School Trips

Get Scheme of Work – What happened to Gunner Archie Smith? – free when you book two First World War workshops.

See what life was like for the average Tommy. 

The Tommy in the Trenches workshop uses the Museum’s superb reconstructed trench system and items from the handling collection including uniforms, helmets, rifles, gasmasks and grenades. The workshop explores how soldiers trained, what they ate, the uniform they wore and what it was like to live in a trench.

Goes well with: Real Life of a Warhorse, The First World War Tank Experience

The Tank Museum is the only place in the world you can climb inside a real First World War Mark IV tank.

This First World War Tank Experience workshop includes an interactive talk on why the tank was invented, how it worked and what life was like for the crew.

Goes well with: Tommy in the Trenches, Real Life of a Warhorse

Find out what it was like to be an animal at war. 

Using our Warhorse to Horsepower exhibition, students will explore how animals were used in the conflict and use their findings to write the diary entry of a horse, donkey or mule. They will meet our replica cavalry horse ‘Blackjack’ and handle real kit and equipment worn by cavalry horses, as well as trying on First World War uniforms.

Goes well with: Tommy in the Trenches, The First World War Tank Experience.

Learn all about Christmas on the Front Line

The Christmas in the Trenches workshop uses drama and the Museum’s reconstructed trench system to explore Christmas on the Western Front and the ‘Christmas truce’ of 1914. There is the opportunity to get into character by trying on soldier’s uniform, kit and equipment. Pupils will also use artefacts from the Museum’s collection to discover what Christmas presents soldiers would receive.

Goes well with: The First World War Tank Experience and Real Life of a Warhorse

Find out all about what it was like in Britain during WW2.

Dealing with the Blitz and organisations such as the Home Guard, ARP and Women’s Land Army, pupils will explore the Museum’s extensive collection of Second World War artefacts. Pupils can try on a range of gas masks, helmets and uniforms and try out a real (and very loud!) hand-cranked air raid siren.

Goes well with: The 1940s House, The Funny Tanks of D-Day

Experience the Home Front in a reconstructed street scene.

Pupils will roleplay the lives of a housewife and shop keeper of the 1940s. How did people shop, cook and plan their meals during rationing? Explore the contents of an evacuee’s suitcase and discover how people washed and cleaned. Plus, experience a ‘real’ air raid in an Anderson shelter.

Goes well with: Britain in the Second World War, The Funny Tanks of D-Day

Why did the Allies launch an invasion of France in 1944?

In the Funny Tanks of D-Day workshop, pupils will use a model of a Normandy beach and their problem solving skills to find out how tanks were adapted to face the challenges of a beach landing. They will also have a go at making a ‘real’ 28 ton Sherman tank float.

Goes well with: Britain in the Second World War, The 1940s House.

Have a go at constructing a quarter size model of a tank from the Second World War – the Sherman Firefly!

In this hands-on activity, children will learn about the men who served in Shermans and assemble the tank from a number of key parts such as the hull, turret, guns, sprockets and suspension. Find out what each section does and how they work together. Engineering on a new Scale!

Why did the Allies launch an invasion of France in 1944?

In the Funny Tanks of D-Day workshop, pupils will use a model of a Normandy beach and their problem solving skills to find out how tanks were adapted to face the challenges of a beach landing. They will also have a go at making a ‘real’ 28 ton Sherman tank float.

Goes well with: Britain in the Second World War, The 1940s House.

A lively, interactive tour through time from the very first tank to the one in use with the British Army today.

In the Tank Story workshop, pupils will discover how the development of armoured vehicles reflects key events in 20th Century history.

Goes well with: Any of our other KS3 and KS4 workshops.

Get inside the Chieftain tank and find out what it was like for the crew. 

The Chieftain was an impressive British Main Battle Tank from the Cold War period. There is a minimum height restriction of 1.25m. We request trousers and flat shoes are worn for this activity as pupils access the tank by climbing into a hatch from the top of the vehicle.

Goes well with: The Changing Nature of Warfare, The First World War Tank Experience.

Find out what life was like on the Front Line.

The Tommy in the Trenches workshop uses the Museum’s superb reconstructed trench system and items from the handling collection including uniforms, helmets, rifles, gasmasks and grenades to give students a real and immediate experience of what life was like for the average Tommy. The workshop places the conflict in context of the politics and society of the period.

Goes well with: The First World War Tank Experience, Modern Warfare: Afghanistan, The Changing Nature of Warfare.

Discover how British casualties on the Western Front were cared for during the First World War.

Using the Museum’s handling collection and by undertaking immersive role play activities, pupils will learn about the medical problem posed by the Western Front and examine how the British solved it.

NC Links: Key Stage 3 History, Edexcel and AQA 9-1 GCSE exam boards.

Goes well with: First World War Tank Experience and Tommy in the Trenches

The only place in the world you can climb inside a real First World War Mark IV tank.

The First World War Tank Experience includes an interactive talk on why the tank was invented, how it worked and what life was like for the crew.

Goes well with: Tommy in the Trenches, Modern Warfare: Afghanistan, The Changing Nature of Warfare.

How did a struggling Austrian artist with a poor education record and no career prospects in 1918 become the Chancellor of Germany by 1933?

Using a combination of the Museum’s handling collection and original footage, pupils will examine not only how Hitler rose to power but also discover his often forgotten bid for power by force in 1923. During the Hitler’s Rise to Power workshop, pupils will also develop source analysis skills and practice their public speaking.

Goes well with: The Changing Nature of Warfare.

In this hands-on session pupils explore how warfare has changed over the 20th and 21st centuries.

In the Changing Nature of Warfare workshop, pupils will explore a number of topics by looking at the British infantryman from 1914 to current day by handling kit, equipment and related weapons. Pupils will discuss different types of warfare and examine new threats to the soldier from gas to nuclear to IEDs. A source analysis like no other.

Goes well with: The First World War Tank Experience, Tommy in the Trenches, Hitler’s Rise to Power.

Have a go at constructing a quarter size model of a tank from the Second World War – the Sherman Firefly!

In this hands on activity, children will learn about the men who served in Shermans and assemble the tank from a number of key parts such as the hull, turret, guns, sprockets and suspension. Find out what each section does and how they work together. Engineering on a new Scale!

A unique opportunity for College and University students to see our Conservation Workshop. 

On selective days throughout the year, students can get up close to the tanks that are being restored and maintained. Students will be able to go behind the scenes and see how we conserve our vehicles and learn why it is important to care for the collection. Qualified engineers will be on hand to answer any questions and encourage the students to take an interest in science and engineering.