Schools & Colleges
Information for Educators
A visit to the Museum is a great opportunity for teachers and students to learn together by exploration and discovery, through observation and discussion. A well prepared visit can be the starting point for a project or the turning point for the student challenged by the normal classroom environment.
Making the most of your visit
Visit in advance
If possible, we advise the teacher to make a visit in advance of bringing a group in.
Meet a Museum Educator
From January 2010, teachers can talk to a member of the Museum’s Education team in person at the Museum or over the phone in advance of their visit to the Museum. Contact bookings to make an appointment. The Museum’s educators can help teachers prepare for their visits by providing information, expert knowledge and resources on the Museum’s exhibitions, as well as advice on pre- and post-visit activities and tips on how to bring groups around the Museum.
Have an objective in mind for your visit
Build the visit into a project at school – make it more than a “day out”. For example, is the visit an information gathering exercise on your schools’ local area, is it related to an archaeological time period, or improving skills or related to another subject area such as history of art?
Set a task
If on a self guided visit, set a task for your students, for example: Museum worksheets are available for groups at the Museum Reception (or on request) or make up your own worksheets. Ask them to draw or report on one object that they see or one from a list of named objects. If you are taking a guided tour, ask them to take notes or write up a report on the tour.
Prepare the class
Prepare the students for the visit – give them an idea of what they can expect to see or have a discussion about the Museum in advance of the visit. Familiarise them with some of the vocabulary, which they might encounter in the Museum.
Post visit work
Have some follow-up work planned for back in the classroom, such as talking about a drawing they made of an object or the details of their tour.
“It really is a treasure house with something to appeal to all ages and tastes. And whether arriving with students (as on our recent visit), with wild youngsters or elderly friends needing extra care, the staff have been exemplary in the welcome extended.”
Dr Jacinta Prunty, Senior Lecturer in History, NUI Maynooth
Supervision
We require that there be one adult for every 15 students. Adults in charge must remain with their group at all times in the Museum and in the grounds, and are responsible for the group’s behaviour and safety.
Parking
Free supervised parking for coaches/cars.
Security
As cloakroom facilities are limited, children should bring as little baggage as possible into the Museum buildings. Purses and other valuables should be kept on their persons during their visit.
Lunch Facilities
The café and lunchroom are both available: please request this facility when booking your visit.
How to Book a visit
Please see the Booking section for more information on how to book.