Home Education Workshops
Home Educators are always welcome at National Coal Mining Museum. Every month you can get a deeper understanding of the museum with our specially tailored workshops.
The workshops are aimed at children aged 7-13 but is not exclusive to those ages and we welcome older and younger siblings.
Siblings under five are welcome to come along free of charge and we will try and include them where it is appropriate, but the focus will be with the main group of children.
Adults in the group do not need to book onto the Workshop.
The Underground Tour is not part of any of the workshops. However, for £7.50 each, you can book onto a tour here or contact Reception on 01924 848806 or email.
Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 and Friday 20 September 2024
Engineering: Ups and Downs of Coal – Pit Prop Challenge: Interact in this sensory story about the ups and downs of coal. Get your engineering thinking-caps on to devise an innovative way to hold up 20kg of coal using limited resources.
Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October 2024
History and Music: Step into a 1970s terrace house and meet Auntie Brenda or Uncle Fred to explore pit village life. Play classic street games and craft rag rugs, while singing songs of yesteryear.
Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 November 2024
Art and History: Discover how placards are used make statements in protests. Make your own statement light-up placard and be part of our marching lantern parade with your striking creation.
Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December 2024
Art and Wellbeing: Christmas Crafts – See community crafts that were handed down through generations, and make your own personalised Christmas gifts using authentic materials.
Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January 2025
History and Science: Meet a Mine Guide and explore a interactive 3D model of Caphouse Colliery. Handle objects and ask questions to find out how mining has changed over the last 100 years.
Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 February 2025
Art and History: Join Uncle Fred or Auntie Brenda in the mining pit village to remember the 1926 Miners’ Strike, play traditional children’s games, and create your own banner to proudly display in our brass band banner march – taking place on Sun 2 March 2025, marking the 40th anniversary of the miners going back to work after the 1984-85 strike.
Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March 2025
Science Week: Explore the fascinating concepts of potential and kinetic energy by inventing a gravity-defying marble run! Learn science principles and the fundamentals of physics, and watch as your marbles twist and turn in a thrilling, physics-defying adventure.
Wednesday 23, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 April 2025
Geology: Unearth the mysteries beneath your feet, and create a fossil to take home. Discover how fossils are formed, unravel the stories they tell about prehistoric creatures and explore the process of sedimentary rock formation.
Wednesday 14, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 May 2025
Science and History: Join Sir Humphry Davy to discover the story of inventors racing to create the first flame-safety lamp for miners. Become an inventor, use your imagination and scientific knowledge to design your own lamp.
Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 14 June 2025
Science: What’s in our Water – Investigate how successful our water treatment plant is for cleaning mine-water. Experiment with lab equipment to test if it is safe to release to the local river.
Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 July 2025
Art and History: Meet our ponies and learn about the important role that they would have played underground. Sculpt a clay pit pony using traditional hand-building techniques.
We cannot issue a refund on these workshops due to non attendance or change the workshop to another day. Thank you for your understanding.
