York Castle Museum

Workshop Programme

Primary School Workshops

Our education workshops take place in the galleries and our education room. All workshops involve practical activities and handling real museum objects.

During 2012, we are extending and improving our Victorian street, Kirkgate, so we are running fewer workshops than usual during this time. 

Please note that admission charges also apply for schools from outside the York area. See Making a Visit for more information. Each workshop is for a maximum of 30 pupils, unless otherwise stated.

We also welcome secondary school groups and offer online resources at mylearning.org - skip to Secondary School visits for more information.

Prices

1 hour workshop - £60
1 hour 30 minutes workshop - £70
2 hour workshop - £80 (prices vary during Special Weeks, see below)

Victorians

The Fabric of Victorian Life, KS2
1 hour, 30 mins

Pupils investigate the fabric of Victorian life as they explore our fantastic social history collection. They take part in an object handling activity to learn more about Victorian life from some original items from the collection. Pupils then have a go at starting a Victorian style rag rug to finish at school.

Through hand-on activities and discussion they will be able to compare, contrast and come to conclusions about everyday 19th century life.

Toys

Toys Through Time, KS1
1 hour

Pupils take a peep into our old toy chest to discover toys from the past. Through hands-on exploration they are encouraged to discuss the similarities and differences between toys, how they work and the materials from which they are made.

House and Homes

Spotless! KS1
1 hour

Dolly White is about to start her weekly wash and needs some helping hands. Using original possers and dolly pegs, rubbing boards and tubs, pupils are set to work for a taste of Victorian domestic life. As they move around the activities, pupils identify Dolly's Mystery Objects as well as various wash day smells.

Castle Life KS1
1 hour

Come to York Castle Museum to discover what homes were like for people living in the middle ages. Pupils will explore different aspects of life in a medieval castle - the home, the defensive fortress, the religious space and the market.

They will also try on medieval-style armour and handle original objects such as pottery, arrow heads, coins and stained glass. Finally pupils will be invited to identify various castle smells!

Britain since 1930

The Swinging Sixties, KS2
1 hour 30 mins

Pupils visit our SIXTIES gallery and are plunged into the vibrant sights and sounds of 1960s Britain.

They try on costumes, listen to music, furnish some dolls' houses and even 'launch' a space rocket. This session uses real artefacts and archive footage to set the decade in its post war context, giving pupils an appreciation of how much Britain had changed by the end of the 1960s.