National Museums Liverpool launches ‘virtual classrooms’ for schools

National Museums Liverpool’s (NML) brand new virtual classroom workshops are now available to book online for the first time ever!

Created for schools for the new academic year, NML’s interactive curriculum-linked workshops – led by museum experts – bring learning to life and inspire the imaginations of your pupils by engaging them in activities based on real artefacts.

Mummification, Greek gods and transatlantic slavery are some of the subject’s school children can learn about in the comfort of their classrooms, thanks to virtual workshops developed by NML.

As COVID-19 has changed the way in which people work and learn, NML has been forced to adapt its way of working and how they engage with schools and groups. With social distancing measures in place across all museums and galleries, NML is not able to accept school bookings. These virtual sessions allow NML to interact with schools and be more accessible to schools across the country during the pandemic.

Using feedback from teachers, NML has designed six live workshops for key stages 1-3, each of which are supported by resources and activities that can be used before and after the session, including art and crafts templates and fact sheets about key museum artefacts.

The workshops have been designed to develop skills to work as a team, boost imagination and promote positive wellbeing, for example quizzes, role play, crafting, drawing, discussions and decoding puzzles.

Claire Benjamin, head of learning and participation, said: “These sessions are a fantastic way to get schools engaging in cultural activity and interactive sessions during these uncertain times. Here at NML, we are committed to creating new and exciting ways for young people to get involved with culture and heritage.

“We wanted these sessions to be as engaging as possible, and for our demonstrators to be able to interact live with the school children and teachers. The challenge was trying to recreate the experience they would have had if they came in person into our museums and galleries, where groups could get up close to world-class objects and ask questions of our experts. We have risen to the challenge and schools can once more take part in Q&A sessions, watch videos and engage in activities and storytelling.

Claire added: “We are hoping the new virtual classroom can help us reach new audiences across the Liverpool City Region and the UK and make National Museums Liverpool the ‘go to museum and gallery’ for schools and groups.”

Virtual Classroom workshops include:

• Understanding transatlantic slavery

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/understanding-transatlantic-slavery

• Ancient Egypt: marvellous mummification

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ancient-egypt-marvellous-mummification

• The amazing history of Liverpool

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/amazing-history-of-liverpool

• Titanic: travelling in time

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/titanic-travelling-time

• Impressionism – what’s that?

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/impressionism-whats

• Ancient Greece: gods and heroes

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ancient-greece-gods-and-heroes

Each virtual classroom will be delivered securely by Microsoft Teams. All that is needed is a laptop or computer with a built-in camera and microphone, a large display screen or projector, and access to a reliable internet connection.

For more information, including how to book and NML’s safeguarding policy for the virtual classroom, visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/learn/virtual-classrooms or call 0151 478 4444.