Oxford forOxford Guide

May 2019 - 2020

Key to symbols

The University on your doorstep.Did you know that the University of Oxford offers a wide selection of experiences, workshops

and school visits for primary aged children, many of which are free?

The Oxford for Oxford project was established by the University’s outreach team because we

think it’s important that Oxford city students are able to make the most of the resources that

are local to them. There are marvellous museums, spectacular science days and wild woodlands

that are just waiting to be discovered.

We realise that planning a visit takes time spare time and energy; something that many teachers

simply don’t have. That’s why we’ve created this guide. It gives you an overview of the activities

on offer, with practical information about timings, facilities and costs.

Access extra details at a glance by using the key. If you see something you like, follow the

weblinks to make a booking.

Hands-on

Tour

Free self-guided trail option

Lunch facilities on site

Extra content online

Outdoor

Classroom visit

Online risk assessment

Primary Science DayUniversity of Oxford Chemistry Teaching Lab

Treat your Year 5 and 6 students to a one-day feast of chemistry, biology, materials, physics and maths. Working in groups they’ll tackle exciting scientific challenges and be entertained by a live chemistry show.

outreach.chem.ox.ac.uk/primary-science.aspx 27 June. 9.30am-2.30pm. Max group size 16. FREE

A Plant’s LifeOxford Botanic Garden

From the desert to the rainforest, plants can thrive in the most difficult conditions. How do they do it? Find the answer in the glass houses, where you’ll encounter species that store water, absorb nutrients and set traps to catch their dinner.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk May-September. Max group size 35. £100

Babel: Adventures in TranslationOnline/Bodleian Weston Library

To celebrate Babel at the Bodleian, Medieval and Modern Languages have produced a free teaching pack for you to download. There are worksheets, discussion points and everything you need to make a free self-guided visit.

bit.ly/babel-teaching-resources www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Exhibition runs until 2 June. FREE

Summer Term

Swift SummerOxford University Museum of Natural History

Each May, Swifts make the iconic tower of the Oxford Natural History Museum their home. In this session you can learn all about their 7,000 mile journey from central Africa and watch them raising their chicks on the museum’s live Swift Cam!

oumnh.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools May-September. Max group size 32. £100

Autumn Term

Green ChristmasOxford Botanic Garden

Art and science collide, as students search the gardens for plants linked to the holiday, and use what they find to create their own tree decorations. The environmental impact of Christmas is also explored in a discussion on cutting waste, recycling and homemade gifts.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk 20 November-15 December. Max group size 35. £100.

BEBRAS Computing ChallengeOnline

BEBRAS is a competition that challenges your students to take on fun and engaging computer science problems. How many can they solve in the allotted time? If your school doesn’t currently take part, register for free before 31 October at:

www.bebras.uk 4-15 November. FREE

Oxford German OlympiadOnline

The Olympiad combines the exploration German culture and literature with the challenge of writing in German. Students compete with their peers to complete a series of tasks tied to an overall theme. There are fantastic prizes to be won in each category. Find out more at:

www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/schools September 2019-March 2020. Year 5&6. FREE

Plant LifecyclesOxford Botanic Garden

From tiny seed to dazzling flower,the lifecycle of a plant is a fascinating journey. Roam the gardens looking out for plants in the various stages of life and learn more about the ingenious ways that plants ensure the survival of their species.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk September-November. Max group size 35. £100

Spring Term

Rainforest ExperienceOxford Botanic Garden

Find a slice of the rainforest in the heart of Oxford. Experience the humid climate and dense layers that support an abundance of wildlife, look out for familiar crops that grow there and consider how essential the rainforest is to our everyday lives.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk January-April. Max group size 35. £100

Art in the Botanic GardenOxford Botanic Garden

Let the colours and shapes of the natural world inspire your students. Staff will be on hand with tips and drawing exercises to help them get started. The group is then free to let their creativity run wild.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk January-April. Max group size 35. £100

HabitatsHarcourt Arboretum

Explore the concept of animal habitats in this accessible and fun session where learning is mixed with exploration and play. The arboretum’s trees, pond and meadow are home to an array of wildlife from dragonflies to deer. What will you see?

www.obga.ox.ac.uk From 1 April. Max group size 35. £100

A World of TreesHarcourt Arboretum

How many types of tree can you name? After a visit to the arboretum you’ll be able to identify dozens of native and introduced species by their bark, leaves and shape. You’ll also leave with a better understanding of tree conservation.

www.obga.ox.ac.uk From 1 April. Max group size 35. £100

Stuck for ideas? Give one of these workshops a try.

