Primary Schools & EYFS

At The Salisbury Museum, we offer inclusive, creative heritage learning experiences designed to inspire curiosity and connection to the past. Our team delivers a wide range of curriculum-linked history sessions, cross-curricular enrichment projects, and bespoke programmes tailored to your school’s needs.

Rooted in the rich history of Wiltshire, our learning experiences aim to foster pride and belonging through hands-on discovery. We seek to be at the heart of our learning community—listening to and working with schools to create supportive, inspiring educational environments.

📧 Get in touch: education@salisburymuseum.org.uk

 

Bookable Sessions:

(Available at the museum or as outreach)

Experience the Stone Age (KS1–KS2)

Step back in time to explore how early people lived, hunted, farmed and created art. Explore the transition from hunter-gatherers to farming and its effect on life as we moved from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic. Your pupils will handle real artefacts, imagine prehistoric life and bring the Stone Age to life through interactive, experiential activities.

Exploring Life in Roman Wiltshire (KS1–KS2)

Follow the story of a Roman family and uncover how they lived, worked and decorated their homes. Pupils will become archaeologists, handle artefacts, design mosaics and march as part of their own Roman legion.

Super Saxons (KS2)

Investigate Early Medieval art and culture through the lens of the Ford Warrior and Swallowcliffe Princess burials. Explore Saxon art, identity and belief through burials and grave goods. Handle real objects, then be creative with role play and dress up as an Anglo-Saxon.

The Amesbury Archer: CSI (KS2)

Become archaeological detectives! Examine the burial of the Amesbury Archer to uncover clues about his life 4,000 years ago. In this crime-scene style workshop, pupils will collect evidence and use scientific investigation to learn about the man, his life and his world.

Old Sarum (KS2–KS3)

Investigate the world of Old Sarum with particular focus on its Norman past and its importance to William the Conqueror. Learn about the Domesday Book, The Oath of Old Sarum, Motte and Bailey castles and medieval life. Then explore real artefacts from Old Sarum before creating gargoyles and grotesques.

Toys Through Time (KS1 – Outreach only)

How have toys changed over the years? Pupils handle and play with historical toys before creating their own imaginative games inspired by the past.

Create Your Own Museum-Inspired Book (EYFS–KS1)

A creative storytelling and illustration project inspired by museum characters, including an onsite visit and follow-up outreach session. Pupils take home their own illustrated booklet.

Our Favourite Things (EYFS – Outreach)

Children share special objects from home and create a mini museum display and story about their treasured belongings.

 

Local History Studies:

Whether you’re just starting a local history project or seeking ongoing support, we’re here to help. Our team can provide immersive kickstarter days, bespoke project development, and creative workshops that connect your pupils to Salisbury’s past — and inspire them to shape its future.

From object handling and gallery exploration to creative writing, art and community storytelling, our local history programmes help pupils build a deep sense of place and pride.

 

Pre-Planned Local History Sessions:

Creative Museum Explore

Kickstart your local history study with a creative exploration of our galleries with our learning team. Discover ideas, brainstorm themes, and plan your next learning steps. Available as a one-off visit or with in-school follow-up.

Lost and Found: Salisbury’s Hidden Waterways

Learn how Salisbury’s medieval streets once flowed with water. Handle real objects lost in the city’s waterways and design your own creative display inspired by what we might lose — and future archaeologists might find — today.

The Time-Travelling Giant

(mini-project, local history kickstarter day or full day outreach session)

Meet Christopher, Salisbury’s 500+ year-old parade giant, and witness the city’s history through his eyes, including coronations, jubilees and the Children’s Peace Pageant of 1919. This project introduces chronology, community celebrations, and creative outcomes like collaborative art, drama or writing projects.
What would your class celebrate today?

Buildings Through Time: Salisbury’s Streets Past, Present and Future

In this outreach session, explore how Salisbury has changed using archive photos, historic objects and artefacts from everyday life. Pupils design a collaborative artwork combining past and present to imagine the city’s future.

Clarendon Palace: Lives of Medieval Kings and Queens

Step into the world of Clarendon Palace and its medieval royal visitors. Pupils explore palace life, building design (including viewing real artefacts), medieval pastimes and the changing landscape of what was once a huge Royal hunting forest. Pupils will create their own medieval palace designs including decorating tiles with mythical creatures.

 

Other Local History Themes:

• Women’s history – suffragettes, women in World War I, queens, scientists, teachers, writers and witches!
• The Children’s Peace Pageant of 1919
• Health through the ages — from plague and cholera to research into the common cold and Novichok.
• World War II and Salisbury’s secret Spitfire factory
• The Swing Riots and the impact of the Industrial Revolution on rural Wiltshire
• World War I and the secret Larkhill training trenches
• The building of Bemerton Heath

 

Natural History Sessions: (KS1–KS2 Outreach)

Rewild the City

Imagine Salisbury reclaimed by nature. Pupils explore local wildlife, biodiversity and rewilding before designing a collaborative art piece of a reimagined, nature-filled city. This session mixes STEM learning and creative writing skills through world building and art.

A Tale of Our Wild Creatures: An Animal’s Point of View

Through science and storytelling, pupils explore Wiltshire’s wildlife — past and present — and write creative stories from an animal’s perspective. Examining issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, pupils will gain increased understanding of the local natural world and the challenges it faces. This session can be tailored to specific habitats such as chalk streams or downlands and extended into a multi-day project.

📧 For all enquiries or to make a booking:
education@salisburymuseum.org.uk