Summer 2020: Museums From Home

Has your favourite museum closed for the summer or not yet back up & running fully? Have you decided you don't feel ready for family days at indoor venues yet? No problem!

During lockdown museums & galleries embraced new digital ways of working, creating lots of content for homeschooling and their other visitors. For the summer holidays there are still lots of online activities you can join in with from home. If you use twitter or Instagram try the hashtags #MuseumsFromHome #MuseumsAtHome and #MuseumsUnlocked

Below are a few of my favourite online activities from museums, galleries & heritage sites.

You can get outside and closer to wildlife with the #BigBrumBioblitz by recording and sharing nature near your home with Thinktank. There is more info on how to take part & share online in the blog below. Perfect for minibeast fans or budding artists and photographers.

https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/blog/posts/the-big-brum-bioblitz

The education team at Westminster Abbey have planned a great programme of online family events (some of them are free and taking part from home makes them super accessible). I really love the theme of Knights & Dragons to help get children exploring such a special building. I got a sneak peek at one of their virtual tours earlier this year and can confirm they are fantastic! More information and how to book here: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/families

This is a must for families with little ones that like to get messy. The Whitworth have turned their fabulous family friendly summer programme into an online experience called #PlaytimeAtHome and this year the theme is mud! Great for all ages but especially under 5s, really thoughtfully put togther and always guaranteed fun. Find out more here: https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/events/playtimeathome/

The lovely Lapworth Museum are running virtual family days on Wednesdays during the holiday all about their fab (and very child friendly) collections. Who doesn't like exploding volcanoes or giant ancient crocodiles!

You can find out more via their social media here, I'd use this rather than their website whilst the museum itself is closed: https://www.facebook.com/LapworthMuseumofGeology

https://twitter.com/LapworthMuseum

Finally if you want to join in at your own pace National Museums Scotland have compiled lots of at home ideas here including crafts, Lego challenges and Ancient History. https://www.nms.ac.uk/museum-at-home/summer-holiday-fun/

One of my all time favourite museums, The Natural History Museum, have virtual ways to explore here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/virtual-museum.html

Hope you have lots of fun at home this summer, let me know if you try and of these ideas or come across a different great museum at home activity.

Sarah