Scottish Museums Council
Scottish Museums Council (SMC) is the lead strategic agency and membership body for over 340 museums and galleries across Scotland. The promotion and development of learning and access work by museums and galleries, and the learning opportunities provided by the heritage sector are important areas of our work.
Visit us on display 65 in the Learning in Practice area:
Visitors to our stand will be able to meet one of our ‘Living History Presenters’ and view ‘Museum on the Move’ - an Egyptian handling resource used by school and community groups. We’ll also be giving away a free workshop (with travel expenses) for a class to experience the world of discovery we offer over 60,000 pupils a year at our five museums.
The collections
Scottish museums hold over 12 million objects covering every aspect of Scotland’s culture, history and our contribution to the world through people, inventions, art and ideas. The wonderful variety of objects and artifacts include such treasures as the 1640s Parliament chair and Billy Connolly’s banana boots. These collections represent an enormous, inspirational resource available to teachers of children of all ages and abilities.
Learning opportunities
Curriculum for Excellence calls for 'time and space for innovative and creative teaching and learning.' Museums provide a unique dynamic learning environment which can spark the imagination of teachers as well as children. Many museums have dedicated learning and access staff who have developed a fabulous range of resources and activities related to all stages of the curriculum. They include:
- Storytelling Trails for younger children
- Resource Packs for teachers
- Schools Loan Boxes, containing items children can handle and explore.
- Workshops relating to specific aspects of the curriculum
- Travelling Exhibitions
- E-museums with digital images of collections
Hands On
The SMC stand will have examples of many of these resources as well as our publication 'Hands On: A Teachers Guide to Learning from Objects and Paintings'. Written in partnership with Glasgow Museums, it is aimed at early years and primary teachers. It makes clear links between activities and the capacities identified in Curriculum for Excellence, showing how learning with objects can help develop a wide range of skills. Hands On contains a range of activities which can be used in the classroom with everyday objects, or in a museum or gallery.
Website
Find out, by visiting the SMC website, how we are working to achieve our vision of a welcoming museums and galleries sector that opens doors and celebrates collections, inspiring creativity, learning and enjoyment for all.