Learning & Schools
We offer learning opportunities for everyone – from School Groups to families and individuals. Our programme includes fun, educational and inspiring activities for people of all ages and abilities. Browse this page to find out about the different ways you can learn with us!
School Workshops
Our Craven Museum Education Workshops offer unique opportunities to explore our museum collection through object handling and immersive activities.
Our museum experts will use real and replica objects that will bring history to life. Join us in our brand new education facilities to explore and investigate what life was like in the past. Or book an outreach workshop so we can bring the objects to you!
Craven schools get their first booking with us completely free!
Discovery Boxes
Craven Museum offers a loan box service to schools and groups to enhance learning through interaction with real and replica objects.
- Each box centres on a theme. Current themes include fossils, Stone Age, Romans, Medieval life, Victorians, toys, school, washing and the Home Front/World War Two.
- Handling instructions and information about the objects are included in each box.
- Loans cost £7 per week, with a minimum charge of £7 per loan.
- Boxes can be borrowed for up to 2 weeks, although we may be able to accommodate longer loans in some circumstances.
If you would like to borrow a Discovery Box, or to find out more, contact the museum: cravenmuseum@northyorks.gov.uk
Online Resources
Craven Museum have four free home schooling resources available for you to download. If you can’t get close to our objects at present we can still share lots of amazing facts, images and even 3D models for you to explore!
Our home schooling resources are inspired by the workshops we deliver to school groups and all have cross-curriculum links. Each resource can be downloaded below:
Teacher CPD
Are you a local primary teacher looking to enhance your history curriculum and classroom teaching? Craven Museum is here to help!
Choose from 3 bookable CPD sessions linked to popular Key Stage Two topics.
Teachers who have attended previous CPD events gave very positive feedback!
“really helped me to improve my local subject knowledge”
“very engaging – I feel more interested and confident in teaching this topic now”
Self-Led School Visits
You are welcome to bring your class to explore Craven Museum independently. We do ask that you bring no more than one class at once (approximately 30 pupils) and that you contact us in advance so we can ensure that your visit runs smoothly.
It is possible to hire a room space for eating packed lunches and/or storing coats and bags.
Please email cravenmuseum@northyorks.gov.uk to schedule your visit.
Why not take advantage of our bespoke learning offer and organise a themed museum trail or some object handling to support your visit? We’d be delighted to enhance your pupils’ experience.
Please note, all standard workshops include the option of a self-led museum visit before or after the workshop.
Arts Award
Arts Award is a range of recognised qualifications awarded by Trinity College London which support children and young people to grow as artists and arts leaders. Through Arts Award, they develop creative, critical and communicative skills by completing challenges in particular art forms.
At Skipton Town Hall, our Arts Award opportunities enable young people to explore and be inspired by the Craven Museum collection.
Young Archaeologists’ Club
Craven Museum’s Young Archaeologists’ Club meets on Saturdays once a month to have a go at all sorts of archaeology-themed activities, from investigating the museum’s impressive archaeology collection and trying out traditional crafts to visiting local heritage sites and developing archaeological skills!
The club is currently full, but do get in touch to be added to the waiting list! (see contact details below) Please note, children must be aged 8-16 to join both the club and the waiting list.
YAC is very popular and so the waiting list is very long. You can view details of other local YAC branches here: Join a Young Archaeologists’ Club (yac-uk.org)
We are recruiting for adult volunteers to support at YAC sessions. To find out more, please contact us using the methods below.
- Email: cravenmuseum@northyorks.gov.uk
- Call: 01756 706397
Families
We have a programme of family friendly activities throughout the year, including our free Craven Museum ‘Make & Take’ craft sessions during school holidays. We provide all the materials and know-how so you can make and take home your own creation!
See our What’s On page for upcoming family events.
Workshops
We host workshops and activities inspired by the Craven Museum collection. Events include arts, crafts, music, dance and drama.
Get hands on, relax, learn new skills and make new friends. We try to programme activities that are accessible for all ages and abilities.
Check the What’s On page to see what you might like to try!
Specialist Talks
Craven Museum host specialist talks that relate to the culture and heritage of the local area. Talks may be held online via Zoom or in person at Skipton Town Hall.
Recent subjects have included ‘Skipton’s First World War POW Camp & its German Prisoners’ and ‘Caves: The Hidden World beneath the Craven Dales’.
Keep and eye on our What’s On page to find out what talks are coming up.
Educational Events
We have lots of fun educational events this summer. Here’s a taster – check the Event’s Calendar for full listings.
You may also be interested in…
Collection Stories
from Craven Museum
We care for a treasure trove of around 60,000 objects representing millions of years of Craven history. Delve deeper into the collection and find out fascinating facts about objects from the displays and special items from the museum stores.