The Museum is a wonderful educational resource.

As you explore this large, safe, open air site, you can:

Investigate the working water mill,                          
Peep into the Victorian tin chapel,
Experience lessons in the Victorian schoolroom,
Talk to the enormous Suffolk Punch horses,
Visit the small animals' corner,
Step into the blacksmith's workshop,
Peep inside the colourful gypsy wagons,
Explore the 'River Rat trail',
Look in the row of old shops,
         and lots more.

PLANNING A VISIT

The wide range of museum collections and the varied landscape of the site can
support work with all ages, across many different topics, including: Victorians,
Houses and Homes, Farming, Industrial Change and Environmental Projects.

Use the resources listed below to help you make the most of your visit.  All resources are linked to the National Curriculum and have been trialled with schools.

NEW TEACHER LED ACTIVITIES  
These are practical cross-curricular sessions.  All resources are provided, including period costumes for teachers and children using the Victorian schoolroom. These activities must be pre-booked. You can download teachers' notes and worksheets for these activities.  Click here to DOWNLOAD.

Materials in the barn (KS1 & 2) - 1½ hour session                 
In this hands-on session children will use mirror drawing and construction kits to explore the structure of the Museum's magnificent 13th Century barn. They can handle and sort a variety of unusual farm tools to work out why they were made of certain materials.  
Download worksheets here. (3.6Mb pdf)

Pen and Spade (KS2) 11/2 hours
This session combines a lesson in the Victorian classroom and time handling farm tools and using them in the field, to give children a real experience of the contrasting lives of children in Victorian times. Which would your class choose - school or working in the fields?  Download teachers’ notes here. (294kb pdf) and farm tools identification sheet (1.5Mb pdf) here

Life in the past: Meet the Finch family? (KS1 or KS2) 11/2 hours
Step back in time as you enter the Finch family home. Help with the wash day chores - scrubbing, mangling and pegging out the clothes. Handle some mystery household objects and find out more about the lives of a Victorian farming family.
Download teachers’ notes here. (350kb pdf)

Victorian Schoolroom (KS1 & 2)  
Experience what school was like in Victorian times for both children and teachers! Take on the role of Victorian School Master or Mistress and transport your class back in time as you teach a lesson in our Victorian classroom. How neatly can your children write with chalk on a slate? How well can they recite their times tables or learn a poem by heart? Which would they choose - school life then or now?  Download teachers’ notes here. (56kb pdf)

ACTIVITY TRAILS
Practical, problem solving trails which fire your children's imagination and actively engage them with the Museum displays as they explore the site. Trail take approx. 1-2 hours.  All trail sheets are free. Click here to DOWNLOAD.

Materials trail (KS1 & 2)
A worksheet based trail around the Gypsy traveller displays as well as the domestic and traditional craft displays. A variety of drawing and labelling activities encourage children to explore the range and choice of materials used for different purposes. Combine this trail with the materials workshop for a whole day visit.
Download trail sheets here. (1.1Mb pdf)
       
Shop keeper's problems (KS1 & 2)
Mr Proctor, the shop keeper of the general store is ill and leaves a note asking the children to help him, by ordering some new stock for the shop. The trail will take your group to a variety of interactive displays around the site, showing how goods were made and along the way they will discover how different shopping was in the past.
Download trail sheets here.

Gypsy traveller trail - hidden stories (KS1 & 2)
A trail exploring the museum's amazing gypsy traveller displays. Combine this trail with the Gypsy traveller handling box or 'Life in the past' session, to add a new dimension to a topic on 'homes'.
Download trail sheets here.

From field to fork  (KS1 &2)
Discover where your food comes from as you explore the site. See the animals, find out about different crops, and get 'hands-on', milking our special cow Delilah, grinding corn in the mill!
Download trail sheets here.

THEMED RESOURCE BOXES  
Each box contains a variety of objects, photos and teachers notes. They are free of charge for use in the Museum education room during a visit. Resource boxes must be booked before a visit. For use in school there is charge of £6.50 for 2 weeks.
The boxes include:
Houses and homes, Materials - The Haywain, Toys - past and present,
Victorian Harvest, Victorians at Home, World War II
Travelling People - 2 boxes celebrating the lives of Gypsy Travellers
Travelling Entertainers.

EXTENSIVE TEACHERS PACK
The pack contains detailed information about the Museum and site and suggestions for planning visits on range of different topics. Click here to download.

FACILITIES
Education room - for using resource boxes and as an indoor lunch space
Outdoor lunch space.
Wooden adventure playground area - ideal for letting off steam!
Museum shop
Free on site parking for booked coaches

ACCESS
Some walkways are uneven and a few buildings have restricted access to upper
floors. The Museum has 2 golf style buggies for use around site, and 3 wheelchair
accessible toilets. Please talk to us about any special requirements your group has when booking.

BOOKING AND CHARGES
· £3.00 per child.      All adults are free.
· Victorian school room - £10  per half day
· Teacher-led sessions - £10 per session

Please bring as many adults as possible. Your school is responsible for the supervision and control of your children during your visit.

To find out more or to book a visit, please contact Patsy Cane on 01449 612229 or email bookings@eastanglianlife.org.uk. Once booked, you will receive a booking confirmation form, and any additional details about your visit.

The Museum is open from 25th March -  31st October 2007.The displays and historic buildings are closed to the public during the winter but we are more than happy to open up for pre booked school parties.

Considerations before booking:
Preferred dates of visit
Number of children in your group
Age of children
Topic you are studying
Ideal arrival and departure times
Any specific requirements.