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Early Years and Key Stage 1 at Tring

A school pupil talks to one of the staff at Tring during a workshop

Explore our workshops for students or download and print activity sheets in advance of your visit.

Our free workshops can accommodate up to 32 students at a time.

School visits, activities and workshops are free, but donations help support our vital work to look after nature and provide our learning programme. There is a recommended donation of £2 per child.

How to book

To make a booking, please view the guidance on the Essential information for schools page, then use our online booking form.

Our school programme is very popular. We recommend booking at least a 6 weeks in advance.

  • Activity sheets

    Our activity sheets encourage close observation of specimens on display. Please download and print these activity sheets prior to your visit. Clipboards are available to use around the galleries.

    The king's visit

    Embark on a self-led adventure around the Museum. Help Museum founder Walter Rothschild check his specimens are looking their best, ready for the king’s visit.

    Accompanied by a Walter soft toy, find the specimens, discuss as a group, and have a go at some fun activities. Each mini group must be accompanied by an adult and will be provided with the trail and soft toy.

    Specially designed for Early Years, the trail lasts approximately 1-1.5 hours.

    Curriculum links:

    • communication and language 
    • understanding the world 
    • personal, social and emotional development

  • Workshops

    The Glis glis's big adventure

    Follow the story of the Glis glis (edible dormouse) that escaped. Discover the animals he meets and help him choose which habitat he should live in.

    Specially designed for Early Years, the workshop lasts 30-45 minutes.

    Curriculum links:

    • communication and language 
    • understanding the world 
    • personal, social and emotional development


    Useful Museum resources:

    Natural World Explorers

    A taster for little ones into the natural world. Take part in five different activities to explore animals including sorting items, how to describe animals, counting, investigate movement and animal names.

    Specifically designed for early years students, the workshop lasts 30-45 minutes.

    Curriculum links:

    • Communication and language
    • Understanding the world
    • Personal, social and emotional development
    • Mathematical skills

    Investigating minibeasts

    This workshop is available from April to the end of July.

    Find, identify and record a range of local minibeasts. Compare the minibeasts found in different microhabitats.

    Suitable for Early Years and KS1.

    This workshop is held outdoors and requires an adult to student ratio of 1:5. In the event of wet weather an alternative workshop will be offered, to be agreed when booking.

    Curriculum links:

    • identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats
    • identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited 
    • find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival
    • scientific enquiry skills
       

    Useful Museum resources:

    Video and instructions: how to make a butterfly feeder

    Video and instructions: how to make a simple bug hotel

    Video and instructions: how to make a moth headdress

    Article: colourful UK moths and butterflies

    Discovering animals

    Explore a range of different animals and compare their features. Discover how and why scientists sort animals into groups and have a go yourself.

    Suitable for KS1.

    45 minutes

    Curriculum links:

    • identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
    • describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals
    • scientific enquiry skills


    Useful Museum resources:

    Polar expedition

    Discover the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic and how animals survive in these extreme habitats.

    Suitable for KS1.

    45 minutes

    Curriculum links:

    • identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited
    • identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, using micro-habitats
    • scientific enquiry skills


    Useful Museum resources:

    Prehistoric detectives

    Delve into prehistoric life and become detectives. Explore what the Earth was like around the age of the dinosaurs, what other animals existed and how we know about them. Then get hands on and investigate real fossils and identify what they are in our challenge.

    Suitable for KS1.

    45 minutes

    Please note there are no dinosaurs on permanent display at Tring.

    Curriculum links:

    • describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals
    • explore and compare things that are living, dead and things that have never been alive
    • scientific enquiry skills
       

    Useful Museum resources:

    Walter and his animals

    Discover the weird and wonderful history of the Museum and its founder Walter Rothschild.

    Investigate his favourite bird, the cassowary. Sort butterflies, explore historical photographs, observe birds and handle animals that were kept on site.

    Suitable for KS1.

    45 minutes

    Curriculum links:

    • study the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements, using some to compare aspects of life in different periods
    • study significant historical people and places in their own locality
       

    Useful Museum resources: