Please note: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will close on 29 August as preparations for the redevelopment begin. Find out more

Skip to main content
Two children dressed in green and white school uniform drawing a taxidermy grey squirrel in a clear box.
Two children dressed in green and white school uniform drawing a taxidermy grey squirrel in a clear box.

Schools & Education

Discover science, art and local heritage in your school with the Museum collections and bring learning to life with hands-on workshops, assemblies and loan boxes.

Museum on the move

During the Museum redevelopment project, our team is coming to you!

All the workshops detailed below are available to book as normal. Our team are bringing the Museum on the road and will deliver your chosen workshop or assembly in your school. You get all the perks of a museum collection, without the travel!

Please note, during the redevelopment, priority will be given to schools within the Sunderland City Council area

Regional schools are still welcome to book our Museum-in-a-box loan service and use our online resources.

 

About the Museum Redevelopment

Workshops

Each of our workshops are available for up to 35 people, with discounted rates for less than 15 people.

 

History Workshops

A white room with tall, white, lit display cases showing different artefacts behind glass. In the middle of the room is a white plinth with a round tabletop and a glass case that shows a model of a large white building. Behind that display is an orange block that has large silver letters fastened to it. The letters spell out ‘Secrets of the Past’.

Anglo-Saxon Bede Bags

KS1, KS2 | 60 minutes | £51.80

In this workshop, the class will be introduced to Bede, the renowned Anglo-Saxon historian and find out about life in St Peter’s Monastery through investigating our special ‘Bede Bags’. The bags explore the themes of life, books and writing, buildings and archaeology. 

A museum exhibit on the history of mining in North East England. A colourful textile banner featuring a portrait of an old man with a pipe sits behind a picket fence that has red jackets hanging from it. Gold text on the banner reads ‘National Union of Mineworkers, Durham Area’.

Coal, Glass and Ships

KS1, KS2 | 90 minutes | £75

Investigate Sunderland’s industrial heritage from 19th to the early 20th Century in this interactive workshop, exploring photographs, artifacts and archive material. This workshop can be adapted to focus on certain local areas or a particular industry. 

A child with dark hair wearing a blue jumper sitting at a table and writing on a piece of paper.

Victoria Hall Disaster: Historical Enquiry Skills

KS2 | 90 minutes | £75 

Investigate different historical evidence sources from the time of the Victoria Hall Disaster and compare their richness, reliability and relevance. Piece together the story of this important and often misunderstood disaster. 

A child dressed in a yellow jumper and blue skirt plays with a series of moveable cubes. Above the display 'Create a Bird' is written.

Toys: Past and Present

EYFS, KS1 | £51.80

Delve into our toy treasure chest in this hands-on workshop investigating the similarities and differences between old and new toys and take a toy trail through the museum. 

A large metal bridge stretches across a large body of water. To the left the image the sun is setting in the distance.

River Wear Story – a local study

KS2 | £75 

Explore how the River Wear has impacted on people’s lives over the past 300 years from the ship building and coal mining industries to nature, sport and leisure. Handle artifacts and examine archive evidence to uncover key facts. 

Two individuals play with a dog on the sand. Behind them is an expanse of water with a brick structure and lighthouse.

Beside the Seaside: Seaside holidays in the past

KS1, KS2 | 90 minutes, £75 | 60 minutes, £51.80

Learn how seaside holidays began. Find out what holidaymakers in Seaburn and Roker did, what they wore and what they ate. Examine objects and photographs from the handling collection and write your own postcard. 

A colourful exhibit in a museum. Orange pillars stand behind glass domes with items in display. Large blue columns stand behind the pillars and display retro posters and images.

Homes from the Past

KS1 | 60 minutes | £51.80

Examine objects to find out what life was like in the twentieth century, what has changed and what has stayed the same. 

A green table with a selection of objects, including trumpets, sheet music, Durham Miners Gala poster and a dark navy cap.

Museum in a Box

Loan boxes for 4 weeks | £51.80 per box

Museum in a Box is Sunderland Museum’s loans box service which provides a variety of real and replica objects to support learning in classroom or community settings. Choose from Taxidermy, Decades, World Wars, Industry, Natural History, Victorians or general History. 

Science Workshops

A adult and child look at a selection of bones in a display case.

Bones & Skeletons

KS2 | 60 minutes | 60 minutes | £51.80 (£25.90)

Meet Professor Bonio, our replica human skeleton and learn why our bones are so important. Investigate the differences and similarities in animal skeletons through examining real animal bones. 

A large, towering silver sculpture with water flowing down it. It is surrounded by a winding metal staircase and green foliage.

Wonderful Water

KS1, KS2 | £51.80 (£25.90)

Follow a droplet of water as it travels through the water cycle. Using the wonderful water backpacks, explore how water is used by plants, animals and people.

A adult and child look at a taxidermy hare and skylark in clear boxes.

Animal Quest: Hares, Hedgehogs, Herring Gulls and Spiders

EYFS, KS1 | 45 minutes | £51.80 (£25.90)

Find out about our local wildlife – discover the habitats they live in and some of the adaptations they have to live in their environment. This session includes a 45-minute introduction from the museum team and a teacher-led session exploring our amazing animal bags.