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. If two or three Stage 1 classes the program usually 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 communication in the past – 2024 HSIE syllabus

1880s school lessons 

‘Writing is almost as important as speaking.’

Students practise their Copperplate writing on slate boards and with pen and ink. Students write neatly with a slate pencil on a slate board and use a metal-nib ink pen to copy their letters. They experience the challenges of wet ink, a scratchy nib and ink that fast runs out. Seated at a timber long-tom desk, students view an ornate blackboard, read about slate use in an early reader, chant tables and closely observe intricate 1890s students’ book work.

Young students bent over a long timber desk. They are writing with timber ink pens.

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, printing with a gelatine hectograph and rubber stamps, unpacking a Globite suitcase, engaging with the true story of a young 1930s correspondence school boy and role playing delivering his letters by mail truck, steam train, mail car and horse back. Students also examine or interact with crank handle, candlestick and rotary dial telephones, an early typewriter, hand duplicator and stereoscope viewer. 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 two-word 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, screens, filmstrips and slides. Activities include viewing filmstrips, using a 1960s viewmaster and writing on a postcard with a ‘modern’ ink pen of the 1960s.

Vintage projectors on a table - episcope, 16mm film projector, slide and filmstrip projector

Sample visit plans – download a sample excursion plan for Stage 1 School Communication in the Past – Stage 1 communication – 2 or 3 classes, Stage 1 communication – 4 classes.

Social story – download the School Communication in the Past social story to share with your students.

Large envelope with the text 'On His Majesty's Service' with a handwritten address to a homestead in rural NSW.

Typical visit for Stage 1 – School life of the past – 2012 History syllabus

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. 

Children sitting at long desks on backless forms looking at a teacher pointing a stick at a decorated blackboard. The room has old timber furniture and an alight fire in a fireplace.

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.

Child lifting a page from the top of a bed of jelly in a glass tray

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.

Playground chants and games

Students play schoolyard games such as skipping or Turi Turi, 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 or 3 classes, Stage 1 – 4 classes.

Social story – download the Stage 1 social story to share with your students.

School children on grass throwing rope rings onto pointed stands

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 and assembling wooden toys. In winter they can toast a piece of bread over the fire. 

Two students holding wooden wheels and a rod with metal screws

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.

Two students laying out small colourful blocks onto the desk

Sample visit plans – download a sample excursion plan for 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.