A student in The MERL toys gallery

Toys in the Past

Onsite: £100 (1.5 hour session)

It was perfect. Thank you very much for having us and planning an amazing morning.

English Martyrs Catholic Primary School

Notes for teachers

  • Suitable for Key Stage 1
  • Adaptable for EYFS and SEN groups
  • Use museum artefacts and collections to explore toys in the past and their materials as a route into understanding the world
  • Participatory workshop that adopts multisensory approaches to support cross-curricular subjects

Science

  • Everyday materials

History

  • Explore changes within living memory

Literacy

  • Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge
  • Articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions
  • Listen and respond appropriately
  • Participate in discussions, role play and improvisations

Art and Design

  • Use ink pads to design your own toy tractor

Design and Technology

  • Think about how toys are constructed and made

Overview

  • Introduce students to some of the different types of toys children would have played with in the past and how they compare to our toys today
  • Offer students hands-on learning opportunities and a multi-sensory experience including roleplay, improvisation, craft, and exploration

What was it like to be a child in the countryside?

Book your visit

For enquiries, please contact us on merlevents@reading.ac.uk or call us on 0118 378 8660. To book, please use the form below, or feel free to email or call.