The Horniman Museum and Gardens in South London has announced a revamp of its World Cultures learning sessions to tie in with the forthcoming World Gallery, opening on 29th June.

World Cultures session

In addition to new object handling opportunities, several new sessions will be introduced to help different age groups access and engage with the new gallery. These include ‘Around the World with Winny the Walrus’ for Early Years and ‘Extreme Environments’ for Secondary schools.

The Horniman’s interactive, curriculum-linked learning sessions will allow pupils to touch, hold and study real museum objects from cultures displayed in the World Gallery – from an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus to a Nigerian drum.

The museum will also offer 12 new topic-based schools’ learning resources to support the new World Gallery, introducing some of the fascinating anthropological objects on show with downloadable high-res images and information for teachers and students.

School groups visiting the Horniman will receive topic-themed trails to help them discover some of the objects on display in the World Gallery.

Climate change and migration in new gallery

The World Gallery was developed in close collaboration with a Teacher Panel to ensure that it meets schools’ needs.

From Ancient Egypt to the Rainforest, the gallery addresses many topics covered in the curriculum and communicates important messages about respecting other cultures, linking to British Values and Social Moral Spiritual Cultural Education (SMSC) in school.

The gallery also addresses important contemporary issues such as climate change, migration and displacement.

Schools at the Horniman

The Horniman Museum and Garden provides learning experiences for a diverse range of visitors, including delivering enquiry-based, object-based learning sessions to over 42,000 school visitors each year, from Early Years to Key Stage 5.

The Schools Learning Team provides a high-quality service for schools, from a regular programme of sessions, resources and teacher CPD, to projects with specific groups such as those with Special Educational Needs and disabilities.

For further details of the World Gallery learning sessions and resources, visit www.horniman.ac.uk/learn/learning-sessions

(Photo credit: Megan Taylor).