Fossil Dig
Explore some fantastic fossils.
Get hands on and discover how a fossil is formed, what becomes fossilised and why, have a go at working out some mystery fossils and touch a cast of one of the most important fossils ever discovered – the archaeopteryx!
The Horniman is the perfect place to explore your topic further. Learn about dinosaurs and their features in our Dinosaur rEvolution exhibition (open until 3rd November 2024), with free entry included for your class with this workshop. Explore live mammals and birds living in our free Animal Walk (open from 12.30pm), plants and wildlife across our 16 acres of Gardens, or the relationship between animals and humans in our World Gallery.
Includes free entry (on the day of visit) to Dinosaur rEvolution.
Learning Objectives:
- Pupils will know that the study of fossils is called Palaeontology and understand how a fossil forms.
- Pupils will be able to identify different kinds of organisms which can become fossils.
- Pupils will be able to explain why many fossils are found in coastal regions.
- Pupils will appreciate our understanding of fossils and extinct species is developing all the time.
‘This is really fun! it makes such a difference being able to touch them, I get it!’ Year 5 pupil
Please note that our Natural History Gallery Balcony is now closed as part of a major 2 year redevelopment, Nature + Love. Our Natural History Gallery will close on the 4 March. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (from our free Animal Walk, to our World Gallery). Our schools workshops are unaffected.
We will be opening a new, free temporary exhibition about the natural world, animals and their habitats, in September 2024.
Workshop information
How to book
Booking a taught session includes a welcome briefing on arrival, timed access to a lunch space, cloakroom facilities and access to toilets for the exclusive use of school groups.
Contact us to make a booking:
schools@horniman.ac.uk
020 8291 8686
When you contact us please have ready:
– the name of the taught session you would like to book or topic you are studying,
-1st/2nd/3rd choice of date and preferred session time,
– the number of pupils and adults attending.
Costs
Entrance to the Horniman Museum and Gardens is free of charge. Taught sessions and access to some exhibitions are charged for. We invoice after your visit.
The following charges apply:
Mainstream State schools: £90 including VAT, £75 excluding VAT
Private/independent schools: £129.60 including VAT, £108 excluding VAT
SEND schools and groups: £45 including VAT, £37.25 excluding VAT
We offer a bursary scheme for schools that meet a set criteria.
Planning your visit
See the School Trips page for other essential information including our risk assessment.
We are open from 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week. Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is free of charge but must be booked in advance by emailing schools@horniman.ac.uk.
We offer reduced educational rates for our Aquarium, Butterfly House, and Temporary exhibition. See the School Trips page for further information.
Charges apply to all children aged 3 years and over, and all accompanying teachers and adults, unless they are specific 1:1 carers.