Information for Schools

Booking a Group Visit

The main feature of the museum is 'The Story of Portsmouth', shown in four galleries. The first gallery provides the visitor with an introduction to the history of Portsmouth, including an audio-visual show.

On the first floor the galleries are thematic. The 'Portsmouth Picture Gallery' displays the current exhibition of Portsmouth pictures, paintings and postcards showing scenes of bygone Portsmouth. The 'Living in Portsmouth' gallery tells the story of life in the home from the 16th century to the 1950s. This includes a 17th century bedchamber, an 1871 dockyard worker's kitchen, a splendid Victorian parlour, a 1930's kitchen and a 1950's living room. Most of the rooms incorporate sound effects and/or figures. The 'Portsmouth at Play' gallery covers the development of Southsea as a seaside resort, theatres, cinemas, public houses, coffee bars (including 'Verrechias') and sport. Many of these themes are also shown on archive film.

In addition to these galleries there is a 'Fine and Decorative Art Gallery' with displays on furniture, decorative art, ceramics, glass and textiles and a 'Temporary Exhibition Gallery' with regularly changing displays.

Records Office

The Records Office Searchroom, situated on the first floor, contains official records of the City of Portsmouth and large collections of deposited records of local businesses, families and organisations. There are collections of photographs, maps and postcards. Postcards are accessible via an interactive computer screen. Extensive collections of Anglican, Non-conformist and Roman Catholic church records can also be explored.

National Curriculum and Resources

The City Museum is suitable for a wide range of National Curriculum work.

History
KS 2 SU 3a - Victorian Britain
KS 2 SU 3b - Britain since 1930
KS 2 SU 5 - Local History
KS 3 SU 3 - Britain 1750-1900
KS 3 SU 4 - The 20th-century World

Geography
KS 1 & KS 2 - Places (SU4)
KS 2 - Settlements (SUa)

Art
KS1 & KS2 - Introduction to works by local artists past and present.

As part of the National Curriculum Study Unit: "Victorian Britain" we can offer your group a special handling and role play session on "The Victorians" when you book your visit to the City Museum and Records Office. These handling sessions are chargeable and available at the start of each term for two weeks only and will last approximately one hour on top of your normal visit time in the museum.

We can also offer your group "What is Evidence?" teaching sessions that can be adapted to the three curriculum areas: "Victorian Britain", "Britain Since 1930" or "Local Studies". Using archives from the Records Office including photographs, maps, log books, newspaper's etc, children are given the opportunity to learn about the past by handling primary source material from which they are asked to deduce a number of facts.

The visit includes a behind the scene tour that answers such questions as "What are Archives?" "Which ones do we keep?" "How do we preserve them?" and "Who uses them and why?" Worksheets are available for follow-up work complete with relevant maps and photographs, etc. Groups of 15 can be accommodated each session but it may be possible to take groups of 30 if two members of the Education staff are available on the date you require. It is essential that you give at least a term's notice in advance for groups over 15 in number. These handling sessions are chargeable and available upon request to the Education Officer and will last approximately 1½ - 2 hours.

Further details on "Handling and role play sessions" are available from the Visitor Services Officer and additional educational advice is available from the Education Officer on Portsmouth +44 (0)23 9282 7261.

A Broad and Balanced Approach to the Curriculum

English
Word - Sentence - Text Texts about the exhibits, using a variety of genres: information, explanations, lists, recipes, fiction and playscripts. The History of Portsmouth.

Art
Appreciation of the work of Artists and Craftspeople 2-D and 3-D. Developing the use of appropriate vocabulary. Landscape - Portrait. Various media and 'canvas'. Foreground - midground - background. Content - form - process - mood. Fine Art - materials, techniques.

Mathematics
Collecting Data. Working in different number patterns

I C T
Word processing. Using tape recorders. Early electrical goods.

Geography
Maps of the development of Portsmouth. Physical geography - the formation of chalk and Portsdown Hill.

History
The History of Portsmouth. Chronology - a line through time from "early man" to the present day. The History of Portsmouth considering: Before the Romans. AD43 to 1485. 1500 - 1800 the growth of the Naval port. Contrasts in Victorian times. Naval town or seaside resort. Changes in the 20th Century. "Home" through the ages - furniture, food, washing etc. Differences and similarities to modern day living. Amusements and pastimes.

Science and Technology Materials.
Forces - Levers and the use of pulleys to lift weights (cooking pots). Cooking through the ages - appliances and utensils. Recipes from different times.

Length of Stay and Group Sizes

The typical visit time by a group is 1 - 1½ hours. The recommended maximum number arriving at any one time should not exceed 60 pupils. A teacher/pupil ratio of at least 1:15 is essential. (When school groups are in the museum, the behaviour of the children or students is the responsibility of the teacher in charge). When visiting 'Story of Portsmouth', 'Portsmouth at Play' or temporary exhibitions, it is advisable to split into smaller groups of 15/20 within the galleries to avoid overcrowding.

Payment

Free admission, groups must book in advance book on-line now.

Booking a Group Visit

For all enquiries, Victorian Laundry Maid sessions and group visits please telephone Visitor Services direct line +44 (0)23 9229 6905. (An answering machine is available to leave a message at any time of day when staff are not in the office). Or you can book a visit now on-line.

Contact Us

For further information please contact us or

Tel: +44 (0)23 9282 7261 Fax:+44 (0)23 9287 5276