Archive for the ‘Early Years’ Category
Can Babies enjoy museums?
Posted on: May 13, 2013
- In: Early Years | Evaluation | Families | Feedback
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In the development of our sessions for babies in museums and galleries in Manchester, we were (quite rightly!) challenged by colleagues about the level of participation there would really be for babies. We were asked,
‘Aren’t the sessions really just for the benefit of parents?’
‘Can babies really enjoy museums?’
I posed the question ‘Can babies really enjoy museums?’ to parents attending a Baby Explorer session at Manchester Museum and added, ‘How do you know? ‘
The question did take our parents by surprise! They couldn’t understand why anybody would doubt that their babies were enjoying and participating in the sessions, which for them as parents, was clearly evident.
The many fabulous images we have taken and the short films we have produced, do capture the engagement levels of babies in our sessions, but like anything else, this is far more powerful (and evident) if you experience it directly.
One of our members of staff, who was initially sceptical about the opportunities for babies to truly participate in the sessions, attended one of our baby explorer session and commented afterwards,
‘I think babies can enjoy museums because it’s a totally different environment from other surroundings and they interact with different things than they would usually….they focus on what is being shown them and seem enraptured by what is going on including the storytelling and singing.’
Here is a selection of the feedback we had from parents ……
· It’s helped her to notice things more in other places too. These sessions really help to develop her concentration. I notice when she misses a session.
· Fabulous sensory learning aimed at the age group appropriately. My baby LOVES this. He is active, wide eyed, bouncy and afterwards he sleeps! Thank you.
· Development of motor skills by holding and touching objects. Babies’ eyes lit up concentrating for lengths of time. Staying quiet during singing (attention and listening).
· So many things to see and feel- nothing like home environment. I know how much he enjoys it because he cries when we leave!
Lets keep developing the practice and collecting the evidence of impact, to make the case for more babies in and museums and galleries nationally.
Elaine Bates, Early years coordinator, Manchester Museum
www.culturebabies.org.uk
Hi Everyone,
An exciting freelance opportunity has arisen at Manchester Museum to develop and facilit
ate part of the Museum’s ‘Magic Carpet’ programme for under 5’s and their parents and carers. A total of six themed and resourced sessions will be developed and delivered twice throughout the year. We are looking to recruit a group of practitioners who will be asked to develop up to a minimum of two sessions each and deliver each session twice in the first year (July 2013 – June 2014).
We are looking for creative practitioners who have experience of delivering engagement programmes for children aged 0-5 years and their families in a museum, gallery or cultural venue and who have specialist practice in drama/storytelling, art practice, music, singing or dance and movement.
Please see this document Freelance Opportunity Magic Carpet for further details and how to make expressions of interest by 20th May, 5pm. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Just been to the Staff Forum where members of the Education Team talked about the brilliant work they do with schools and other groups. Some 29,000 schoolchildren visit the Museum every year and 80% of the classes have a taught session. The evaluation feedback is invariably 'good' and 'excellent' and the vast majority say they would visit the Museum again.
Our new Ancient Worlds gallery will be opening on 26th October and we will be developing a session for Y1 /2 which we hope to pilot February /March 2013. If you are interested in helping us to develop and pilot activities for the new session, we would like to hear from you!
Contact Elaine.bates@manchester.ac.uk
we have a teacher preview evening for Ancient Worlds on November 14th 4.30-6.30
wine and nibbles will be provided.
Booking is essential as places are limited, so please RSVP by 24th October 2012 to our Bookings Coordinator on school.bookings@manchester.ac.uk or 0161 275 2630
Early year’s sessions …
There is still some availability for booking our early years sessions by contacting our bookings coordinator.
Nursery and Reception
Animal Explorers – Polar Bear Polar Bear
For up to 15 children, 90 minutes
£3.50 per child (minimum charge £50)
Nursery Reception and Y1
Dinosaur Explorers
For up to 15 children, 90 minutes Y1 For up to 32 children, 90 minutes
£3.50 per child (minimum charge £50)
Find out more about Ancient Worlds and our learning programme by visiting: www.manchester.ac.uk/museum/yourvisit/galleries http://www.manchester.ac.uk/museum/learning
Baby Explorers!
Posted on: July 4, 2012
baby explorer session manchester museem
We are continuing to develop our baby explorer sessions, for babies (who aren’t yet walking) and their carers. We are working with Karl Harris, an early years specialist and Carla Henry, a drama practitioner to provide opportunities for sensory play and for babies to participate in interactive storytelling activities devised around our collections in the Nature discovery gallery on the first floor, which include;
under the sea, meadow and woodland areas.
Carla has been delivering a special under the sea themed story about Phoebe’s flickering fish which includes finger puppets, bubbles and twinkling stars!
The next sessions are on:
July10 & 24
Aug7 & 21
And then every other Tuesday
12.15-1.15pm & 1.45-2.45pm
We are able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for very young children and there is no public access during our sessions.
Our sessions are free and currently on a Drop-in basis
Clore museum Learning award 2012
Posted on: June 26, 2012
The Manchester Early Years Partnership (Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester City Galleries and The Manchester Museum) has won The Clore Award for Museum Learning 2012 (joint winner with Leicestershire County Council Heritage and Arts Service)
The Manchester Early Years Partnership (Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester City Galleries and The Manchester Museum) and Leicestershire County Council Heritage and Arts Service have each been presented £10,000 as joint winners of the Clore Award for Museum Learning 2012. The double award reflects the outstanding quality of the shortlisted programmes and the Clore Duffield Foundation’s desire to celebrate innovation in museum learning.
The Clore Award 2012 has a focus on work with children and young people. The Award celebrates quality museum and gallery learning with children and young people (from early years up to the age of 25) in any setting, in or out of school/college. It recognises achievements in learning programmes which develop the skills, knowledge, values and enjoyment of the participants.
The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester City Galleries and Manchester Museum (The Manchester Early Years partnership) are working together to develop social, imaginative and playful ways to engage early years children, practitioners and parents. Project strands include:
Participatory early years learning programmes
Targeted partnership programme with providers Culturebaby
Early intervention with under 2s.
‘The early years partnership work that has taken place in Manchester has been an exciting and innovative collaboration that has had significant impact on early years practitioners, children and their families in Manchester.’
Sarah Murray
(Former Strategic Lead Early Years, Manchester City Council)
Animal Explorers visit
Posted on: June 8, 2012
On Thursday 24th May, a group of children, staff and parents from Wetherby street children’s centre, Openshaw, visited the museum for our early years animal Explorers session which was led by one of our freelance staff, Karl Harris .
Children from Wetherby children’s centre taking part in an animal explorer session
The session began in the Nature Discovery gallery with the story ‘Polar bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear ?’ ( Bill Martin junior and Eric Carle) and the group were fabulous at making all the animal noises, including the more unusual animals like the peacock and hippo! Then, dressed as animal explorers, complete with hats and binoculars and armed with a bag of ‘clues’, the group looked for the animals in the story on the Living Worlds gallery, Bird gallery and Vivarium. At the end of the session , Adam from the Vivarium brought one of the lizards down to meet the group. One of the children asked if the lizard had a name and as it doesn’t, he invited them to name it. They have suggested Fillip, Tigger or Mango Ba Jango – so watch this space!
Children from Wetherby children’s centre meet a friendly lizard from our Vivarium
Comments from parents who supported the visit, said that the museum was interesting with a wonderful atmosphere. One parent said her daughter is still talking about the visit and making animal sounds. She particularly liked the use of props and being able to touch live animals helped to deal with fears/phobias .
The staff agreed that children thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the timing of the session and variety of activities were appropriate for the age of the children and held their interest.
The impact of the visit has been evident in the play and language the children are using back at the centre. When reading another story the children were able to identify the peacock from Polar bear, Polar Bear and they also remembered the letters and the animals being on holiday.
Most importantly they had lots of fun!
For further information about our early years programme, visit our website.
To make a booking, ring Jill Anderton, our bookings coordinator on 0161 275 2630
Early Years programmes
Posted on: May 2, 2012
We are in the process of updating the early years page on our website and thought it would be useful to highlight our current programmes led by museum staff …
Sessions for Nursery and Reception
For up to 15 children (90 minutes)
£3.50 per child (minimum charge £50)
Animal Explorers – Polar Bear Polar Bear (New)
Polar Bear has a problem, some of his animal and bird friends have gone missing! Can you help him to find them? Come and explore our Living Worlds, bird gallery and vivarium as you embark on this exciting mission to find his missing friends.
At the end of the session there is an opportunity to meet one of our live animals from the vivarium!
You might be interested in looking at our Frog Blog
Dinosaur Explorers
Say hello to Stan the T.rex and become dinosaur hunters whilst following the footprints around the Fossils gallery. What will you uncover on our dinosaur dig?
Unearthed! Big Dig
Join us to explore the Unearthed : Ancient Egypt exhibition to find treasures of the Egyptian world! What exciting things will you discover?
For details of how to book, have a look at our early years page and information for teachers.
We are also able to book self programmed visits and offer resources for teachers.
To make a booking please ring our booking line on 0161 275 2630
We are continuing our popular treasure baskets sessions for babies at 10.30am and 1.30pm on Tuesdays in our Play and Learn gallery on the third floor of Manchester Museum on the following dates:
- 1st May
- 15th May
- 29th May
There’s no need to book, so just drop in and enjoy!
They will be led by Karl Harris and Elaine Bates – we look forward to seeing you there!
Fun for Babies and their adults!
Posted on: February 2, 2012
- In: Early Years | spaces
- 1 Comment
The Treasure Basket sessions have now moved galleries here at The Manchester Museum, they now take place on the 3rd floor in the Play & Learn Family area. This area is ideally located next to the picnic area which is useful as so much exploring can develop healthy appetites! High chairs are available for babies to use in the picnic area for any meals and snacks you may wish to bring along or adults can feel free to nurse younger babies on the sofa areas within the Play & Learn area.
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