Introducing Home Education Days at the Museum

We’re thrilled to announce something we’ve been working on behind the scenes. Dedicated Home Education Days will be launching in 2026, as we know that home educating families are always on the lookout for engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Starting next year, we’ll be running pre-bookable sessions led by our Formal Learning Manager, with two dates available each term: one tailored for Key Stage 1 learners and another for Key Stage 2. Each Home Education Day runs from 10am to 2pm, giving you a full morning of immersive learning and exploration.

The day is thoughtfully structured to include a 90-minute hands-on facilitated workshop  and 90 minutes of self-directed exploration throughout the Museum. It’s the perfect balance of guided learning and independent discovery – £6.95 per child with accompanying adult free.

Home Education Days Workshop Dates

Choose Your Adventure: Four Incredible Workshops

We’ve developed four workshop options, each designed to bring history to life through interactive activities and hands-on experiences.

Wreck & Rescue

This workshop takes you into the dramatic world of maritime disasters and the ingenious innovations that saved countless lives. Hear the tale of HMS Anson, wrecked on the Lizard in 1807, before discovering how this disaster sparked Cornish inventor Henry Trengrouse to develop the rocket and Breeches Buoy apparatus, a lifesaving invention that went on to rescue thousands of people.

We bring history to life with a simulated sea rescue where we fire a bottle rocket and breeches buoy over our tidal pool to “rescue” local fisherman John Henry Pascoe from his shipwrecked boat. The children will also encounter the incredible true story of the Robertson family’s survival at sea in the dinghy Ednamair. The session concludes with designing and sailing their very own boats across our big boat pool.

Book Wreck & Rescue Home Education Day

Viking Workshop

Why did the Vikings take to the sea? Where did they go, and what did they do when they arrived? These questions form the heart of our Viking Workshop, where we use a large floor map to trace Viking routes across the known world.

Children get hands-on with replica Viking artefacts during an exciting trading challenge, then watch demonstrations of how Vikings harnessed wind energy using our model Viking boat on the water. They’ll even get to experience wind-on-sail themselves o. The highlight? Each child strikes their very own Viking coin – an exact replica of the 10th century Eric Bloodaxe coin to take home as a memento.

Book Viking Workshop Home Education Day

Pirate Workshop

Ahoy there! This workshop separates the Hollywood fiction from historical fact as we explore common pirate myths and uncover the surprising truths behind them.

Using our large 17th century floor map, we build up a picture of the pirate world, examining what treasure really looked like (spoiler: it wasn’t always gold doubloons!) and where it came from. We investigate authentic pirate weapons and tackle the big question: did all pirates sail large galleons? The answer might surprise you! The session ends with children designing and racing their own pirate ships across our boat pool – competitive fun guaranteed!

Book Pirate Workshop Home Education Day

Tudor Explorers

Step back to the Tudor period and the golden age of exploration. Children come face-to-face with Elizabeth I through our portrait investigation and use a giant world map to understand what drove Tudor exploration and its lasting impact. They’ll follow Sir Francis Drake on his incredible circumnavigation voyage (1577-1580) and the workshop concludes by exploring what life was really like aboard a Tudor ship, the clothing sailors wore, the food they ate, and the structure of these remarkable vessels.

Book Tudor Explorers Workshop Home Education Day

And There’s More to Explore!

The facilitated workshop is just the beginning. Families will have dedicated time to explore the Museum independently, including:

SURF! – our current major temporary exhibition that’s making waves with visitors of all ages.

The Lookout – climb to the very top of our tower for breathtaking views of Falmouth.

The Tidal Zone – venture beneath the water at the bottom of the Museum for an underwater perspective at high tide.

Cornwall Galleries – discover the deep and enduring relationship between Cornwall and the sea through captivating stories and displays.

RNLI Rescue Zone – get up close to real rescue equipment including an RNLI Arancia in-shore lifeboat, RNLI jet-ski, quadbike, and life raft. Interactive displays that deliver important safety messages in an engaging way that resonates with children.

Ready to Book?

We can’t wait to welcome home educating families through our doors for these special days. The sessions offer a unique opportunity for your children to learn alongside peers in a relaxed, supportive environment specifically designed with home educators in mind. We have limited spaces available for each session, so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Home Education Days Workshop Dates