School Workshops
We offer a wide range of living history and visual art workshops.
If you are bringing your class on a self-led visit to Portland Basin Museum, why not download and print copies of this Portland Basin trail worksheet 706.62 KB 
to make your day more enjoyable.
View session costings.
To find out more or book a workshop, please contact Portland Basin Museum on 0161 343 2878.
Workshop List
Upstairs Downstairs (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art, History, Geography, English
This engaging full day session will take place at Portland Basin Museum. Our morning session will focus on the life of a privileged Victorian child and will be facilitated by our very own Victorian schoolmistress, introducing Victorian education and home life. Students will also have the opportunity to play with Victorian toys and take part in a Victorian art activity.
After lunch the children will meet a new character, Lizzie, who has travelled from the past to explain what life was like for children in Victorian times in the workplace. Children will have the opportunity, through role play, to experience what life was like for a working child by taking part in a variety of Victorian work related hands on activities, linking to employment in the coal mine, the mills, a stately home and life on the farm.
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Victorian Schoolroom
The children are prepared for Victorian school by going through school rules and an exercise drill. The group will divide in two and take turns to learn some hard lessons in the schoolroom. The session also includes a look at some original Victorian schoolbooks and artefacts from daily life.
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Home & Hearth
Pupils meet a character from Victorian times, and have the opportunity to look around the kitchen and the parlour in an old house in two groups. They will do some object handling and rag-rugging. When not with the Victorian character, they will look around the old street in small groups. A talking points resource sheet will be provided for teachers to use during the session.
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Victorian Toys
Curriculum links :History, Geography
This workshop looks at toys through the ages. Using the National Curriculum toys’ subject language, pupils create their own toy timeline before having the opportunity to play with a variety of old toys in the school yard. The session finishes with the pupils playing Victorian parlour games.
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World War One
This session is led by our costumed living-history expert ‘Tommy Atkins’. The session offers students an opportunity to handle original period artefacts as well to try on the uniform and equipment of a First World War soldier. This dynamic and engaging session includes an introduction to the causes of the First World War, activities that bring the period back to life and a short audio/visual presentation highlighting one boy’s story of service and sacrifice to King and Country. The session is complimented by the Museums First World War Trench Experience, including rats and authentic sounds and smells of trench life and warfare.
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World War Two (KS 1 - 4)
This is a half day session focusing on the Second World War. Participants will become evacuees under the guidance of Mrs Hodson, our very own WVS lady who will prepare children for wartime life through a variety of engaging, hands on activities.
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Tameside Transport
A history workshop where participants will learn about how changes to industry and transport changed Tameside’s landscape. How our unique landscape and geography assisted with the developments.
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Seasonal Victorian Christmas (History based)
Curriculum links: Art, History
A history workshop where participants will learn about a Victorian Christmas. The participants will discuss and explore the images and text relating to Victorian Christmas - how the traditions started by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria are continued today.
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Art from Tameside (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art, History, Geography
This session can be booked for a half or full day. During this workshop participants will be introduced to local artists, and their work. These artists all have a strong relationship with Tameside and a passion for the local surroundings. Artist list includes: Simeon Stafford, Martin Palmer, Harry Rutherford and LS Lowry. Through discussion and art based activities students will consider the work they have seen and then participate in a variety of activities.
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Trades from Tameside (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art, History, Geography
This session can be booked for a half or full day. Participants will make direct links with the historical industry of Tameside in a creative, educational and fun way. We will consider Tameside's Industrial roots, focusing on hat making and textiles. Students will spend time doing different art based activities, learning new and expressive techniques. Activities will include: weaving and felt making.
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Portraits (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art
An art workshop where participants will learn and focus on portraits. Each will consider What is a Portrait? Do you only ever see Portraits of People on their own? or Animals? Group Portraits?
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Landscapes
An art workshop where participants will learn and focus on local and landscape art, based on the Tameside art collection, as well as looking at art from other areas.
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The Astley Cheethams and Art (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art, History
Tameside Museums and Galleries Service is very proud of its collection. Astley Cheetham Art Gallery originally opened as a lecture theatre and then was turned into a gallery to house the Astley Cheetham Art Collection. During this workshop students will have the opportunity to view artwork from the collection and then make direct links between these masterpieces and the artwork each student produces during the session.
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Pattern
Pupils will explore the way pattern is used and what it can tell us. The children will look at patterns from around the world and look at artists who use pattern in their work. The group will generate their own designs using different media and experiment with the decoration.
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Talking Textiles
Pupils will take part in fun activities exploring the history of costume and look at what clothing can tell us. The group will design and make 2D paper clothes and explore techniques such as pleating, stitching and padding. There will be an opportunity to print patterns on to the clothes using different methods.
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Local Artist Harry Rutherford (KS1 - 4)
Curriculum links: Art, History, Geography
Harry Rutherford was a local lad born and bred in Tameside. Harry would be spotted as a child busily drawing and perfecting his craft. With a long and varied career his work moves between many different styles and techniques.
With real examples for inspiration students will participate in activities that include pocket drawings, producing a charcoal and chalk study and finally creating their own masterpiece.
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Victorian Toys (Art based)
Curriculum links: Art, History, Geography
An art workshop where participants will look at some of the differences between Victorian toys and the toys of today and also how different the life of a Victorian child is from today.
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Outreach Sessions
Finding it difficult to get here? Did you know we can come to you? Please contact the Learning and Access Manager if you have any queries or would like to book.
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Costings
Workshop Sessions
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Half Day (1 ½ hours) |
Full Day (2 x 1 ½ hours) |
| Tameside Schools |
£70 |
£140 |
| Outside Borough |
£80 |
£160 |
Special 20% discount if you block book more than 10 sessions.
Outreach Sessions
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Half Day (3 hours) |
Full Day (6 hours) |
| All Schools |
£155 |
£310 |
Museum in a Box
For details of our Loan boxes click here All Schools - £35 per week
To find out more or book a workshop, please contact Portland Basin Museum on 0161 343 2878.
| Contact Information |
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Portland Basin Museum
Portland Place
Ashton-under-Lyne
OL7 0QA
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