Unearthing the Anglo-SaxonsAshmolean Museum

Your group has just uncovered an Anglo-Saxon burial site. Look closely at the objects in the grave. Can you use them to work out who they belonged to? In this immersive workshop Saxon Britain is brought back to life. You’ll learn all about rituals, runic language and everything in between.

www.ashmolean.org/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Rainbow ChallengeDepartment of Chemistry

Our chemistry department have made the study of liquids, density and matter even more fun! Your group will experiment to discover which liquids mix with each other and which form layers. Can they add the liquids in the right order to make a rainbow?

This session can also be brought to your school.

outreach.chem.ox.ac.uk Max group size 35. FREE

The MayaPitt Rivers Museum

The Maya were one of the most sophisticated ancient civilisations. Look at the objects they left behind to learn about daily life during the ‘classic’ period. Handle mystery objects connected to food, leisure and textiles, then design your own headdress to look the part!

www.prm.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Exploring PortraitsAshmolean Museum

Did you know that portraits have a secret language of their own? The setting, body language and clothing of the subject all tell a story. In this thought-provoking workshop, students learn how to decode constructed images and imagine how they would like to look in their own portrait.

www.ashmolean.org/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Ancient Egypt DetectivesAshmolean Museum

There’s much more to Ancient Egypt than pyramids and pharoahs. Uncover the everyday stories of people who lived 5000 years ago. Find evidence of how they lived, worked and played. Were they really so different from you and me?

www.ashmolean.org/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Evolve, Adapt, Survive: EvolutionOxford University Museum of Natural History

What do polar bears, pythons and elephants have in common? They’ve all adapted over time to survive in unique conditions. Examine an array of real specimens, look for evidence of adaptation and leave with a deeper understanding of evolution and natural selection.

oumnh.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

History DetectivesPitt Rivers Museum

To be a historian you must think like a detective, piecing the evidence together to tell a story from the past. This workshop is designed to sharpen your student’s investigative skills. Can they uncover the identity of a mystery historical figure…?

www.prm.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Life in the Undergrowth: Insects in their HabitatsOxford University Museum of Natural History

Nobody wants a wasp at their picnic, but every insect has an important part to play in the ecology of our planet. Discover the secret worlds of insects and get to know them better during a bug-handling session. Will you be brave enough to hold a spider or a cockroach from the museum’s live collection?

oumnh.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Remarkable Victorian WomenPitt Rivers/Museum of Natural History

Time travel to the nineteenth-century with two female pioneers: explorer Mary Kingsley and the fossil hunter Mary Anning. Guides dressed in character will conduct your group around both museums, showing you objects they’ve collected. There’s also a chance to handle African artefacts and fossils.

www.prm.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 32. £100

Shadows and SundialsHistory of Science Museum

Long before smartphone displays and digital watches people relied on shadows to tell the time. Using the museum’s collection, learn about the science of time-telling and experiment by making your own sundial.

www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 35. £100

Tudor MusicBate Collection

Music was an important part of everyday life in Tudor England. Explore musical styles from this period and have a go at playing something yourself, on early instruments from the museum’s handling collection.

www.bate.ox.ac.uk/school-groups/ Max group size 15. £60

Earth and SpaceHistory of Science Museum

For centuries humans have observed the night sky and mapped the movements of its stars and planets. Take in the museum’s astronomy collection - including astrolabes and orreries - and record your own observations using real historical instruments.

www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/primary-schools Max group size 35. £100

We’ve given you a taste of what the University of Oxford has to offer,

but that’s not all. Many of the departments and museums can organise

bespoke workshops and experiences to meet your pupils’ needs.

Contact details for departmental and college outreach officers can be

found by following the weblinks in this guide.

If you have an idea for a new event, or there’s a particular workshop

that you’d like us to offer, send your suggestions to:

oxfordforoxford@admin.ox.ac.uk

Want more? To keep up with the very latest events for schools and

teachers visit the University’s Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach

events calendar at:

www.ox.ac.uk/outreachevents

Many thanks to the Hamilton Trust, whose generous donation made this leaflet

possible. www.hamilton-trust.org.uk

All information is correct at the time of going to press but is subject to change without notice. Always check with the organiser of the event before travelling.

Illustrations by Sam OsborneWritten and designed by Stephanie Cater