying glass because it helps me to see
things clearly. What’s your favourite thing?
My favourite thing is
Because
See – I told you every object has a story! This is the story of your
favourite thing!
When you visit the Museum, look
out for me on your worksheet or in
the Museum galleries. Have fun!
1.8
Talk about it
Think about it
Write about it draw it
do it
Learning Pack
Introduction
Information for adults leading groups in Leeds
City Museum
Leeds City Museum and its collections belong to you. If in doubt, ask.
We are here to help.
How do I get around the building?
Third floor
Facilities
Look out for…
Ancient Worlds: Ancient Egyptian, Greek
and Roman collections
Temporary exhibitions: rolling programme
of exhibitions
Toilets
Nesyamun, the
Leeds Mummy
Second floor
Look out for…
Leeds Story: story of Leeds from
geological times to present day
The cigarette
case that saved
Edward Spetch’s
life
First floor
Facilities
Look out for…
Brodrick Hall: a giant floor map of Leeds
World View: the world collections
Collectors Cabinet: telling the story of collecting
Learning space
Toilets
Cloakroom
The narwhal tooth
Lower ground floor
Facilities
Look out for…
Life on Earth displaying the Museum’s
natural history collections
Toilets
Lunch space
Dinosaur poo
Leeds Tiger
Mok the Gorilla
1.9
Learning Pack
Introduction
How can I help the students get the most out of their visit?
Make sure you are clear on the objectives for the visit and how it fits
into the work the students have been doing in class. If you are unclear,
ask the lead teacher.
What do we need?
Practically, clipboards, pencils, copies of the worksheets and blank
paper are all really useful.
But creative, curious minds, open to new ideas are the main thing.
Museums are about interpreting our past to make a better future.
Can I take photos?
You can take photos in the galleries, but please ensure that flash is
turned off as it may damage the objects. We ask, out of respect, that
photos are not taken of the mummy, Nesyamun.
I’m a bit stuck, what shall I ask the students?
Looking at any object closely and asking questions about it stimulates
enquiry skills.
Sometimes there is no ‘right’ answer! Ask questions like:
What can you see?
What do you think it feels like?
What is it made of?
How is it decorated?
What could it be used for?
Who could have used it?
How did it get to Leeds?
What does it tell us about the past?
Play simple yes-no guessing games (‘is it bigger than a loaf of bread?’),
eye spy or ask the students to act out what happens next, or how an
object was used.
Most of all, have fun!
1.10