Hundreds of students were hands on at the museum during term one
Hundreds of school-aged children panned for gold, carved “stone” tools out of soap, learned about the region’s volcanic past and discovered the “ancient” ways older generations listened to music during the school term at the Orange Regional Museum.
More than 570 school children from 19 schools across the region participated in the museum’s school’s education program during the first term of the year.
Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Ron Gander said the participation rate exceeded expectations given the museum opened late last year, past the deadline for most of term one school planning.
“It’s a great outcome,” Cr Gander said.
“Most schools have term one activities finalized by early term four so we didn’t expect huge numbers in term one.
“But to see 19 schools come in, about three classes a week is fantastic.
“The activities run by the museum’s engagement officer are all hands on and were planned with the input from teachers across the central west and the feedback from teachers has all been really positive.”
Children have been learning about the history of Mount Canobolas, the discovery of gold and what impact it has had on the region, the difference in cultural traditions of Aboriginal people and European settlers and were hands on with “really old objects used for listening to music such as cassette tapes’, Cr Gander said.
Orange Regional Museum’s public engagement officer, Jess Dowdell, said many of the year one kids she worked with had never seen a cassette tape and the children guessed it must have been a device used by their grandparents.
“Handling the tapes and finding out how they worked was great fun for them and they went home to tell their parents about the ‘ancient’ technology. But in all seriousness the workshops have exceeded expectations and we’re already gearing up for term two,” Ms Dowdell said.
“There are more than 300 students booked in already and we’re hoping to add hundreds more.
“While it is school holidays at the moment, the museum certainly won’t be quiet with booking for its Rolling Railways school holiday activity open and filling fast.”
Call the museum on 63698444 to book in for the free holiday workshop.
More information on education programs offered at Orange Regional Museum can be found at orangemuseum.com.au/learn
STONE MAKING Students from Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School participating in one of the museum's many education workshops
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