The Tank Museum - Bovington - School Visits, Education

The Tank Museum is an established centre for learning supporting National Curriculum, Further and Higher Education programmes of study.

Workshops and special events take a cross-curricular and open approach to include the visual arts, English and drama, science, design and technology as well as the traditionally strong history areas of study.It is the Museum’s role to safeguard the social, technical and scientific heritage of the tank, one of Britain's most important inventions.	The Home Front Experience: bringing air-raid drills to life.
Preservation, conservation and education is at the heart of everything we do.

The Tank Museum is extending its popular education service through a new outreach programme to Dorset schools. Museum education workshops will be available for the first time in your classroom. Children will be able to interact with the museum’s collection and staff. They will learn about the tank story through object handling sessions, presentations and active demonstrations.

Evacuees take cover in the Museum's Anderson Shelter

The offer incorporates a new Video Conferencing service, Citizenship workshop and special events including a Remembrance Week and a Wartime Christmas.
The outreach programme will be in operation Monday – Friday from the 3rd September 2007 until further notice. The workshops will be delivered by one or two dedicated education staff, all experienced in delivering the museum’s enjoyable and engaging school’s programme.
To discuss student numbers and the duration of an outreach visit, please contact the Education Officer.

The Home Front Experience
World War Two: The Age of Armour
World War One: The Dawn of the Tank Age

Armour, Manouevre, Firepower
Loans
Citizenship and The Royal Armoured Corps

Programme Listing

The Home Front Experience
Key Stage 1-2

A presentation looking at life for men, women and children on the Home Front between 1939-45.
An object handling session examining both original and replica Home Front artefacts.
Spy Mission! Code breaking and the role of the Home Guard.
Wartime Christmas 19th November – 21st December 2007.
Make 1940’s decorations and discover how wartime shortages aaffected the
celebration of Christmas.

Armour, Manouevre, Firepower
Key Stage 2-3

A presentation on the history and use of the famous Sherman tank.
Tank building group activity. Groups construct different sections of a tank: tracks, wheels, main body, turret, gun.
Tank testing. How does the finished tank perform ?

World War Two: The Age of Armour
Key Stage 3-4

‘Blitzkrieg’- A presentation on the use of tanks in World War Two.
A closer look at the ingenious Duplex Drive Sherman, the 'swimming' tank, with a demonstration of how this 33 tonne machine was able to float and play a crucial role in the D-Day Landings.
An object handling session, examining both original and replica artefacts.

Loans
Early Years, Key Stage 1-2

The Tank Museum offers four loans boxes;

Two Second World War Home Front boxes. (Key Stage Two). To book,
contact the School Library Service, the Library and Arts Service, Blandford: T:
01258 451151/451499.
One Second World War Home Front box in partnership with the Nothe Fort.
(Key Stage Two). To book, contact The Tank Museum, T: 01929 462457.
One storysack on the theme of homes through time in partnership with The
Redhouse Museum, Dorset County Museum, The Priest House Museum and
Portland Museum. (Early Years/Key Stage One). To book, contact The Tank
Museum, T: 01929 462457.

[image]
Pupils try on World War two kit

World War One: The Dawn of the Tank Age
Key Stage 3-4

An interactive presentation examining the invention of the tank and its first use at The Battle of The Somme in 1916, with the use of original and replica handling items.
English & Drama workshop: 'A Soldier’s Life: What does the Art and Poetry of World War One reveal about life on the Western Front?'

Citizenship and the Royal Armoured Corps
Key Stage 1-4

Film viewing of veterans representing different generations throughout the
Remembrance Week and a Wartime Christmas.
Discussion and debate about what it means to fight for your country.
A handling session looking at and trying on tank crew kit to empathise with conditions.
Sacrifice and bravery. Why are medals awarded?
A week of activities to mark Remembrance week, 5th - 10th November 2007.

		= Available as a Video Conferencing session

“The pupils were able to look at and handle the equipment and dress up in the uniforms. Hands on learning is a great learning tool for our pupils, and the presentation was accessible to all the different interests and abilities of our students here. We shall certainly be inviting them again next year”
*Jenny Knotwell, Yewstock School, Dorset*

Contact us...

The Education Officer
The Tank Museum
Bovington, Dorset
BH20 6JG

T: 01929 462457
F: 01929 405360
E: education@tankmuseum.org

[image] Contact the Education officer for more details and to book

The Tank Museum Redevelopment Project

Our multi-million pound redevelopment project At Close Quarters is set to revolutionise the home of the world’s finest collection of tanks, transforming a
successful visitor attraction into a leading edge museum experience.

[image] Artist impression of the new At Close Quarters development

We are creating more space to display and interpret our artefacts, and will be utilising the latest technology to create cutting edge exhibitions to enhance the visitor experience.

We will also be improving our education facilities:

A new multi-purpose Learning Centre
An improved 1940’s house
Improved gathering spaces on gallery for object handling sessions
A new Video Conferencing service

Construction on our new display hall has already begun. The Tank Museum will be closed to the public from November 2007 until February 2008 whilst work to improve our displays and facilities is carried out.