The Bronze Age Handling Box Project - a unique teaching and learning resource to engage young people
Handling objects can deepen our understanding of the past. The Bronze Age Handling Box Project is all about stimulating young people’s curiosity and interest in the past.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND
PREAS RÁITEAS THAR CEANN ARD-MHÚSAEM NA hÉIREANN
Tuesday 1st December 2015
The Bronze Age Handling Box Project
– a unique teaching and learning resource to engage young people with their past
The official launch will take place in the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology,
Kildare Street on Thursday 3rd December 2015
There’s never been a more important time for us to understand our past. History gives us a sense of connection to place, time and community, a sense of empathy with our ancestors.
Handling objects can deepen our understanding of the past. The Bronze Age Handling Box Project is all about stimulating young people’s curiosity and interest in the past.
The official launch of the Bronze Age Handling Box Project will take place in the Ceramics Room of the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Thursday 3rd December 2015. Minister of Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan T.D. will be launching the project.
The Bronze Age Handling Box is filled with replica handling objects and raw material, thematically based on the Museum of Archaeology’s Bronze Age collections. Each box includes a replica of an axehead, spearhead, an amber necklace as well as pieces of flint, copper ore and sheepskin. These objects and raw material were carefully selected to tell the story of the Bronze Age in Ireland. Over 40 handling boxes are located in Education Centres around Ireland for loan to all primary and post primary schools.
A variety of learning materials, activities and games accompany each handling box. These include a Resource Book that is filled with activities, games and interesting information about objects and about life during Bronze Age Ireland. Teachers are also provided with lots of ideas and strategies to enhance the teaching and learning of History.
Students really like to investigate the past as archaeologists and historians. By handling the objects in this resource and engaging in the different activities and games, they can explore the past in a fun, active and thought-provoking way.
A new online resource forms part of this Bronze Age Handling Box Project. You can view this online resource in the following link: http://microsites.museum.ie/BronzeAgeHandlingBox/
Lorraine Comer, Head of Education, National Museum of Ireland commented ‘Handling objects is a powerful way to understand our past. This project empowers more students around the country to explore the past using objects that tell the story of the Irish Bronze Age. The originals of the replica objects in the handling box are on display in exhibitions in the National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology. Through this project more schools will engage with these authentic objects in our collections and take part in our public programme of workshops, tours and other events as part of this learning resource.’
Bernadette McHugh, Director, Navan Education Centre commented ‘The Association of Teacher/Education Centres in Ireland (ATECI) is delighted through this collaborative partnership project to have more than 40 Bronze Age Handling Boxes available for use by teachers in both primary and post-primary schools. Furthermore through a capacity building training programme funded by Dublin West Education Centre, ATECI has facilitators who are qualified to assist teachers to maximise the teaching and learning potential of the Handling Boxes in classrooms.’
Brian Ruane, Lecturer in History Education and Citizenship Education, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, commented ‘We are delighted to have been involved in developing the comprehensive teaching resources which accompany the handling box. Reflecting best practice in history education internationally, the artefacts and activities enable students to work as historians, building their understanding of the past and fostering literacy, creative thinking and problem solving skills.’
Minister Jan O’Sullivan said ‘The Bronze Age Handling Box is an invaluable and multi-layered resource for both students and teachers throughout Ireland. It provides access to the National Museum of Ireland’s collections and resources and enables primary and post primary schools to access the box through the Education Centre network. Through this resource, young people can connect with the past in innovative and imaginative ways. It provides teachers with strategies and ideas for stimulating students’ curiosity and interest in the Irish Bronze Age and demonstrates the value of professionals from the formal education and cultural sectors working collaboratively to support the teaching and learning communities. ‘
This project has been designed and developed by the National Museum of Ireland in collaboration with the Association of Teachers’ / Education Centres of Ireland, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and the Professional Development Service for Teachers.
FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION CONTACT
Maureen Gaule, Marketing Executive, Marketing Department
T: 01 648 6429 | M: 087 9031690| E: mgaule@museum.ie
Ann Daly, Head of Marketing, Marketing Department
T: 01 648 6457 | M: 087 2368067 | E: adaly@museum.ie
Notes to the Editor:
To find out more about the Bronze Age Handling Box Project and its official launch on 3rd December visit the Bronze Age Handling Box website at http://microsites.museum.ie/bronzeagehandlingbox/ or contact:
• Lorraine Comer, Head of Education, National Museum of Ireland at lcomer@museum.ie (01) 6486417 or 087 6835612
• Siobhan Pierce, Education Officer, Museum of Archaeology at spierce@museum.ie
• Bernadette McHugh, Director, Navan Education Centre at director@ecnavan.ie
(046) 9067040
• Brian Ruane, Lecturer in History Education and Citizenship Education, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin at brian.ruane@spd.dcu.ie / 01 8842345
• Images of the launch will be sent to all picture desks by Peter Houlihan – Photographer
087 939 3571
Additional Information
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