24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Troy Story - Telford Museums Help Kids Get Their Five Hours Of Culture
By 24 Hour Museum Staff
18/04/2008
Image: Photo of children in ancient Greek costumes performing on stage
Getting to grips with Greek history can be a cross-curricular experience. © Telford Culture Zone
Children from a West Midlands school have been in the British Museum this week demonstrating how they might get the Government's proposed 'five hours of culture' by bringing history to life through activities based on the Siege of Troy.
While having a lot of fun, the 'Troy Story' programme demonstrates what the Government's idea of cross-curricular culture might look like – it covers not only the Greek history unit of the Key Stage 2 school curriculum, but also brings in literacy, art, PE, PSHE and drama.
So, while teachers wait to find out which areas of England will pilot the Government's Find Your Talent programme, which aims to give children 'five hours of culture a week', the 'Telford Culture Zone', which developed Troy Story, is already delivering its ideals, and getting positive feedback.
Troy Story has this week taken students from St Peter's Primary (Bratton) to the British Museum to involve them in 3D modelling, curating, drawing and creative writing about Greek civilisation. Another highlight for the youngsters has been performing a large scale interpretive dance on the subject.
Image: Photo of children in school uniform dancing
Kids enjoy some physical history at the British Museum. © Telford Culture Zone
Telford Culture Zone is a partnership of education, culture and community organisations working with Birmingham's DanceXchange and Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. There are 16 schools involved in the Zone in the borough of Telford, and two have already enjoyed Troy Story.
Debbie Cawte is Head Teacher at Queenswood Primary School, which recently completed the course.
"Embedding culture across the curriculum as proposed by the 'Find Your Talent' scheme enhances children's attitudes to their learning and gives teaching staff more ideas about making their curriculum delivery as creative as possible," she commented.
"From the students' perspective, the children gained enormous self-regard by working collaboratively throughout. For teachers it was incredibly rewarding and provided a tremendous opportunity for professional development and gaining new transferable skills."
Having fun with culture in the galleries of the British Museum. © Telford Culture Zone
Julie Jones, Creative Arts Manager for Telford and Wrekin Council, said she was delighted to see the success of the project.
"Troy Story, just one of the fantastic projects happening at the moment through Telford Culture Zone, is a great example of how schools and cultural institutions in our borough are working together to create exciting opportunities for students."
Telford Culture Zone (www.telfordculturezone.com) is part of a national programme that has been running for three years called Creative Hubs.
The pilot areas for the Find Your Talent scheme will be announced on April 27 2008.
British Museum
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG, England
T: +44 (0)20 7323 8299
Open: Museum opening hours:
Saturday - Wednesday 10.00-17.30
Thursday - Friday 10.00-20.30
Great Court Opening Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday 09.00-18.00
Thursday - Saturday 09.00-23.00
Reading Room Opening Hours:
Saturday - Wednesday, Friday - 10.00-17.30
Thursday 10.00-20.30
Closed: Closed 1 January, Good Friday and 24-26 December every year.
Related Articles
Museums, Metal Detectorists And Our Archaeological Heritage
British Museum Gets Set For Historic Egyptian Tomb Gallery
Babylon: Myth Or Reality? At The British Museum
British Archaeological Awards 2008 Held At British Museum
Winners Of Young Archaeologist Of The Year Awards 2008 Announced
£3 Million To Be Invested In New Museum Research Projects
Summer 2008 Holiday Ideas At UK Heritage Sites And Museums
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
National Portrait Gallery Acquires Tudor Double Portrait
Sheffield Metal Master Wins Museum's Inaugural Design Award
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
A Selection Of Festive Fairs - Fun Days and Exhibitions
Royal Society Announces Plans For 350th Anniversary
Art Website ArtisanCam Wins Coveted Children's BAFTA
Former Floorboards Of Founding Father Franklin Facilitate Funny Four
Mark Leckey Wins The 2008 Turner Prize And Scoops £25,000
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long-Standing Campaign For Cardiff City Museum
Culture Secretary Slaps Export Ban On George I Chandelier
Shakespeare's Globe Costumes Go On Show In Nottingham
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.