Flintshire primary school creates own history museum

Youngsters at a Flintshire primary school have created their own history museum to learn more about why things happen and the importance of past events.

More than 80 Key Stage Two children (7-to-11-year-olds) at Ysgol Merllyn in Bagillt transformed four classrooms into exhibits from different eras of world history, before inviting parents, local people and infants to visit.

Each exhibition boasted colourful and information-packed timelines, fact files, Google slide presentations, film documentaries, models, artefacts, interactive quizzes for visitors and wall art, while the youngsters themselves acted as curators and guides during the open day.

Some dressed in traditional clothes relevant to their era of history.

[Wall display for Ancient Egypt made by Faye Williams Jack Carrington – both Y6]

Inspired by a recent school visit to the World Museum in Liverpool, the children were split into mix-aged teams and created exhibitions based on the Stone Age and ancient Egypt, the vikings, Tudors, Georgians and Victorians.

They researched their era and then combined different skills including teamwork, creativity, geography, literacy, communication, design and ICT to build their exhibitions.

Gaynor Roberts, the Key Stage 2 teacher who was involved in the project, said:

“In preparation for the new curriculum, we wanted children to learn the importance of history and its place in making us who we are today.

“The Merllyn Museum meant they learned what it takes to be a good historian, what a museum looks like, and combined key skills with teamwork and a sense of pride in the work they produced.”

Headteacher Tracey Jones added:

“It was an amazing day and huge thanks must go to the children, the staff and all our visitors for making Merllyn Museum so special.

“It really brought history to life and there was such a buzz around the school. I know everyone had a brilliant learning day.”