Hello from BCLM Learning,

Thank you for signing up to our e-newsletter to hear the latest news from the Museum's Learning Team. We aim to keep you up to date with the latest developments in our Learning Programme and hope that you will find something that will tempt you into an exciting and educational visit. Each term we will be highlighting a new 'additional activity' to add value to your visit, along with upcoming events that you won't want to miss.

Best wishes,

The BCLM Learning Team

Our additional activity in focus this term is 'Brickmaking and The Three Little Pigs'. This hands-on session is great for EYFS and KS1 groups. After our lively interactive retelling of this classic tale groups will get the chance to create their own clay brick using traditional hand-moulding techniques as well as using straw, sticks, and bricks to create their own free-standing structures.

Suitable for EYFS and KS1  

Price: £25 per group

Manufacturing at Work  

Thurs 14 March – Fri 15 March 2019

Pupils will participate in a programme of hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations and site tours. Local manufacturers and designers, including Thomas Dudley Ltd.  will deliver workshops and mount displays to showcase their work. The programme will also include an interactive engineering show  and a tour of the Museum site highlighting the strong manufacturing heritage of the region.  

Each day is aimed at a different ability group:

• Thurs 14 March: KS2
• Fri 15 March: KS3

Price: £10 admin fee per group

Only a few places remain on each day. To book, please contact our Sales & Ticketing Team on 0121 520 8054 (lines open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm). 

The Black Country Living Museum believes teachers should be well equipped and supported in teaching their subjects. To assist in this we have created bespoke CPD sessions to help you provide a lively and inspirational classroom environment for your students.

BCLM is changing. Over the next four years, we'll be creating a new major historic 1940s–60s development, new learning spaces and a brand new visitor centre. Our exciting £23m project, BCLM: Forging Ahead, will take our story up to the closure of the Baggeridge Coal Mine in 1968, which brought about the end of a unique era for the Black Country. We will use real things, real people and real stories to engage and inspire visitors of all ages to learn about the region's heritage, its impact on the world and its relevance today.

Don’t worry! We’re staying open during the build phase. In fact, from September 2019 you’ll be able to see some of the new buildings taking shape.

Co-op shops were popular in the Black Country, stocking household names as well as their own Co-op brands.  The Halesowen & Hasbury Industrial Co-operative Society was founded in 1871, opening its first shop in Peckingham Street. The Hawne branch on the Stourbridge Road was its eleventh opening, in 1930, after a strong period of expansion, well positioned to serve the large-scale development of the Short Cross area of Halesowen.

Do you want to get involved?

We are looking for schools and Early Years settings to help us develop and test new themed visits and resources. In particular a 'Mini-Co-op' allowing young children to interact and engage in role play activities. If you're teaching KS1 or below and would like to be involved, please contact us using the link below.  

Key Events in 2019

In addition to the above. We also have other exciting events for schools and teachers that may be of interest. Here are the dates, make sure you don't miss out!

30th March 2019 - Teachers' Open Day - see our new sessions and explore the Museum to see how we can help you inspire your pupils.

19th October 2019 - West Midlands History Forum Conference to support everyone in the teaching of History.

6th-8th November 2019 - Chemistry at Work - another 3 full days of Chemistry in the Workplace!