Learning Case Study
World War Two workshops at Northern Ireland War Memorial for parent and
child
- Working in partnership with the Belfast Education and Library Board
Parent Support Programme to offer parent and child workshops at our
museum
Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) worked in partnership with the
Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) Parent Support Programme in 2013
to offer parent and child workshops to P4 classes.
The workshops were designed to explore life on the Home Front in Northern
Ireland during World War II and offer a fun and enjoyable learning experience
for both parent and child.
Visits to NIWM were offered to a selection of primary schools in Belfast who
were part of the BELB Achieving Belfast Programme; launched in 2008 with the
aim of improving numeracy and literacy in schools by encouraging parents to
become more involved in their child’s education.
Nine schools participated and the visits took place between February and April
2013.
Parents were invited to attend the museum along with their child’s class. An
aim of the initiative was not only to encourage parents to revisit NIWM, but to
allow them to appreciate the benefit a museum visit can have to their child’s
education.
What happened on the day?
The workshop was designed to allow both parent and child to investigate the
Home Front in Northern Ireland through a variety of hands-on learning
activities. Each group was welcomed into gallery where the Education Officer
presented an audio-visual picture show about Belfast before and after the blitz
of 1941. Children and adults contributed questions and answers as the group
investigated photographs, newspapers, oral accounts and real objects from the
handling collection; a German incendiary bomb, ration books, wartime toys
and a baby’s gas mask. The children were then allowed to explore the gallery
at their own pace. With help from their parents they searched for the answers
to a simple quiz which helped them to navigate to the main areas of the
exhibition. The group then visited the Home Front Kitchen exhibit to find out
about rationing in WWII. The children then tried on some WWII civilian and
military uniforms and hard hats, posing for group photographs with their
parents.
After all that excitement the groups had a well-deserved break in our
education room where they enjoyed tea, orange juice and some wartime
music. But the relaxation did not last long as both parent and child then had a
chance to play some wartime board games, and to work together practicing
some to Make Do and Mend techniques as they learnt how to use old woollen
scraps to make a 1940’s rug.
Outcomes for those participating
All of the NIWM team involved in the delivery of the programme felt
immediately that the workshops had been a success. Both children and
parents left in high spirits and it was obvious that they had enjoyed working
and learning together on their visit. Feedback forms were given to children,
parents and teachers so that the success of the workshop series could be
reviewed.
Lessons learnt: Success and Action points for the future.
Images
Most children boosted that they had fun, they had learnt something new, and
that they would like to return to the museum. When asked what part of the
trip had been their favourite, their answers were colourful and encouraging,
and often accompanied by a drawing. One child claimed “It wasn’t boring at
all!”
The feedback from teachers was encouraging. When asked what they saw as
the benefits of participating in the project, most teachers noted the
encouragement it gave to parents to interact with their child in an active
learning experience. They thought the project made the topic fun and
interactive as the children completed hands-on activities. One teacher from a
class which had previously visited NIWM only weeks before the visit with
parents reported a rise of self-esteem in her class as the children “were so
proud to have their parents experience and participate in such a rich learning
experience that they felt they owned due to a previous visit.” A number of
teachers commented that workshop supported the curriculum- “bringing to
life and making real what the children were learning in school” and that the
workshop was also a great resource for teachers. One school later asked to
borrow artefacts and costumes for a wartime play!
The feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive. Parents learnt lots of
new facts, appreciated the chance to spend time with their children. Many
expressed an interest in returning to the museum with the rest of their family.
One parent said she has enjoyed interacting with her child and seeing how
much the class enjoyed it. One grandparent commented that she had found a
new hobby in the wartime craft activity, and that she was happy to have a
keepsake; a little square of rug she made with her grandson.
Curricular links
The workshop was relevant to various NI Curriculum areas of learning; The
World around us, Language and Literacy, Personal Development and Mutual
Understanding.
The Skills and capabilities used included thinking, problem solving, and
decision making, working with others and managing information.
Plans for the future
Since the 2013 project NIWM has welcomed and encouraged parents to come
along with their children on normal school visits to the museum, when
possible.
It is anticipated that this project may be repeated in 2015, perhaps with
grandparents!