Typical Visit

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Arrival and Departure Times

Most schools arrive around 10.00am and have a quick morning tea outdoors, ready to start the sessions by 10.25am. In winter, students collect kindling for the fire during this time. If two or three Stage 1 classes the program concludes at 1.00pm for lunch, with most schools staying to have lunch and a play in the grounds. The Stage 2 programs, and four class Stage 1 day, conclude at 2.00pm, with lunch between sessions. 

A typical visit includes three or four 45 to 55 minute sessions, depending on the stage and student numbers.

Typical Visit for Stage 1 – School Life of the Past

1880s re-created lesson

Seated at long-toms on backless forms, the students re-enact aspects of daily lessons to gain an understanding of aspects of schooling in the past. The session includes chanting tables, writing with slate pencils on slate boards, using an early reader, viewing original 1890s pupils’ work, and writing Copperplate with pen and ink. 

Young students in heritage costume seated at a long tom during a lesson in the 1877 room

Interactive activities

Students engage with artefacts through activities such as finding objects and treasures, printing with rubber stamps and a gelatine hectograph – jelly pad, examining contents of Globite school cases, studying photographs, playing with early puzzles and toys and, in winter, eating toast cooked over the fire.

A young boy in heritage costume placed his worksheet on the jelly pad to obtain a print of a map

Drill and maypole dancing

Students learn simple maypole dancing, dressed in pinafores or sailor collars, if they wish. They undertake precision exercises using wands or dumb-bells and undertake marching in formation to the beat of a drum.

A class learns drill outside using wooden dumb bells

Playground chants and games

Students play schoolyard games such as skipping, ‘fly’, quoits and bowling hoops. If four classes, they also learn some simple chants and play circle games.

Sample visit plans – download a sample excursion plan for Stage 1 School Days of the Past (summer terms) – Stage 1 – 2 classes, Stage 1 – 3 classes, Stage 1 – 4 classes.

Social story – download the Stage 1 social story to share with your students. This is in an inclusive format for students of all abilities.

Children playing 'fly' with sticks

Typical Visit for Stage 1 – School Communication in the Past – 2024 HSIE syllabus

1880s school lessons 

‘Writing is almost as important as speaking’ – students use an ink pen for Copperplate writing and a slate pencil on a slate board to experience the challenges of neat pen and ink writing. Seated at a timber long-tom students view an ornate blackboard, read a lesson on slates, chant tables and closely observe intricate 1890s students’ book work.

Hands-on objects 

Students examine, handle and use a variety of historic objects which demonstrate communication changes and continuities through time. Activities include a treasure hunt, using a gelatine hectograph and rubber stamps, unpacking a Globite suitcase and engaging with the true story of a young correspondence school boy who did his lessons by post. In winter terms, toasting bread on an open fire is an optional extra activity for schools who request it.

Outdoor activities

Students participate in some of these activities, depending on the number of classes and weather.

Maypole  – Invited by an ornate mailed invitation to a combined schools display, students skip around a maypole. They dress in pinafores or sailor collars if they wish.

Drill – Following concise oral commands, students undertake precision exercises using wands or dumb-bells and march in formation.

Chants and rhymes – Interactive clapping rhymes and story consolidate understandings of changes and continuities in communication in daily life.

Co-operative games – Students play co-operative games such as skipping or Turi Turi, Koolchee Koolchee or quoits, fly and hoops to recreate the children’s laughter and chatter in playgrounds and streets past.

A peak into the 1950s and 60s 

Students view the interior of a 1950s classroom with its vintage projectors, filmstrips and slides. Activities may also include writing on a postcard with a ‘modern’ ink pen of the 1960s and manipulating Cuisenaire rods.

Typical Visit for Stage 2 – Continuity and Change

1880s re-created lessons

Seated at original long-toms and forms, the students take part in aspects of 1880s daily lessons to gain an understanding of education in the past. Students chant tables, write with slate pencils on slate boards, read from an early reader and write Copperplate with pen and ink. They examine original 1890s pupils’ work and an early school punishment book to consider changes and continuities in learning and discipline. 

1900s-1970s school resources investigation

Students work as ‘history detectives’ through activities such as finding and interacting with objects and treasures, examining contents of Globite school cases and studying photographs. In role as students from the past, they print from a gelatine hectograph – jelly pad, label a map using pen and ink and do craft such as twisted threads, weaving or knitting. In winter they can toast a piece of bread over the fire. 

1900s drill and maypole dancing

Students learn precision exercises using wands and march in formation to the beat of a drum. They learn simple maypole dancing and can wear lacy or sailors’ collars to help recreate the era. 

1960s lessons and games

Students experience a short session in our recreated 1950s/60s classroom where they sit at 1960s timber chairs and desks to use Cuisenaire rods to complete number sentences. They play ‘fly’ or skipping with a long rope on the grass outside the room.

Sample visit plans – download a sample excursion plan for Stage 2 Continuity and Change – 2 classes, Stage 2 Continuity and Change – 3 classes and Stage 2 Continuity and Change – 4 classes.

Adverse Weather

In rain, extreme heat or poor air quality some outdoor sessions are run in a modified format indoors. Students may do drill indoors and may do craft or an activity with Cuisenaire rods in our recreated 1960s room. If raining, maypole dancing will be omitted. If four groups in wet weather, the program may run as a three session rotation due to space limitations.

Facilities

For school groups there is a block of toilets, an undercover outdoor eating area and grassy grounds for playing. There are no tea and coffee making facilities. Take-away coffee can be purchased nearby in Cox’s Road or BYO thermos.

Medical Matters

Schools must bring their own first aid kit and emergency medications for their students. All museum staff are trained in e-Emergency, anaphylaxis and emergency asthma procedures. An Epi-Pen, first aid kit and Ventolin reliever is located on site.

Toast

White bread and golden syrup are used for toasting. Download images of the ingredient panels and packages.

Schools should supply alternative bread for students with special dietary requirements. Students with coeliac disease will be able to toast their own gluten free bread first using clean equipment.

Resources

Pre and post visit learning, information sheets, souvenirs, photo galleries and other links are on our Resources page.