Amersham Museum runs a rich and engaging award-winning programme of activities for KS1 and KS2 school group and youth groups.  In 2020 we were awarded a Sandford Award for heritage education.  The Learning Programme includes: 

  • Taught sessions in the museum
  • Workshops with handling objects brought to you in schools
  • Assemblies on Local History and significant local stories linked to themed weeks in the education calendar
  • Mobile Museum visits
  • Handling boxes for loan which include artefacts, information and suggested activities 
  • Bespoke visits and workshops for youth groups (Girlguiding and Scouts) working towards knowledge and skills badges
  • Young Curators Group Group for 14-18 year olds

 As a small local museum, we pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our local community.  We have a dedicated Learning Officer who will work with you to create a learning experience that will best suit your curriculum and your pupils’ needs.   

As a very popular destination, we can get booked up very quickly.  To ensure we can meet your needs, we would suggest you get in touch with our Learning Officer [email protected] to discuss your visit as soon as possible. 

 

 

Taught Sessions and Workshops

Our sessions and workshops can be taught in the museum or in your school.  Please see below for some of our taught session themes. 

Pricing for 2023-24:   

Workshops are charged at £5 per child for a 90-minute workshop and £8 per child for a longer or whole day visit.  You can have use of our Learning Room and garden for lunch.   They all include an interactive presentation, opportunities for object handling and a creative element to embed learning. 

Assemblies are charged at £50. 

Book your School or Group Visit here

 

  • Life in the Past – EYFS Find out about chronology and timeline by exploring artefacts from the past.  Experience life in the past through role play and using costumes and object 
  • Traditional Toys – KS1 Discover our range of typical toys from the past and have a handling session with a wide range of toys, including those made in the local toy factory.  Children can play with Victorian optical toys, construction toys and moving toys, comparing the difference between old and new.  Take part in a toy making workshop and compare the toys enjoyed by rich and poor children.
  • Pre-History and Fossils – KS1/2 Learn about ancient dinosaurs and local Amersham geology, discovering how fossils were made.  Look through the collection and incredible illustrations of Robin Reid, a local fossil collector and recreate his paleoart.
  • Romans – Archaeology and Coins – KS1/2 Discover how to use archaeological sources to learn about the past by examining Roman artefacts.  Recreate an archaeological dig and find out more about Roman currency, making your own coin.
  • Life in the 16th Century KS1/2 Study our amazing Tudor Hall House and find out about who lived here and how the house has changed over the centuries.  Experience life in a Tudor house and compare the experience of being rich or poor by recreating our Tudor Banquet Table.
  • Local History – KS1/2   A study of local history including a guided walk of Old Amersham, getting hands on with significant artefacts that tell the story of industry and manufacture in the town, and learning how to curate objects in the museum. This session is a perfect way  
  • Victorian Amersham and the Coming of the Railway – KS2 Using our handling collection, maps and photographic archives, find out about local jobs linked to the rural community and learn about the cottage industries of lace making and straw plaiting, and other jobs for children.  Take part in our story telling workshop to learn about how the railway came to Amersham and discover the impact it has on the town. This session can be extended to include a guided walk of Victorian Amersham and/or an activity to make Victorian Optical Illusion Toys. 
  • WWII and Refugees – KS2 Learn about how WWII changed Amersham, and understand what life was like on the ‘Home Front’ by exploring the experience of different groups of people. Explore how rationing affected people’s lives.  Compare wartime Europe with wartime Amersham through photos and objects and find out how the town welcomed refugees from London and Europe.   
  • Exploring the History of The Chilterns and why Amersham was settled – KS2 Exploring the geology, geography and pre-history of the area, discover why and how early settlers developed and thrived in the Chilterns using natural resources to develop local industry and communities.   Explore objects which represent ‘Changing Amersham’ over the years. 

 


Assemblies

Covering a range of subjects from Local History, International Women’s Day, Black History Month, History of Transport; or to fit in with a Whole School Theme or Curriculum Week.  We will work with you to share an interactive experience sharing objects and expertise to bring local stories to life.  A great way to start a new topic or celebrate a school milestone event.  Please contact our Learning Officer for more information – [email protected] 

 

 

Mobile Museum 

Enjoy a day with Anthony our Mobile Museum.  Visits include a whole school presentation and time slots for each class to visit the Mobile Museum and explore handling objects.  Please contact our Learning Officer for more information – [email protected] 

 

 

Bespoke Visits 

We work with you to create a visit that fits your theme or skills badge, including curation and collections care, exploring the museum and getting hands on with the artefacts, guided walks, discovering more about local history, investigating our map collection and improving map skills.  Please contact our Learning Officer for more information – [email protected] 

 

Pre-Visit Essential Information 

Risk Assessment 

Click on this link to read our safeguarding policy.

Pre-visit information for schools

 

 

Handling Boxes and Memory Boxes 

Available for £25 for a two-week loan period. 

Covering a range of curriculum linked themes for KS1, KS2 and KS3 including Pre-History and Romans, Victorian Amersham and The Coming of The Railway, Traditional Toys, WWI, WWII, Local History.   Memory boxes exploring local history through the 20th century. 

Including handling artefacts, documents, maps and photographs, detailed information about the contents and some suggested activities. 

The boxes are all Covid secure. 

Make a booking

 

 

Young Curators Group

Young Curators is an Amersham Museum run after-school group for 14–18-year-olds. The group provides opportunities for young people to work with museum professionals to develop their skills and understanding of museum curation. This includes: 

  • Developing and caring for a museum collection
  • Curating and designing exhibitions
  • Developing learning resources
  • Evaluation techniques

Recognition 
Participating in the Young Curators programme can be counted as volunteer time, which can be used as part of the requirement for a Baccalaureate programme or for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. If extra hours are needed to fulfil the commitments of these schemes, participants can be given additional work to do between the sessions. 

Joining Young Curators 
A registration form must be completed by parents for those aged 14-17 and by the participant if aged 18.  

 

KS3 Resources 

We have a pack of resources for KS3 focusing on women’s campaign for suffrage.  The pack includes four suggested lessons that directly draw upon local, primary sources and explore how women were involved in the suffrage campaign.  The third session suggests using our WWI Handling BoxThe resource is available here. The primary source materials can be emailed on request:  [email protected].  The pack was produced with the support of the Heritage Fund.   

 

Volunteering Opportunities 

Volunteers are vital to the museum and we have 120 volunteers who take on a variety of roles.  We offer opportunities for young adult volunteers (18 year old and over) throughout the year.  If you are interested please complete our volunteer application form. We are also able to take work experience volunteers.  Please email [email protected] to find out more. 

 

 

Plan Your Visit

Opening hours:

Wednesday to Sunday, and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12noon to 4:30pm

49 High Street
Old Amersham
Buckinghamshire
HP7 0DP

01494 723700
[email protected]

 

“Enjoyed our visit to this wonderful interactive museum where you are positively encouraged to touch things!”

“Visited Amersham museum yesterday – lovely place, provides many details on the history of the place. Plenty of cute cafes, pubs and shops around also… not difficult to find free parking nearby. ”

“A well-run, informative and interesting small museum on the main street. It’s mostly volunteer-run and they do a great job in keeping it and making you feel welcome…Check out the herb garden too.”

“Enjoyable film and television location guided walk around Amersham hosted by Amersham Museum – here are the Sun Houses on Highover Park and further up the hill is High & Over.”

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