Oxfordshire's heritage and museums services have several creative activities which enable children and adults to handle real and replica artefacts.

Hands on Oxfordshire's Heritage (HOOH)

The Hands on Oxfordshire's Heritage (HOOH) service allows schoolchildren to handle real and replica objects from the past with the help of experienced workshop leaders.

Distinctive blue suitcases of artefacts enable pupils to question the past, make connections between the present and the past and think creatively about the subject.

Workshops for schools

Key stage 1 workshops - (1 hour minimum)

• Are we nearly there yet? - a drama based workshop looking at early motoring.
• Have seaside holidays changed? - an old fashioned trip to the seaside brought to life.
• Have toys changed? - what would your grandparents have played with? Make an old fashioned toy to keep.
• What happened on washday? - experience all the different stages of washday in Victorian times using authentic items.

Key stage 2 workshop - (1 hour 30 mins minimum)

• The Enigmatic Egyptians - bring the ancient Egyptians alive through writing and artefacts and have a go at mummifying your mates.
• Cheering on the Greeks! - take part in the Olympic Games ancient Greece-style.
• From Elvis to Abba - find out what happened in the 50s, 60s and 70s through hands-on investigation of a huge range of artefacts.
• Trying on the Tudors - bring the Tudors to life through fashion, writing and artefacts and discover more about the Golden Hind.
• Put out that light! - experience an air raid, try on a gas mask and discover what life was like during wartime.
• Who Was Who? - use primary sources to unravel the life stories of our mystery people and mount your own exhibition.

Cost of each workshop is £60. Recommended maximum group size: 30 pupils.

Workshops at The Oxfordshire Museum 

Why are there dinosaur footprints at The Oxfordshire Museum? - Key stage 1  (10am - 12pm)
Children will role-play, discover and learn the answers to this and many other questions as they explore the museum's unique dinosaur garden and interactive gallery.

Who would want to be a Roman? - key stage 2 (10am - 12.30pm)

Combine a visit to the museum's fascinating Roman Gallery with a stimulating workshop. Handle genuine Roman artefacts, find out about the life of a Roman soldier, carry out your own excavation and dress up in Roman clothing.

Who Was Who? - key stage 2 (10am - 12.30pm)
A workshop where children become museum archivists and history detectives. This intriguing session engages the children with primary sources as they unravel the life stories of our mystery people and mount their own exhibition.

New Victorian Workshops

Key stage 1 and 2: Sit up Straight (Victorian schoolroom) 10am-12noon
A costumed Miss Grimwade will drill your pupils in Victorian rules and regulation in a traditional Victorian schoolroom experience.

Key stage 1 and 2: Spit and Polish (servants, houses and homes) 10am-12noon
Put on your aprons and experience what it was like to maintain a home during the Victorian period without the benefit of modern electrical appliances.

Key stage 1 and 2: Time to Play (toys and games) 10am-12noon
Experience the world of play as it would have been enjoyed in Victorian times and try your hand at a wide variety of indoor and outdoor toys.

Key stage 2: The Magic of Photography 10am-12noon
Explore some of the early developments in photography, cinema and 3D images. An amazing opportunity to get up close and hands-on with some vintage equipment.

Key stage 2: The Finer Side of Life 10am-12noon
Learn about how wealthy Victorians passed the time at home and use our theatre to put on your own shadow puppet play.

Children and War

Key stage 2: Don't you know there's a war on! Oxfordshire at war 1939 - 1945 10am-12noon
Investigate children's experiences of wartime through practical activities, objects, images and documents. Try rag rugging to 'make do and mend', put on a replica gas mask and research into local Commonwealth War Graves online.

A whole day visit (10am-2pm) is available including a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves in Woodstock.

Booking details:

• Recommended maximum group size: 30 pupils
• Cost - 10-20 children: £50, 21-25 children: £60, 26-30 children: £75.

Download further information about our school workshops

• Find our more about our school workshops in this brochure (pdf format, 1Mb)

Reminiscence sessions in the community

Two women making gloves.

Hands on Oxfordshire's Heritage runs reminiscence sessions with groups of older people. Museum artefacts, documents, photographs and a range of well loved objects can help to stimulate conversation and allow shared memories, often prompting much laughter.

A trained facilitator brings the boxes to your group and helps get the conversation flowing and before long the hour-long session has flown by. Friendships are forged and memories stimulated in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

With over 40 themed boxes of objects and photographs on topics such as Fun and Games, Make Do and Mend, Food and Sunday Best, groups are sure to find something to interest them. 

Recommended donation per session £15. Suggested group size: maximum of 15.

Those were the days - new group

Do you have memories of Woodstock and the surrounding villages? We have started a monthly group for people to meet up, reminisce about the old days and share memories.

First Friday of the month – 2 March 2012, 4 May, 1 June, 7 September, 5 October, 2 November 2012, 7 December 2012. Time:  2–3.30pm. Cost: £1 per person

If you are interested in joining the group or would like more information, please contact the Learning and Access team on 01865 300639.

How to contact us

For further details, please contact:

Hands on Oxfordshire's Heritage
The Museums Resource Centre
Cotswold Dene
Standlake
Witney
OX29 7QG

Tel: 01865 300639
Email: HOOH@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Donations

How to donate to our handling collections.

Most of the items held by Oxfordshire Museum Service come directly from the people of Oxfordshire, who donate them to us.