National Army Museum announces free learning programme for schools

Following the three-year £23.75 million redevelopment and reopening to the public on 30 March 2017, the National Army Museum announces the launch of its new Learning Programme. As of today teachers can book the sessions via the National Army Museum website.

From September the Museum will offer free taught workshops and self-guided activities exploring History and subjects never taught before at the Museum including Citizenship, Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All sessions are hands-on, inquiry-based, and link the National Army Museum’s Collection, the National Curriculum and exam board specifications.

Taught sessions, facilitated by the National Army Museum’s learning team, will take place in the brand-new Foyle Learning Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that caters for learners of all ages and abilities, offering a flexible environment for interactive workshops.

Primary school pupils can explore the stories of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, First World War recruitment, and the idea of Remembrance. New STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sessions for Primary pupils include: ‘Head On’, a practical session exploring the materials used to create soldier’s helmets; ‘Whatever the Weather’, an investigation into the materials used to keep soldiers dry; ‘On the Move’, where pupils navigate robots across different terrains; and, ‘Body Builders’, in which pupils use robots to explore the science of prosthetic limbs.

Secondary school pupils can investigate key historical topics such as the British Civil Wars, Seven Years’ War, Indian Mutiny, First World War, Total War, and Recruitment and Conscription. The Museum will also be offering a Geography-focused workshop for Key Stage 4 that explores logistics and problem solving in the Army. Each taught session is 60 minutes in length and is available Monday to Thursday during term time.

Schools are also invited to visit the museum for self-guided visits using new curriculum-linked gallery trails specifically designed to help pupils of all key stages to explore the five new permanent galleries: Soldier, Army, Battle, Society and Insight. The trails, available to download on the website from September, have been designed to complement taught sessions, or can function independently. The Museum also offers a bookable lunch space for visiting schools for 30 minutes between 12pm – 2pm, Monday to Thursday.

On the launch of this new Learning Programme Ashleigh Hibbins, National Army Museum Learning Producer said:

'We are excited to welcome schools back to the National Army Museum with new workshops and resources on a wide range of relevant subjects. This is the first time we have extended the Museum’s learning programme to link with topics beyond the History curriculum. Now teachers and pupils can explore the compelling story of the British Army in the past and the present through interactive workshops and innovative learning resources, all linked to the National Curriculum and exam board specifications.'

Teachers can access free learning materials on the National Army Museum website taking the Museum into the classroom with the downloadable, easy to use resources. Covering a range of topics about the British Army and its history, each learning resource includes videos, presentations and teachers’ notes.