Barnsley’s award-winning museums launch free online resources for schools and families

Barnsley Museums have launched an extensive set of online learning resources, covering many different areas of the primary school curriculum, to support teachers and provide a variety of stimulating activities for families learning together at home during the current crisis.

All the activities are inspired by Barnsley’s much-loved museums, heritage sites, and the art and collections of objects they look after. Many are linked to the award-winning school workshops that thousands of young people from across Yorkshire usually enjoy each year, and have been adapted to ensure home learners can complete activities with resources they will have on hand at home.

Activities come with clear guidance notes and contain worksheets, PowerPoints, videos and delivery notes which support parents/carers and teachers to use the resources.

They include a variety of activities to engage and inspire young learners and cover topics such as nature and the environment, art and design, citizenship, STEM and more. Examples include designing your own campaign, inspired by objects and stories relating to the Miner’s Strike from Experience Barnsley, and creating your own greenhouse inspired by those in the walled garden at Cannon Hall.

Objects and sound recordings will enable young learners to get close to our collections from home, with resources which are usually loaned out to schools as ‘Museum in a Box’ is brought to life online.

Even more new resources will be shared over coming weeks, including creative writing, authentic recipes from the past and activities inspired by the Newcomen Beam Engine at Elsecar encouraging pupils to bring the industrial revolution to life in their living rooms.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place (Regeneration and Culture) said:

Barnsley Museums school sessions are important resources that are highly valued not only by local schools but from those across the region. The dedicated Learning team want to help support teachers and parents by offering exciting and creative activities that connect children and young people to the art, heritage and landscapes around them.

All the new learning resources can be found on the Barnsley Museums website www.barnsley-museums.com/resources-for-schools

Fun family activities, story-telling and more, including films and activities specially designed for the Under-5s can be enjoyed all through the week, at 10.30am daily from each of the Barnsley Museums social media pages: Cannon Hall on Mondays, Experience Barnsley on Tuesdays, the Cooper Gallery ‘Wow’ special under 5s sessions on Wednesdays, Elsecar Heritage Centre on Thursdays and Worsbrough Mill on Fridays.

This is part of the wider Barnsley Museums’ digital programme which has been extended in response to the current crisis and is offering exciting, innovative and creative things to do at home, and inspiring people of all ages with Barnsley’s rich heritage and proud stories.