Discovery Boxes are museum collections-based learning resources for use in the classroom to enrich your curriculum-based teaching. They include replica archival material, photos, videos and a variety of activities for pupils to do as a class, in groups and as individuals. Many boxes also include real and replica objects.
We have built key areas of the curriculum into these resources so that schools can introduce aspects of history, local history and art into their classroom learning with ease, and importantly, fun! Each Discovery Box covers a specific theme, and within it, a number of curriculum markers.
About this Discovery Box
How did the Victorians celebrate Christmas and how many of the traditions we still celebrate today began in the reign of Queen Victoria?
From the influence of Charles Dickens to festive food traditions and everything in between, this box takes you on a journey through a period where many of the things that represent Christmas as we know it, began.
This box includes the following objects:
- Victorian top hat
- Victorian Ladies bonnet
- ‘A Christmas Carol’ nightcap
- Victorian ‘Tiny Tim’ costume
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- Usborne Young Reading: A Christmas Carol from the story by Charles Dickens
- The pocket keepsake and book of Christmas amusements
- Poster of Victoria and Albert round the Christmas tree at Windsor Castle
- Post card showing the design of the first Christmas card
- Replica Christmas cards
- Candlestick and candle
- Materials for making Christmas Cards -cards, envelopes, ribbon, lace
- Victorian sixpence
- Set of Christmas pudding charms.
Curriculum links
KS1
- Pupils will develop an awareness of the past using common words and phrases relating to the passage of time. They will identify similarities and differences between ways of life during the Christmas period.
KS2 and KS3
- Pupils will form an understanding of historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity and difference around Christmas celebrations and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends and create their own accounts including written narratives and analyses.
- Pupils will consider emotions, both of people of the past and how this impacts their own, thus opening the doors to conversations around empathy and wellbeing
Make an enquiry
Please submit your enquiry by emailing the Learning Team at LearningBookings@scll.co.uk
Please include as many details as possible, including:
- School name and postcode
- Contact number and email
- Which session/Discovery Box you are enquiring about
- Information about year group, number of pupils and any other relevant information
- When you would like to visit or book
- Any other questions you may have
Once you have booked, we will send you a confirmation letter via email.
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How do Discovery Boxes work?
Discovery Boxes are collected from and returned to Salford Museum and Art Gallery. The loan lasts for a half term, and costs £50 per box.
The contents of each box varies – please look at the specific box you would like to borrow for a list of contents. All resources include photographs and hands-on learning resources, as well as practical activities for the classroom and outside. Further supporting material for teachers, including resource-specific videos, downloads and activities, will be made available at the start of the loan period via Microsoft Teams.