Key Stage 2

Workhouse volunteers

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Activities for KS2 (Ages 7 – 11)

Our award-winning learning experience stimulates KS2 learners to ask questions, make connections and contrasts, and develop historical narratives.

We have three museums on site: the Workhouse Museum, Prison & Police Museum and the Courthouse Museum. Themes of poverty, crime and law and order connect the museums and help to tell the story of the citizens of Ripon in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The museums are an ideal site for exploring local history if your school is within Yorkshire. The sites themselves are significant to the history of Ripon and can give young learners insight into people’s lives in the 1800s. What did people eat? How did they keep clean? How did children experience the workhouse? We can offer a range of activities including museum tours, roleplays and object handling. Experience a Victorian classroom in the Workhouse schoolroom and learn to do laundry by hand. Take part in a historic trial at the Courthouse and decide the defendant’s fate! Our offer is interactive and varied, and we can tailor a programme of appropriate activities to suit your school.

A visit to Ripon Museums can also be an excellent chance to add atmosphere and context to fiction books set in the Victorian era or as inspiration for creative writing. We can offer activities and roleplays, or self-led exploration and group work.

 

“The most organised, efficient and successful school trip I have been on in my career.”

Wavell Junior School

Judge in the courtroom
Role play in the courtroom

“We thought the whole experience was amazing.” 

Rossett Acre Primary 

 

An outline of our KS2 activities is available below: 

As part of this activity day, your group will have the chance to visit two of our museums: the Courthouse and Prison & Police Museums. 

At the Courthouse Museum: 

  • Children take part in a trial at the Courthouse 
  • Lower KS2 trial is about a stolen loaf of bread 
  • Upper KS2 trial is about a stolen horse and cart 
  • Lunch at the Workhouse 

At the Prison & Police Museum: 

  • Sinkler Brothers role-play 
  • Learn about early policing, poaching and transportation 
  • Doin’ Time tour of the cells 

Lower KS2 – Workhouse Child Day 

  • A stern introduction from Matron 
  • Boys – A visit to the schoolroom, followed by planting seeds and bird scaring in the Workhouse Garden 
  • Girls – Rag-rugging followed by a visit to the schoolroom 
  • Lunch – indoor space provided 
  • Work carousel – experience chores, baking and laundry in the workhouse 

Upper KS2 – Workhouse Experience 

  • A stern introduction from Matron 
  • Guardians’ role-play 
  • Victorian laundry sessions 
  • Lunch – indoor space provided 
  • Boys – A visit to the schoolroom, followed by planting seeds and bird scaring in the Workhouse Garden 
  • Girls – Rag-rugging followed by a visit to the schoolroom 

During this activity day, your group will visit all three of our museums. 

At the Courthouse Museum 

  • Children take part in a mock trial 

At the Prison & Police Museum: 

  • Sinkler Brothers role-play 
  • Doin’ Time Punishment Tour of the cells 

At the Workhouse Museum 

  • Lunch – indoor space provided 
  • A stern introduction from Matron 
  • Guardians’ role-play followed by Victorian laundry 
Schoolchildren in the Victorian kitchen

Key Stage 1 & SEN

Judge in the courthouse

Key Stage 4 GCSE

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