Families
Ages 3–5
Museum
explorers
Time to count
The Open Futures family trails are funded by
Welcome
This trail guides you on a fascinating
journey of exploration and discovery around
the Museum. On the way you’ll track down
some amazing treasures and experience
tales of human history from around the
world. You’ll also need to search, look,
pose and draw.
A trip to Asia
Whichever way you go, and whatever
you discover, enjoy yourself! If you ever feel
lost, just ask a member of staff for help.
Dancing, laughing and having fun are
encouraged at all times!
Travel to Asia to practise your counting.
Spot things other people might miss and
act out the poses and dances you see
along the way.
Start
Room 33
1
Dancing Shiva
Useful information for families
• You can pick up
a map in the Great
Court to help you get
around the Museum.
• You can leave
fold-up pushchairs
in the cloakroom
free of charge.
• Accessible toilets and
baby changing facilities
are available. You can
breastfeed and bottle
feed anywhere on the
Museum’s grounds but
if you would like more
privacy, the Museum
has two feeding rooms.
For details, ask at
the Families Desk or
Information Desk, or
look at the map.
• You can find childfriendly food at the
cafés. High chairs
are available.
• You can use the
Ford Centre for Young
Visitors to picnic
with your family at
weekends and during
school holidays.
2
6
The golden twins
Back to the
beginning
5
The elephant
with a sweet tooth
4
Roar of the lion
3
Sitting with
the Buddha
1
The case is in
the centre of the
gallery. Stand
in front of it and
face the statue
of Shiva.
Dancing Shiva
Room 33 on Level 1.
Turn left and find Case 37.
My name is Shiva.
Here you see me as Nataraja −
Lord of the Dance.
I dance to make things begin.
I dance to make things end.
Time to count
First count my arms.
Then count my feet.
Then count the number
of legs I am standing on.
Look at me
closely
Find the snake wrapped
round one of my arms.
Stand like me
Move your fingers so
your hands look like
mine. Stand on one leg
with your arms in the air.
2
The golden twins
Dance across to Case 45,
which isn’t far away. Look
in the bottom section.
Sit on the floor
facing the two
golden figures
from Burma,
(also known
as Myanmar).
Time to count
How many of us can you see?
Count our hands.
Now count our fingers.
Look at our
tummies
Find our golden
belly buttons.
We are called thungedaws.
We stood near the throne
of the king of Burma.
Stand with
your arms
like us
Give us a
two-handed wave.
3
Sitting with the Buddha
Now find Case 47.
Look at my face
When I was a prince I wore heavy
earrings, which stretched my
ears. Can you stretch your ears?
Face the statue of
the Buddha in the
centre of the case.
‘Buddha’ means
‘Enlightened one’.
I was once a rich
prince. I gave away
all my money and
left my palace.
I did lots of walking
and thinking. Now
I am called Buddha.
Time to count
Sit like me
Count my toes.
How many can you see?
I’ve got some more –
where are they hidden?
Cross your legs and touch
the ground with one hand.
4
Sit on the floor
facing the lion.
Roar of the lion
Go to Case 53. Look for
the lion on the left.
I am a lion.
I live high in the mountains.
I am a snow lion.
Time to count
Count my:
paws
claws
tails
Look in
my mouth
What kind of teeth
do I have?
Time to make
some noise
Open your mouth wide like
mine. Roar like a lion.
5
The elephant with
a sweet tooth
Roar over to the pink sculpture
between Cases 7 and 10.
Face the figure
of Ganesha
between the
glass cases.
My name is
Ganesha.
I have the head
of an elephant.
I bring good luck.
I like eating
sweets
Find my bowl of sweets.
Act like an
elephant
Time to count
Count my trunks.
Now my ears.
Now my hands.
Hold one arm up to your
nose and wave it like
a trunk. Walk like an
elephant and make
a trumpeting sound.
6
Back to the beginning
Return to Case 37 in the
centre of the gallery.
Walk
around me
Stand facing
the figure of the
dancing Shiva.
Count how many
steps you take.
Welcome back.
You have danced
in a circle back to
the beginning.
Find a glass
case where
you can see
yourself
Ask somebody to sit
behind you. All hold up
your arms. Then lift up
one of your legs.
You’ve completed
the Time to
count trail!
As a reward for completing the
trail, here’s the Buddha as a baby.
Make sure you’re really quiet
or you may wake him up!
Well done. You’ve been busy.
What fantastic counting. What
amazing looking. What fabulous
dancing. Shiva will be pleased.
The Buddha as
a baby, Room 33.
You can find even
more fantastic things
to see and do in other
parts of the Museum:
•Join a circle of Cretan dancers
in Room 12.
•Dance like an ancient Greek
in Room 17.
•Find out about African
masquerades in Room 25.
Other things you
could do when you
get home:
•Carry on counting
Use your fingers to practise
counting to 10. Include your toes
and you can count up to 20!
•Practise looking and listening
Play a game of ‘I spy’. Now have
a go at ‘I hear’ – what does your
noise sound like?
•Make up a dance
Move your hands and feet to
create your very own dance.
Join hands with a partner and
dance together.
See you back at the
British Museum soon!
Front cover:
Bronze figure of Shiva
Nataraja. From Tamil Nadu,
southern India. Chola
dynasty, around AD 1100.
Brass figure of a lion.
From Lhasa, Tibet, China,
17th–18th century.
Stoneware figure of Budai
Hesheng (an enlightened
disciple of the Buddha),
by Liu Zhen. China, Ming
dynasty, 1486.
Other trails in
the Museum
explorers series
6+ years
•Ancient Britain
•Ancient Greece
•Ancient Egypt
•Celebration
•Communication
•Creatures
3–5 years
•Colour and shape
Open Futures
Engage, Inspire, Learn, Succeed
Initiated and supported by the
Helen Hamlyn Trust, Open Futures
is a learning programme for
primary schools, which brings
the curriculum to life.
openfutures.com
The British Museum
Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3DG
Tottenham Court Road,
Holborn, Russell Square
+44 (0)20 7323 8000
britishmuseum.org
© The Trustees of the British Museum 06/2015