National Maritime Museum and Queen's House Early years and Primary school sessions

Embark on an epic monster hunt and follow the clues to find the monster hidden in the depths of the Museum. This multi-sensory session has been inspired by Michael Rosen’s classic story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. 

Pupils will:  

• explore Museum objects using songs and role play
• use imagination to travel across different landscapes from the big blue ocean to a tall rocky cliff
• develop communication skills

Explore the building and key artworks of the Queen’s House and join an educational, fun and immersive journey.

Pupils will:  

• learn new vocabulary through song, rhyme, roleplay and repetition
• explore and respond creatively to artworks
• spot shapes and patterns in architecture and paintings

What is an explorer? What do they need to take with them, and what are they hoping to find? Use handling objects and a gallery visit to find out about two explorers. Compare their journeys and decide if you’d like to join them. Choose to investigate either Polar Explorers (Ernest Shackleton and modern polar scientist Prem Gill) or journeys around the world (Francis Drake and astronaut Helen Sharman).

Pupils will:

• identify some of the key items an explorer needs
• explore our galleries to find objects for their expeditions
• handle replica objects to compare two explorers over different time periods
• develop historical skills of enquiry, communication and comparison

Links to resources:

[Stories from the sea: Exploration]

Ahoy, me hearties! Meet female pirate Alice Leghorn and hear tales of her adventures on the high seas. For the full pirate experience, we encourage all children and teachers to come dressed in appropriate swashbuckling attire. 

Pupils will:  

• meet a female pirate who will teach them everything they need to know to succeed on the high seas
• develop enquiry skills as they go on a treasure hunt around the Museum
• collect ideas and inspiration for writing their own pirate stories

Links to resources:

[Stories from the Sea: Pirates]

If you would like to combine this with a free visit to our Pirates Exhibition please book a time slot with our Bookings Team when you book the session.  The exhibition has not been designed for KS1 so we strongly advise you to read our guidance and arrange a free pre-visit with our Bookings Team.

Explore how pose, costume and background combine in portraits, such as the Armada portrait of Elizabeth I, to send messages of power and privilege. Who had access to these avenues of expression and what does it mean to portray power?

Pupils will: 

• develop their observation and investigation skills
• analyse famous and lesser-known artworks
• discuss what power means and how it is explored in art

Links to resources:

[Picture Yourself]

Set sail on an adventure to uncover the stories of Arctic explorers such as Matthew Henson, Robert Peary and Ann Bancroft. Investigate objects, diaries and artworks to unlock clues about the past. What can these sources tell us? What don’t they tell us? Navigate through the Polar Worlds Gallery and discover how Inuit knowledge was essential for explorers to survive in extreme polar regions.  

Pupils will: 

• carry out hands-on investigations in the gallery
• learn about significant polar explorers
• understand the geography and challenges of polar environments
• discover the tools and equipment needed for a polar expedition

Links to resources:

[Stories from the sea: Exploration]

N.B. Key Stage 1 teachers wishing to do a session on polar exploration please see 'Explorers through time' above.

Become history detectives and explore replica Viking items, before setting sail to see if you can be successful Viking traders.

Pupils will:  

• select replica Viking items and see if they can sell them to become successful traders
• handle replica artefacts to understand how we learn about the Vikings
• develop enquiry, reasoning and communication skills

This session is available on the following dates in the Autumn Term:

2 October, 6 November and 4 December

Spring and Summer dates will be available in October 2025.

We all know many stories about pirates. How much of this is true, and what would life really have been like as a pirate? Use all your history skills to find the answers.

Pupils will:  

• Investigate what they know about pirates, and where that knowledge comes from
• Visit the Tudor and Stuart Seafarers gallery
• Handle replica objects to explore what life was really like for a pirate
• Come to conclusions about what the truth is about pirates

Links to resources:

[Stories from the Sea: Pirates]

If you would like to combine this with a free visit to our Pirates Exhibition please book a time slot with our Bookings Team when you book the session.  We strongly advise you to read our guidance and arrange a free pre-visit with our Bookings Team.

This session is available on the following dates in the Autumn Term:

24 September, 22 October and 26 November

Spring and Summer dates will be available in October 2025.

Work together to consider the role and importance of our Ocean, not only to our lives today, but also in the past and the future.

What is the connection between our ocean, life and human culture? What conditions are important for life here on Earth and what advancements have we made in considering our future on planet Earth?

 Pupils will: 

• explore objects that show the significance of our Ocean and sea life
• consider the conditions required for life in an ocean world
• develop skills and understanding in relation to ocean and climate science

This session is available on the following dates in the Autumn Term:

9 October, 13 November and 11 December

Spring and Summer dates will be available in October 2025.

Explore the real stories of people who travelled between the Caribbean and the UK from the 1940s.

Pupils will:  

• understand the story of Windrush and why we mark Windrush day in the UK
• explore stories of different generations connected to Windrush and the struggles they faced
• make connections to their lives today

Links to resources:

[Windrush connections, Windrush Teacher resource]

N.B This session is suitable for years 5 and 6 only.

This session is available on the following dates in the Autumn Term:

21 November and 19 December

Spring and Summer dates will be available in October 2025.

Discover artefacts and examine original archival documents to explore what life was like on board the world’s most famous ship.

Pupils will:  

• investigate real objects and archival documents relating to the Titanic
• immerse themselves as real characters from the ship and meet historical actor characters along the way
• develop their imagination and literacy skills 

This session is available on the following dates in the Autumn Term:

16 October, 20 November and 18 December

Spring and Summer dates will be available in October 2025.

Explore stories of migration to and from Britain using museum collections.  Using our Traders gallery as a starting point learners will consider stories of migration between Britain and South Asia and how this fits into a wider story of migration.

Pupils will:  

• Learn what migration is and consider reasons why people would migrate to and from Britain
• Explore the gallery to understand how Britain's connections with South Asia shaped migration
• Investigate individual stories and be able to put them into a wider context

Links to resources:

[Migration, Heritage and Belonging KS2]

Discover how art and identity intersect by looking at historic symbols of citizenship and community in contemporary artworks by Kehinde Wiley and Yinka Shonibare CBE. 

 Pupils will: 

• develop their observational drawing skills
• analyse famous artworks
• discuss topical issues linked to diversity and citizenship
• broaden their understanding of Black British History

Links to resources:

[Nelson's Ship in a Bottle resource]

Immerse yourself in the Queen’s House galleries and learn how the sea has inspired spectacular artworks, past and present. Learn how to use experimental mark-making, texture and colour to create captivating impressions of the sea. 

Pupils will:  

• develop their observational drawing skills
• experiment with mark making to build light, shadow and texture
• create their own art inspired by a spectacular collection