Activities
LEARNING ON LOCATION FILM-MAKING WORKSHOPS
Suitable for all from KS2 to adult learners. Mimimum visit time 2 hours.
Learning on Location is our popular film-making workshop. Museum staff introduce the fascinating story of Edward Jenner and Vaccination, whilst guiding groups through the film-making process.
Strengthen communication, interpretation and presentation skills whilst developing creative ideas.
Groups may wish to research Edward Jenner and his work prior to their visit. Comprehensive Teaching packs & equipment provided.
THE COW THAT SAVED THE WORLD
KS1 & KS2: Science, History, English, Citizenship
Blossom is arguably the most important cow in history. Complete trails then use props and dressing up to re-enact Blossom’s role in the eradication of smallpox, along with Sarah Nelmes, the fair-faced dairy maid, the eight year old James Phipps, Dr Jenner - and a host of supporting characters!
Minimum visit time 1 hour.
GHOSTS IN THE ATTIC: from Smallpox to MMR
20-30min. Max 10 people per session
The previously unseen, atmospheric attic space contains many layers of history.
It also houses an art installation and video projection to fire your imagination and take you back to a time when smallpox was a fact of life and Edward Jenner himself was eight years old.
This activity is suitable for KS2 and above and basic object handling can be incorporated. For older groups, materials from the campaigns both for and against vaccination provide an added ethical dimension that can lead to role play.
The attic can only be visited by guided groups of 10 or less at a time.
THE GRAVEYARD, THE TOWER AND THE CHURCH
Directly accessible from the museum’s garden are the historic graveyard, tower and church of St.Mary’s. The churchyard is full of tombs from the 1650s to 1850s. The unusual separate church tower has many intriguing examples of 18th and 19th Century graffiti and the church contains history from over a thousand years including damage from the Civil War.
These historical landmarks are incorporated into KS1 & KS2 garden trails but can also visited as part of a tour.
CREATE A CURE AND TELL THE WORLD!
KS1 & KS2: Science, History, English, Citizenship
Follow in the footsteps of Jenner, a medical scientist with a thirst for enquiry and experiments who understood that the importance of any research is to publicise it in order to make a difference. A true advocate of medical & scientific discovery!
A hands-on workshop examining archived historical Apothecary remedies and prescribed treatments that used weird and wonderful ingredients from spiders & head lice to lavender and leeches! Groups sniff out our herb garden, identify plants used in historical & current herbal medicine before writing their own creative cures for whichever ailment they like.
Groups explore the museum and grounds, discover our extensive displays on Dr Jenner and gain an understanding of how medical treatments were advanced as a result of Jenner’s pioneering vaccination experiment.
To finish groups will create their own poster or pamphlet to publicise their cure and advocate scientific discovery to the world. All cures created will be fictional and visitors will not be used to test these!
(Minimum time 2 hours)
For KS2 this session can be combined with Ghosts in the Attic: from Smallpox to MMR tour for a full day visit.
TO VACCINATE, OR NOT TO VACCINATE? THAT IS THE QUESTION ...
KS3 & KS4 (also suitable for undergraduate visits and CPD courses): History, Biology
Groups complete worksheets (optional) in the museum to learn about Dr Jenner’s contribution to medical science and public health before taking a tour of the museums ‘Ghost in the Attic from Smallpox to MMR’ Exhibition, located in the former servants quarters of Dr Jenner’s home.
Information packs containing archive material (including documents & images) and the museum displays provide students with information about historical vaccination campaigns helping them prepare arguments for or against vaccination. Students will present their arguments in a live debate to round off the day.
Basic props and costumes can be provided for added effect during the debate!
(Minimum visit time 1 hour)
IMMUNOLOGY WORKS
KS3 & KS4 (also suitable for undergraduate visits and CPD courses): History, Biology, Infection Control
This session begins with a tour, highlighting the museums herb garden plus discussion of some of the historical remedies and treatments included in ‘Create a Cure & tell the world’ workshop. Groups will examine the influence Dr Jenner’s vaccination has had on contemporary medicine particularly the science of Immunology.
Groups will be asked to consider infectious diseases and viruses that are at the fore of medical research today (for example HIV & Polio), paying particular attention to our Immunology Works display and fact sheets provided.
Groups will also take a tour of our Ghosts in the Attic Exhibition and discuss the ethics and arguments surrounding vaccination today – particularly the MMR debate before creating their own poster or leaflet to promote vaccination against a disease of their choice.
Groups may wish to add the vaccination debate to complete this session.
(Minimum visit time 2 hours)
© 2009-12 Edward Jenner Museum
Registered Charity 284085
Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England.
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EXPLORE THE MUSEUM
Suitable for all age groups
Inside:
• A recreation of Jenner’ Jenner’s dining room
• Portraits (including one of Blossom)
• Artefacts showing his wide range of interests from fossils to ballooning; from hedgehogs and cuckoos to poetry and music
• Evidence of his medical work
• The story of smallpox or the ‘speckled monster’ and its eventual eradication
Outside:
• Queen Anne-style house set in its own gardens
• The Temple of Vaccinia, where Jenner vaccinated the poor free of charge
• The hothouse, where vines that Edward Jenner himself planted are still producing lovely dessert grapes (August/September)
• Archaeology: Bristol University regularly digs in Berkeley in the Spring. New finds are made in and around the museum every year.
