Essential information

Location
Key Stage
Early Years Foundation Stage
Curriculum links
Art
Communication
Literacy
Session length 45 minutes
Session times Wednesday, 10.15 – 10.55, 11.15 – 11.55, 12.30 – 13.10, 13.20 – 14.00
Session dates Spring and summer term 2027 ony: 20 January, 3 February, 3 March, 28 April, 19 May, 30 June, 7 July
Capacity 15 pupils per session
Price £45

Session overview

Introduction

Learners are invited to look for a monster hiding in the Museum by exploring the galleries and looking for puzzle-piece clues. They are encouraged to join in the refrain ‘we’re going on a monster hunt, we’re going to catch a big one, what a beautiful day, we’re not scared!’   

Exploration of the galleries 

Learners move through Ocean Court, up the stairs, onto the Ocean Map, through the Pacific Encounters Gallery and into the Sea Things gallery.  Along the way, they roleplay overcoming obstacles such as a deep blue sea or a rocky mountain and find puzzle pieces that fit together to make a picture of the monster they are looking for. At each stopping point, learners are encouraged to join in the refrain ‘we’re going on a monster hunt...’ 

Sea Things Gallery 

The session ends here, where learners find the monster hiding amongst the ship badges. There is the opportunity to draw and design their own ship badges in the gallery after the session. 

Learning objectives

Learners will: 

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

Curriculum links

EYFS Communication & Language, Literacy, Expressive arts and design 

  • Develop language through conversation, storytelling and role play 
  • Listen attentively and respond to what they hear with relevant questions, comments and actions 
  • Participate in small group, class and one-to one discussions, offering their own ideas, using recently introduced vocabulary

Key words

Monster, ocean, Albatross, Iguana, explore, sails/sailing

Suggested pre-visit knowledge and activities

Explain the National Maritime Museum is a museum about ships, exploration and the sea. 

Read stories about exploring as a class e.g. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and We’re Going to Find the Monster by Malorie Blackman.

Suggested post-visit knowledge and activities

Learners could go on their own monster hunt back in class exploring classroom and playground spaces.

Learners could design their own monsters inspired by their visit to the Museum.

Useful links

The Ocean Map

Sea Things gallery

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