Toys and Play
Explore some of the toys and handling objects in our collections at the Horniman – if you would like to make your own trails or worksheets tailored to your visit, many of the images and text below (and in our other resources) can be easily copied and pasted to your own design.
- Perhaps use images from objects located in different galleries and in the gardens to create a challenge or simple trail through the Museum to find specific objects or places.
- Use object images to encourage independent research, for instance, find out and write down three facts about an object or a group of objects. Alternatively, give facts or clues and challenge your pupils to identify mystery objects.
- Set an alphabetical challenge to find or draw 26 objects, one for each letter of the alphabet.
- Create a sketchbook challenge.
Gallery closure
Please note that our Natural History Gallery is now closed as part of a major 2 year redevelopment, Nature + Love. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (including our Music and World Galleries).
Due to the gallery closure, the ‘chimpanzee’ in this resource is no longer on display.
Resources
Japanese doll’s house
Storyteller figure
What is your favourite story? How does it make you feel?
Shadow puppets
Who might these characters be? You can make shadow shapes with your hands, try to make some together!
Yoruba car
Have you ever made something out of rubbish? Why is it important to recycle?
Toy
What other games could you play with them? Why not explore the Horniman’s Gardens for fallen seeds, leaves and twigs to play with?
Bows and arrows
Have you learned anything from a toy?
Nesting doll
What are they made of? Who played with them? Why do they look different?
Sasara rattle
There are more than 40 rattles in the Horniman’s Music Gallery, how many rattles can you find? What are they made of? When are they played?
Chimpanzees
Which other animals play with toys? Do you like to play with animals?
Outdoor instruments
The instruments in the Horniman’s Music Garden work in different ways; how do you play them? Music is lots of fun to play with and can make people feel very happy. Can you and your friends create some music together?