Essential information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Key Stage |
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 4
|
| Curriculum links |
Citizenship
History
|
| Session length | 3.5 hours with a 30 minute lunch break |
| Session times | Tuesday, 10.00-14.00 |
| Session dates | Available spring and summer term 2027 only |
| Capacity | 60 pupils per session |
| Price | Free |
Session overview
The session comprises three activities with an introduction and conclusion.
Each activity has a capacity of 30 learners; a group of 60 will be split into two groups, experiencing the same activities in a different order.
The activities are:
Looking at historical documents
Learners are led by a member of the Library and Archive Team to look closely at a range of different historical documents and work out what they can tell us about migration. In groups, they will analyse copies of a document.
Object handling
In groups, learners will handle replica objects to consider what they can tell us about the experiences of a particular migrant group. They will then compare these experiences with those of other migrant groups.
Gallery visit
Learners will visit the Traders and Nelson, Navy, Nation Galleries. They will consider what these galleries can tell us about the reasons for migration and the experiences of migrant sailors.
Learning objectives
Learners will:
- Use objects to investigate and compare the experiences of different migrants
- Examine what documents and museum objects can tell us about the lives of migrants
- Be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of a range of different sources
- Explore their own attitudes and responses to this history
Curriculum links
GCSE
- AQA Britain: Migration, Empires and the People: c.790 to the present day
- Edexcel Migrants in Britain, c.800-present
- OCR Migration to Britain c.1000 to c.2010 and Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present
KS3
- An aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066
- Understand how different types of historical sources are used rigorously to make historical claims
Key words
Migrant, immigration, emigration, refugee, racism, antisemitism
Suggested pre-visit knowledge and activities
This session works best for learners if they have already talked about migration in class and considered why people migrate. It can work during different stages of a module about migration, however the more knowledge learners have, the more easily they can access the sources.
Suggested post-visit knowledge and activities
Investigate how the changing connections by sea has shaped migration to and from Britain with our online resource in the links below. Learners may also want to look more closely at objects connected to migration—links overleaf to a curated selection from the collection and to Our Migration Story with documents from many sources.
Useful links
Migration and Maritime Connections Enquiry
Where paths cross: a history of migration told through museum objects
Content guidance
This session will look at the experiences of migrants to Britain and will therefore consider racism and antisemitism. We will look at the experiences of migrant sailors, which will include stories of injury and visit galleries with a range of weapons.