Your Big Question is…
Who makes Manchester Museum
Pre-visit Resources and Downloads:
Pre-Visit Resources: Download this teachers pack for instructions and guidance to take you through the three steps that will introduce the Big Question and help your class to plan and prepare for their museum visit.
Step 1: What is a museum?
Pre-Visit Powerpoint Step 1: The PowerPoint presentation encourages the class to think about what a museum is. They will start to develop a basic idea of what museums do, before watching a short film that introduces some of the staff who work at Manchester Museum. Using a matching and sorting activity, the class will start to relate different jobs to their definition of what a museum is (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: To ensure that the embedded film and animated features work. please make sure that you download and save this file. Click YES when asked to enable content, and click YES when asked if you want to make the file a trusted source.
The Big Question Log Book: This book will help your pupils to keep track of their ideas and make notes throughout their investigation (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print this sheet double sided (flip on short edge) and fold in half to make a booklet.
Museum People Flash Cards: To use with the Job Descriptions cards.
Note: Please print these sheets in colour, single sided on A4 and cut along lines to make A6 cards.
Job Description Cards: To use with the Museum People Flash Cards (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print these sheets single sided on A4 and cut along the lines.
Step 2: Who works where?
Pre-Visit Powerpoint Step 2: This presentation introduces some of the different spaces in the museum, both public and back of house. The class will look closely and start to think about what happens in the spaces, before discussing what roles might take place in each of them. This presentation sets the scene for part B where pupils will start to think about the skills needed for each job (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: This PowerPoint contains ‘animated features’ so please ensure that you download the Powerpoint file (rather than opening it in your browser).
Place Cards: Use with the skills activity (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print these in colour, single sided on A4 and cut in half.
People and Skills Sheets: To help the class to identify skills required for different museum jobs (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print single sided on A4 paper.
Step 3: What skills do you need to work in a museum?
Pre-Visit Powerpoint Step 3: This brief presentation introduces the Careers Card Game (OpenDyslexic version).
Museum Careers Card Game: A set of 26 museum career cards (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print these cards in colour, single sided on A4 paper and cut along the lines to make A6 cards.
Blank Museum Career Cards: Use for the class to create their own cards for their dream museum job (OpenDyslexic version).
Note: Please print these on A4 paper single sided and cut along the lines to make A6 cards.
On the day
When you arrive at Manchester Museum, please go straight to the Reception Desk where you will be given a trolley for your coats and lunches, a timetable, maps and a Big Question Resource Bag.
The Big Question Resource Bag
When you arrive you will be given one of our Big Question Resource Bags. The bag contains a class set of resources that will help you to continue your investigation and record further notes and observations during your visit.
While the Resource Bag should contain everything you need to continue to investigate your Big Question, you may also want to bring additional clip boards and pencils and a camera.
Resource Bag: Sheets for pupils
Your Big Question Resource Bag contains 4 sets of pupil sheets to use during the visit. We will provide enough sheets for you to use if you are completing the challenges in groups, but if you would like pupils to work individually, you may want to bring extra copies.
Resource Bag: Instructions
The Big Question Resource Bag contains 4 sets of instructions to complete the challenges. For information, you can access the instructions below, should you want to familiarise yourself with the activities in advance.
Gallery Guide
We have also produced a Teacher’s Gallery Guide for teachers, adult helpers and other group leaders who will be visiting the museum with your class. You will find details about each gallery to help you plan your visit, including:
- A Museum Map showing different learning zones and themes
- A brief overview of the gallery and themes covered
- A ‘Hidden Gem’ object, selected by staff and accompanied by further information and an image
- A series of ‘Question Prompts’ to encourage further discussion
- ‘Curriculum Links’ at a glance
- Notes on the space and content; providing further details of any content of features of the physical space that we feel you may want to know about or consider in advance.
Museum Map with Learning Zones
Please feel free to download and use our Museum Map with Learning Zones. Note that you will be given copies of this map when you visit.
The Big Question 