Loan Boxes and Outreach

Our loan boxes offer an exciting range of resources and ideas to enrich classroom learning. All our boxes can be used as a stand-alone resource or to complement a visit to our museum.

Our Rocks and Soils, Classification and Nature Connection loan boxes are also available as an outreach session led by our staff.

Boxes available are on the following themes:

Boxes 1,2 &3: Nature Connection for KS1, KS2 or KS2/3 (available as loan box or outreach)

Our Nature Connection boxes focus on the 5 Pathways to Nature Connectedness: Senses, Beauty, Emotion, Compassion and Meaning. Research has shown that engaging children with nature through these pathways increases emotional wellbeing and inspires pro-nature behaviour.

Each box is designed to provide ideas for incorporating nature into your classroom and outdoor learning with the aim of improving the nature connectedness of your school community and to encourage the use of nature as a resource in all parts of the curriculum.

The items and activities in the box will give your class direct sensory experience of the natural world. A range of natural forms such as skulls, skins, shells and fossils, along with woodland and seashore ‘feely bags’ are included. All items come with suggested activities and curriculum links as well as photocopiable activity sheets.

Box 4: Rocks and Soils-KS 2 (available as loan box or outreach)

Our Rocks and Soils loan box contains samples of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock along with fossils and locally made clay items. The teachers pack includes notes on all the objects plus curriculum linked activities for the classroom to test the properties of rocks and soils through a series of experiments. Equipment to carry out these investigations is included in the box.

Activities are designed to connect children with the natural world through the 5 Pathways to Nature Connectedness- Senses, Beauty, Emotion, Compassion and Meaning. Research has shown that engaging children with nature through these pathways increases emotional wellbeing and inspires pro-nature behaviour.

Box 5: Antarctica- KS 1 & 2

Our Antarctica loan box contains a range of replica and genuine artefacts linked to the ‘Golden Age’ of Polar exploration in the early part of the 20th Century when Shackleton and Scott’s expeditions took place. Teacher notes on each object are provided along with suggested questions and answers for classroom discussion and curriculum linked activities.

Box 6: Africa- KS 1 & 2

Our Africa loan box contains a range of natural history objects, handmade craft items and musical instruments linked to Southern Africa and the story of Frank Oates- a Victorian gentleman naturalist and explorer whose story is told in an exhibition at our museum. Teacher notes on each object are provided along with suggested questions and answers for classroom discussion and curriculum linked activities. An information sheet about Frank Oates and his travels is included in the pack and issues around colonialism and fair trade are addressed in the activities.

Box 7: Classification- KS 1 & 2 (available as loan box or outreach)

Our classification loan box contains a range of natural history items including skulls and skins to give children a first-hand understanding of the classification of living things. The teachers pack includes notes on all the objects plus curriculum linked activities for the classroom.

Prices and Booking information:

· 2 hour guided outreach session- £150 + travel @ 45p per mile from the Museum.

· Loan box- £30 for half a term.

Boxes can be collected and returned to Museum Reception Tuesdays-Sundays 10.30am-4.30pm, we do not offer delivery.

If your box is booked in conjunction with your school’s visit to our Museum, the collection and/or return of your box can be arranged to be on your pre-visit or school visit day.

To book a loan box or outreach session please email: fsc@gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk