Opportunities for learning at the British Museum

Exploring Objects, Sharing Cultures

The Supplementary Schools Programme was established in April 2012 and for the last two years has offered unique cultural opportunities to 2500 children, young people and their wider communities. The programme is developed in collaboration with supplementary schools through its steering group; a dedicated team of teachers who meet every 3 months to advise the museum on future events and activity. Opportunities currently available to supplementary schools include: free training sessions for teachers exploring museum objects as a learning resource, activity weekends which creatively engage with the Museum’s permanent galleries and collections, object handling sessions delivered in supplementary schools (both big and small!), and free tickets to temporary exhibitions as part of the Museum’s Community Previews.

The Supplementary Schools Programme (2014-15) in numbers so far…

• 292 children, young people and adults attended Ming: 50 years that changed China exhibition as part of the Museum’s Community Preview
• 185 children, young people and adults have booked to attend Germany: memories of a nation exhibition as part of the Museum’s Community Preview which will take place on 12^th October 2014.
• 18 teachers attended the Connecting Cultures training session in June.
• 10 teachers booked to attend the Exploring objects, sharing cultures training session to prepare them for their visit to the Supplementary Schools and Families Activity weekend in November.
• 58 children, young people and adults are taking part in Exploring objects projects in three Supplementary Schools across London to work creatively with artists and programme the content for the Exploring objects, sharing cultures Supplementary Schools and Families Activity weekend in November.

What’s next? Upcoming activity in 2014

Sunday 12^th October      Community Preview: Germany

Take advantage of our free ticket offer and come to see a preview of our autumn exhibition Germany. Available exclusively to supplementary school teachers, students and their families.

Saturday 8^th & Sunday 9^th November      Exploring Objects & Sharing Cultures – Family and Supplementary School Activity Weekend

In May 2014 three supplementary schools won a competition to take part in a three-day creative project using dance, storytelling and art to tell the story of their favourite British Museum object. Join us to celebrate and enjoy their final performances and displays and take part in a series of workshops inspired by themes and collections selected by students.

Saturday 6^th December     Developing Resources training session

We’re running a training session supporting teachers to develop their own learning resources for use in the British Museum which fit their curriculum and their learning aims and objectives and to collectively create a collection of resources that can be adapted for future visits to the Museum.

For more information please see our website or contact Emma Taylor on 0207 323 8398: eltaylor@britishmuseum.org