Reception and Key Stage 1 (Ages 4 - 7)

Introduce your pupils to the world of paintings, sculpture, inspirational artefacts and stories from Canterbury and the wider world. Spark imagination and curiosity through interactive sessions that link to key learning goals.

A fun introduction to art 10am to 11am, or 1pm to 2pm
£3 per child (minimum charge £60)
Children explore the galleries with an interpreter to investigate and discuss the content and meaning of paintings. Including an opportunity to engage the senses, bringing paintings and characters to life using props, fabrics and costumes.

Paintings, stories, and imagination 10am to 11.30am, or 1pm to 2.30pm
£4 per child (minimum charge £80)
Paintings inspire children to create stories. In this interactive gallery-based session children work with a literacy specialist to develop their own stories about a painting using costumes and puppets, before writing and illustrating them. Sessions emphasise listening, speaking and writing skills and can be linked to classroom topics.

A World of Stories 10am to 11am, or 1pm to 2pm
£3 per child (minimum charge £60)
These storyteller-led sessions immerse young children in the wonderful atmosphere of the Beaney and its collections and spark their imaginations with tales about paintings, people and artefacts across the centuries and around the world! Subjects can be linked to classroom topics. A great stimulus for creative literacy and drama work back in the classroom.

Creepy Crawly! The World of Minibeasts 10am to 11.30am, or 1pm to 2.30pm
£4 per child (minimum charge £80)
Explore a world of minibeasts, from beautiful butterflies to scary spiders in this
interactive workshop using real specimens from museum collections. The session includes a fun introduction to minibeasts through songs and storytelling; an opportunity to see and handle colourful specimens from around the globe; and to investigate them in close up detail using the video microscope. The children then get creative, designing their own colourful minibeast inspired by what they have seen!

Amazing Animals 10am to 11.30am, or 1pm to 2.30pm
£4 per child (minimum charge £80)
The Beaney is full of strange, colourful and exotic creatures from around the world. Take part in an Animal Safari adventure; investigate fierce predators, colourful birds and creatures of the deep in an exciting hands-on session; and learn new art skills and techniques to create your own piece of animal art!

Mini Beaney Explorers! 10am to 11.30am, or 1pm to 2.30pm
£4 per child (minimum charge £80)
Enjoy a museum or library adventure story. Then create a ‘magic telescope’ to discover some amazing objects in a fun trail around the galleries. Choice of themes: colour, texture, materials, pattern or animals
Curriculum links: Literacy, numeracy, art, music