Prehistoric Makers Facilitated Visit, designed for children in Key Stage 2 groups.

Teachers are invited to book a special, free Facilitated Visit focusing on Prehistory, the Stone Age to the Iron Age. This visit includes an exciting opportunity for children to work with artist-blacksmith Clare Collier and blacksmith and archaeological metalworker Rowan Taylor to create their own cast for a brooch, before seeing their brooch being made as the metal is poured by Clare and Rowan. Children will also be able to handle prehistoric tools to learn about the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, try using flint tools, explore the museum and the temporary blacksmithing exhibition, Earth Fire Iron.

Linked to the Earth Fire Iron - Alan Evans and the New Iron Age — Museum in the Park exhibition, these Facilitated Visits are available free of charge to schools as they have been funded by Arts Council England, Jinny Quinnell Memorial Trust, William A Cadbury Charitable Trust, Ann Albright, The Summerfield Trust and other private funders.

 Available on the following dates:

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

Tuesday 30th September 2025 booked

Tuesday 7th October 2025

Tuesday 14th October 2025

Important information:

Maximum group size of 30 per day.

Transport to and from the museum is the responsibility of visiting schools.

Please note that this free session is available for schools in Stroud District only. If you are enquiring about visiting with a school group from outside of the district, please check out our Prehistory : The Stone Age to the Iron Age Facilitated Visit — Museum in the Park

Please pre-book using Contact our Learning Officer — Museum in the Park

Learning Objectives:

  • Use a range of sources and real artefacts to learn about changes in Britain during Prehistoric times.

  • Understand how humans used different natural materials in prehistoric Britain and note connections and contrasts over time.

  • Experience using tools and processes similar to those used by prehistoric people to build understanding of what life was like in the past.

  • Develop and use a wide range of vocabulary of everyday historical terms and terms relating to prehistory.

  • Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

  • Continue to develop speaking and listening skills.

  • Ask and answer relevant questions about life in the past.

Activities during the day:

Your class will be divided into small groups and will rotate around the following activities.

Casting activity with artist blacksmiths. (45 mins) An exciting opportunity for children to work with blacksmiths Clare Collier and Rowan Taylor to build understanding of the skills, equipment and processes used by blacksmiths in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Children will create their own cast for a bronze brooch, using a specialist tool and casting sand. Clare and Rowan will then cast the design for them by pouring in the metal. Once the brooches are cooled, children will be able to take them away with them.

Handling Prehistoric Tools. (45 mins) An object handling session led by our staff. This session provides an opportunity for learners to get hands on with real tools made and used by prehistoric people. We’ll think about how these tools might have been used and think about the material used to make them.  We’ll provide opportunities for sensory investigation, encourage learning through speaking and listening and encourage children to ask questions. This is led by our staff.

Pre-History Discovery Trail. (45 mins) This is a chance for children to explore the museum and continue to think about prehistory by looking at and talking about objects on display from the museum collection. This works best in if the group of approximately 10 are divided further into smaller groups so that groups are spread out throughout the museum and so that the adult leading the group and the children can explore, talk and listen together. Led by staff and adult helpers, with printed information and guidance provided by the Museum.

Experiencing using Stone Age flint tools. (20 mins) Children will be supplied with some (modern) vegetables to chop up, slice, scrape, and shape. Modern vegetables likely to be supplied include carrots and potatoes. Please inform us of any allergies. This session usually takes place outdoors and is led by our staff.

Visit the exhibition Earth Fire Iron - Alan Evans and the New Iron Age — Museum in the Park. (20 mins) Children will have time to visit our temporary exhibition commemorating the career of Stroud artist-blacksmith Alan Evans to see a range of Alan’s work and some work by the young blacksmiths working today. 

At the end of the day, the whole group gathers, spending about 20 mins in total reviewing the day, what we have seen, done, talked about.

Curriculum links: History, Local History, Art and Design

To find out more, including about charges and how to enquire about booking, please read the further information about Facilitated Visits.

If a Facilitated Visit isn’t quite right for your group, please read the information about our Prehistory Remote Learning Package.