Leys children create their own museum

The Making Museums session, organised by the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum, involved year five children from Blackbird Leys primary schools.

The project aimed to encourage pupils to learn more about museums.

Youngsters from Windale Primary School, Orchard Meadow Primary School and Pegasus Primary School took part in the scheme, which culminated in the workshop last Tuesday at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

The pupils brought in items to share with the group and put them on display.

Windale Primary School pupil Owen Exton, 10, said: “I brought football medals that I had won in tournaments. It was fun.”

Teaching assistant Blythe Williams, of Orchard Meadow Primary School, said: “It was interesting for the children to see different things from the schools as the children are from different backgrounds.”

The Making Museums programme was honoured with the Clore Award for Museum Learning in 2011.

Chris Jarvis, education officer at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, said: “The children came into our own museum and they found out what museums are and where we get our objects from and they went behind the scenes.

“Their museum showed all their work they have done and was about showing their interest.

“It was all about the children of Blackbird Leys. The children shared important things about themselves and they found out about each other.”

Heather Richardson, head of conservation at the Pitt Rivers Museum, said: “Conservators and collections managers at the museum have worked closely with our education department for a number of years to facilitate behind the scenes visits as part of the Making Museums project.

“We feel that it is important to support this work to teach young people that museums are living spaces where museum objects are researched and cared for.

“Looking in detail at objects can reveal exciting information about their histories and the people who made them.”