All School sessions last 90 minutes (except EYFS History and Geography, which are 60 minutes) and run in two sessions – 10:00-11:30am or 12:30-2:00pm. They can be booked on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and run in two sessions. Each workshop costs £135 for up to 30 children (£4.50 per pupil).
All of our sessions are for Primary aged pupils, but can be tailored to suit Secondary, HE or FE groups or those with SEND and/or additional access needs with some notice.
If you have any questions or would like to book a visit, please get in touch with us at bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk
Booking for September 2024 onwards is now open. Take a look below to find out what we have on offer for your group and get in touch via the below contact form.
School workshops
Art and Design
EYFS
Please select from the following options:
- Family and belongings – children create their own ‘suitcase’, considering what may be important for future historians to know about them.
- Dinner party – based on Boston Manor’s history of hosting fine events, children design their own plate of food fit for a regal dinner party.
KS1 & 2
- Identity – Children will produce creative work which explores the identity of historical figures from the house’s history through drawing, storytelling and collage. They will create their own inventory of things which are important to them, considering what future historians will be able to discover about them through their choices.
- Design – Children will explore the Jacobean plaster ceiling in our State Drawing Room, recording their experiences and observations through print making.
- Architecture – Children will use observational drawing, collage and printing techniques to get to know the architecture of Boston Manor House.
- Interiors – Children will produce creative work which explores a selection of the restored and historical wallpapers, recording their experiences and observations through storytelling, print making, imaginative drawing and collage.
Geography
EYFS
- Nature Explorers – A range of hands-on activities exploring the grounds of Boston Manor House to find out why green space is important. Children will use their senses to explore trees, enjoy a scavenger hunt, learn about local animals and how they camouflage with a “wiggly worms” game, as well as creating their own nature art
KS1
- Manor Maps – Children will explore an area of Boston Manor Park with activities using simple map skills. Starting with games to assess and build their knowledge of compass directions and symbol keys, students will be challenged in teams to find their way using recognition of landmarks and a simplified map. Their final challenge is a team treasure hunt.
KS2
- Orienteering Challenge – Children will use simplified maps to practice their skills using grid references and keys. After some focus on compass skills, they will set off in groups with an adult to do real orienteering – a route around Boston Manor Park to find real orienteering markers and historical features. The fastest and most accurate team wins.
KS1 & 2
- Maps, Plans and Keys – Children travel through the House, finding similarities and differences within their own environments, then exploring the changes to the geography of when the house was first built using maps and aerial images. Students are challenged to create a plan of how they would alter the grounds to make an interesting place to visit, using symbols and a key to communicate their ideas.
History
EYFS
- History Explorers – A range of activities exploring how life was different in the past. Students will dress up in historic replica clothing and try out historic toys. They will explore a section of the house to spot “clues” from people of the past, and make a traditional craft to take home.
KS1
- Then and Now – Students will explore the lives of the residents of Boston Manor House from different periods in history. Using clues they spot in the house, trying on replica clothing, and and creating their own historic toys to take home, they will compare lives in the past with their life today.
- A Royal Dinner – Students will explore the State Dining Room, where the King and Queen dined in 1834. They will find evidence of the rooms purpose, understand the differences between dining then and now, as well as finding out about the roles of servants in an event like a Royal Dinner. Finally, a whole-class roleplay of the special night will put what they’ve learnt into action.
KS2
- Local History Detectives – Children will explore how life at Boston Manor House has changed across the centuries. Using evidence they spot in the house, historical replica clothing and activities, they will experience life in each century. From the house being built in the 1600s, to becoming a school after WW2 – we’ll finish with their own memories of the local area.
- Battle of Brentford Case Study – Children will take on historical character’s roles and their perception of the events that unfolded in 1642. This session contextualises the early years of the new Boston Manor House and the surrounding area with interactive maps, encouraging students to work together to separate fact from fiction and introduce source analysis whilst promoting problem solving and questions.
English
EYFS
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Pupils are introduced to Shakespeare via the history of The House and explore performance through tableaus and creating character ideas through mask making, physically exploring their ideas.
KS1
- Story Makers – Children are introduced to Boston Manor House’s historic library – but it’s missing its books! Exploring the House together to find inspiration and new vocabulary, they will create collaborative stories for their own book to take home.
KS2
- Drama – Children will be introduced to the works of Shakespeare and explore the themes of a selected, age-appropriate play. Pupils respond to the themes discussed to create a collaborative model that could be used as a centre for a stage version.
- Murder Mystery Makers – Students are introduced to the atmospheric Boston Manor House and stories from its history, to make their own Murder Mystery Story. Exploring the House for inspiration, they use all their senses to choose and describe a setting and crime, work in groups to become characters with motives and alibis – and decide ‘whodunnit!’
KS1 & 2
- Statement Poetry – Children explore the architectural and design features of the House. Using their notes from their observations, they will create ‘a statement’ poem about the House in the form of iambic pentameter. Following an introduction to the significance of the King James Bible and illuminated initials, children create a final version in this style.
Self-led visits
We also welcome self-led visits to the House. These visits are free but must be booked. Classes are required to split into groups of six to enter the House with at least one adult present in each group.
Book your self-guided visit by emailing bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk.
Teachers
We also offer CPD opportunities for school staff.
Inset sessions can be arranged to take place at the House. We welcome groups of up to 15 staff and these sessions are tailored to meet the needs of the group.
Please select from the below:
- A 45-minute session offered on subject of choice across the curriculum – English, History, Geography or Art & Design (£75)
- A half-day session (2.5 hours) covering 2 subjects in more depth – English, History, Geography or Art & Design (£200)
- A full day session that includes the content of our half day session and school’s bespoke content (£350)
As part of these sessions one of our Learning team will share easy-to-replicate ideas for imaginative lessons that integrate cultural learning into the curriculum. Sessions can be booked by emailing bostonmanorhouse@hounslow.gov.uk