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Key Stage 2

A photo of four schoolchildren. One looks at the camera through a telescope.

Award winning programme

Our award winning Key Stage 2 programme delivers interactive and engaging curriculum workshops led by our creative and experienced team. Activities on offer include object handling, storytelling and role-play challenges covering a range of topics.

Vikings: Sailors, Raiders and Traders

KS2 History: Vikings
Find out why the Vikings took to the sea, where they went and what they did when they got there. Pupils take part in a Viking traders challenge before learning how the Vikings used wind energy to move their boats across the water (includes a demonstration on our Boat Pool). Optional extra: Take part in our Viking coin striking activity and make your very own replica Viking coin to take back to school!

Covers key questions:

Why did the Vikings travel from their homelands and where did they go?
How did the Vikings travel so far from their homelands?
When did the Vikings come to to raid and to stay?
Viking Voyagers Teacher Notes

‘The staff were knowledgeable and engaging. The day had been well thought out, well planned and well resourced. It was lovely that the kids were able to be so hands on in a museum.’
– Class Teacher, St Merryn School (Vikings: Sailors, Raiders and Traders)

Themes: Vikings | Explorers | Trading | Viking Boat Construction

Duration: 90-minute activity (Viking Trading Challenge / wind-on-sail demonstration and sailboat activity) and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible).
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free // Coin Striking Activity: +50p per pupil
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Tudor Explorers

KS2 History: A significant turning point in British history; the changing power of monarchs.
Come face to face with Elizabeth I in our portrait investigation and get hands on with a giant map of the world to discover the causes and impact of exploration in Tudor times. Follow Francis Drake as he voyages around the world and take part in a raiding challenge with replica artefacts. Take a close look at our model of Drake’s ship Golden Hind and learn about wind-on-sail by using our remote-controlled yachts on our big boat pool.

‘From my most academic to our special needs pupils, all of the children gained from their experience. They didn’t stop talking about it on the bus and enthusiastically took part in a Q&A session when we got back to school.’
– Class Teacher, Trewirgie Junior School (Tudor Explorers)

Themes: Tudors | Explorers | Voyages | Maps and the World

Duration: 90-minute activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Pirates: Fact and Fiction

KS2 Local history, geography and art | History: An aspect of history… significant in the locality.
Explore the truth about the golden age of piracy. Find out what pirate treasure really looked like and where in the world it came from using our giant floor map. Get hands-on in our object handling activity and investigate what weapons pirates used in battle. Discover the difference between a galleon and a deadly sloop and make your very own pirate ship to sail across our boat pool!

‘Great, varied exhibits; brilliant organisation and facilities provided by the Museum. They are very effective at engaging students – particularly good to give children who have not visited Museums before a positive experience.’
– Class Teacher, Kilkhampton Junior & Infant School (Pirates: Fact & Fiction)

Themes: Pirates | Maps and the World | Local History

Duration: 2 x 45 minute activities, plus time to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Wreck and Rescue

KS2 Local history, geography and art | History: An aspect of history… significant in the locality
Hear the tragic story of HMS Anson that was wrecked on the Lizard in 1807 and the subsequent development of the rocket-propelled Breeches Buoy by Cornish inventor Henry Trengrouse . Take part in a dramatic recreation of a ‘rocket and breeches buoy’ rescue over the museum’s tide pool and investigate a range of replica and historic rescue artefacts as part of a full day of activities. Includes a chance to explore our RNLI Rescue Zone.

‘The staff pitched the talks to the children at the level of their age and stage of development. Your high-quality workshops and brilliant organisation of the day made this a thoroughly enjoyable visit for the children and adults alike. We all learned a great deal. The children all thoroughly enjoyed their visit with one child telling us that it was ‘the best day ever!’’
– Class Teacher, Parc Eglos (Wreck & Rescue)

Duration: 90-minute activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible).
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Scrapheap Sailboat Challenge

KS2 Science: Controlled investigations | Design and Technology: Design, Make and Evaluate
Design, make and test your own sail boat using just scrap materials! Collect ideas, carry out tests and investigate how hull shapes, sail size and position, and even methods of joining materials can affect the performance of your design. Can you work together to make your boat in time for the great scrapheap sailboat race?

Duration: 90-minute activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

The Voyage of the Mystery

KS2 Local history and geography | History: An aspect of history… significant in the locality
Join Job Kelynack on an adventure of a lifetime. Discover the true story of seven Cornish fishermen who sailed a tiny fishing boat on an incredible voyage from Newlyn to the goldfields of Australia. Through a spell-binding and interactive mix of film, storytelling and object investigation, children will be drawn into the story of what happened to the men as they set off in the tiny fishing boat Mystery.

On the way, they will discover the reasons why the fishermen decided to leave Cornwall, what life was like onboard Mystery, the places they visited and how they survived some very exciting storms!

Led by the Museum’s Learning Team, this captivating performance is complimented by our ‘Maritime Skills’ workshop in which the children learn about traditional rope making and make their own rope as well as learning about wind-on-sail by using our remote-controlled yachts on our big boat pool.

‘Fantastic performance and activities – brings the topic to life. Essential to have these experiences to compliment class-based learning. It’s magical.’
– Class Teacher, Penponds School (Voyage of the Mystery)

Duration: 45-minute performance, plus a 45-minute ‘Maritime Skills’ extension activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Falmouth and The Packet Ships

KS2 Local history, geography and art | History: An aspect of history… significant in the locality
Discover the story of Falmouth and how it was once at the centre of a worldwide communications network. Become ‘history detectives’ exploring the museum’s interactive displays and investigate real artefacts, paintings and primary sources to build up a picture of Falmouth in the past.

This exciting gallery-based session is complimented by our ‘Maritime Skills’ workshop in which the children learn about traditional rope making and make their own rope as well as learning about wind-on-sail by using our remote-controlled yachts on our big boat pool.

Themes: Cornwall | Local History | Communication

Duration: 45 minute gallery-based investigation, plus a 45 minute ‘Maritime Skills’ extension activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes

Hevva! Hevva!

KS2 Local history and geography | History: An aspect of history… significant in the locality
Step back in time to meet Lizbeth, a ‘bulker’ from the heyday of Cornwall’s pilchard fishing heritage. Hevva! Hevva! is a dramatic performance that brings to life the skills, language and traditions of Cornish pilchard fishermen and women in the 1870s. Through a spell-binding and interactive mix of film, storytelling and object investigation, children will discover how the pilchard fishing industry shaped the coastal communities in Cornwall.

Led by the Museum’s Learning Team, this captivating performance is complimented by our ‘Maritime Skills’ workshop in which the children learn about traditional rope making and make their own rope as well as learning about wind-on-sail by using our remote-controlled yachts on our big boat pool.

Themes: Cornwall | Fishing | Maritime Skills | Local History

Duration: 45-minute performance, plus a 45-minute ‘Maritime Skills’ extension activity and an opportunity to explore the museum (flexible)
Cost: £5.95 per pupil, adults free
Group Size: Typically up to 2 classes