Learning at The Story

Our workshops are designed and delivered by our experienced team to cover topics across the National Curriculum, inspired by the treasures in our collections.

We will come to your school to deliver workshops and when The Story at Mount Oswald opens you will also be able to visit us to:

• take part in a workshop in our new Learning Studio
• discover the history of County Durham in the exhibitions
• delve deeper using our digital facilities
• enjoy cross curricular activities including outdoor learning in the grounds

School workshops

Autumn 2023

During the Autumn 2023 term we will be delivering our new programme of in-school workshops. Please contact us to find out more and to book.

Real stories, real lives

Updated and enhanced with new resources, this workshop is based on the popular DLI Collection workshop.

Key Stage: aimed at Key Stage 2, but can be adapted for older and younger pupils.

Length: 90 minutes

Price: £135 - including a 10% discount

Delivered at school

Pupils will use the skills and techniques of historians to explore archives and objects to piece together the lives of six First World War soldiers, including George Roberts, a teacher from Chester-le-Street, who wrote back to his class, telling them about his experiences and James Birch, a vicar from Darlington who served as a chaplain and kept a diary illustrated with his own sketches.

Using analytical and deduction skills, working as a team, students present the life of their soldier to the class.

Remembrance

Updated and enhanced with new resources, this workshop is based on the popular DLI Collection workshop.

Key Stage: aimed at Key Stage 2, but can be adapted for older and younger pupils.

Length: 90 minutes

Price: £135 - including a 10% discount

Delivered at school

Pupils uncover real stories of men and women from County Durham who served their country, using archives and objects. Stories include Eleanor Brown, a miner's daughter from Fencehouses who served in Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps during the First World War and Private Lee Brownson, who served with 3 Rifles and was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

The workshop will enable your students to understand why and how we remember those from County Durham who died in conflict, from the First World War to the present day. Through discussion and teamwork, they will discover how other countries and faiths remember conflict. Includes a specially commissioned video by children's writer and illustrator Liz Million.

Change over time: industry in County Durham

A new workshop drawing on the popular local history workshops previously offered by Durham County Record Office.

Key Stage: aimed at Key Stage 2, but can be adapted for older and younger pupils.

Length: 90 minutes

Price: £135 - including a 10% discount

Delivered at school

Pupils are guided through a historical investigation using a fantastic range of primary sources and interpretations, including maps, photographs, first hand accounts and extracts from local studies reference books.

They work in groups to research a local area and hone their presentation skills by sharing their findings with the class.

The areas are carefully chosen to cover a broad range of industries, from coal mining in Haswell to steelmaking in Consett and locomotive building in Darlington to factories in Newton Aycliffe, that together show the breath of industries and the changes they brought for local communities.

We finish by showing the children how they can begin to investigate their own area using sources available online and in their community.

Special Educational Needs (SEND)

Accessibility is important to us and we work to ensure children of all abilities can participate and enjoy our workshops. We always ask if your class have any needs we should be aware of and can adapt the workshop or resources where required.

We are also working with local teachers to develop a dedicated workshop for special schools.

Teacher Advisory Group

We have an active teacher advisory group that meets termly. Run jointly with Durham University Museums and Special Collections, it offers the chance to meet like-minded peers, find out more about the local cultural offer and help shape our developing programme. You'll also be the first to hear about funded projects or opportunities to help us pilot workshops.

To join, or find out more please contact us

Find out more

Contact us to find out more about our developing programme and events and join our mailing list for updates.