From Victorian natural history dioramas to hands-on workshops in art, science and history, the Powell-Cotton Museum at Quex House and Gardens offers school groups a unique learning experience set within acres of stunning gardens, with bespoke programmes designed to inspire curiosity and critical thinking.
The Powell-Cotton Museum at Quex House and Gardens is a truly unique setting for a school visit. Stepping into the museum’s galleries is taking a step back in time.
The galleries contain the oldest, intact, large-scale habitat dioramas in the UK. Home to over 300 animals from more than 150 species displayed in settings of astounding detail built between 1896 and 1939.
Curriculum-linked workshops for school groups
We offer a hands-on and engaging learning programme for school groups with the opportunity to create a bespoke package of workshops as well as time to explore the gardens and galleries.
Our ‘Museum Safari’ workshop is a perfect introduction to the renowned Natural History dioramas and provides links to the Primary Science curriculum, through animal habitats, food chains and adaptations.
Perhaps you’re studying Charles Darwin or the Victorians? If so, let us know beforehand and we can lean into this and emphasise the links for your pupils. If you’re local to the museum and need a focus for your local history, ‘Percy’s Travels’ could be combined with a tour of Quex House to set the scene for your study.
If you want to provide a tactile experience and take a closer look at our material culture, we have a workshop for that. ‘What Am I?’ allows groups to investigate some key objects from our collections. This session can be followed up at school with further study on world cultures, use of clothing or the study of musical instruments.
Need to elevate your Art lessons? ‘Drawing from Nature’ offers pupils the chance to experiment with drawing techniques using unique, still-life subjects rarely found in a classroom setting.
Limited by classroom resources? Get stuck into our hands-on clay or print sessions. Mbitim’s Pottery and Adinkra Printing workshops offer a tactile way to engage directly with our collection’s history.
All the workshops detailed on our website can be adapted for different ages and abilities to provide links to your studies in Science, Art, Design, History, Geography and English.
The museum itself, set within Quex Park, home to the Powell-Cotton family offers acres of gardens to explore. A great place for sensory learning, sketching or stretching the legs between museum sessions and, if the weather is fine, maybe enjoy a picnic lunch.
We also offer free, on-site parking to take the stress out of shepherding your group through busy public areas.
If you’d like to spark your pupils’ imagination, inspire their curiosity and develop critical thinking skills, get in touch with our learning team at learning@powell-cottonmuseum.org or call 01843 842168.
For more details, see our School Visits page at powell-cottonmuseum.org.
