Toys
Pupils discover toys from the past in our paintings and decorative arts. They handle original toys and learn how to play long-forgotten games.
Aims (Skills, Knowledge, Activity, Result)
To recognise and describe similarities and differences between toys past and present in terms of design, materials, types, how they work and how you play with them - To discover how historical artefacts are exhibited in the gallery and understand the importance of careful handling
- To examine artworks to help find out about how children played in the past and what kind of toys they played with
- To experience games that children played in the past and explore and play with old-fashioned toys
What happens in a session:
The children handle and examine a variety of old and new toys, describe their similarities and differences, and sort them accordingly. In small groups, the children are given their own toy box, filled with genuine and replica toys and games from the past to share, explore and play with.On our gallery tour, we visit some of our more precious toys, comparing them to our own toys and thinking about different types of play. We look at some of our paintings which feature children and toys from the past, trying out some of the toys featured, and their modern equivalents, on the gallery floor.
Preparation
Discuss which toys and games are popular today and how they work.
The children should be familiar with the basic materials that toys are made from (wood, metal, plastic etc).
It is helpful if children have listened to and told stories about what has happened to them or their families in the past, in order to establish some understanding of the passage of time, particularly the concept of a time when their parents and grandparents were children.
Split into 4 groups with 1 adult to support each group.
For more information including booking, parking, facilities and a downloadable risk assessment, please go to plan your visit.
NC related themes
The session is particularly relevant to Key Stage 1 history, but also includes elements of speaking and listening, citizenship skills and scientific knowledge of materials and operational mechanisms.
The session covers the following Key Stage 1 history objectives:
1b. Use common words and phrases relating to the passing of time.
2b. Identify differences between ways of life at different times.
3. Identify different ways the past is represented.
4a. Find out about the past from a range of sources of information, eg: pictures, artefacts, visits to museums and galleries.
5. Select from their knowledge of history and communicate it in a variety of ways, eg: talking.
The session also addresses the main aims and objectives of the QCA Unit 1 ‘How are our toys different from those in the past?'
With regard to the Foundation Stage Curriculum, the ‘Toys’ session addresses many elements of knowledge and understanding of the world, and communication, language and literacy.
