Daniel’s BM visit report and art work
On 23rd February 2010 8 students & 3 staff from Orchard School plus 3 museum service staff visited the British Museum. The following is Daniel’s memories of the visit:
We left the Orchard School at about 9.30 and walked to North Gate Station. Once we arrived at the station we went inside to put our tickets through the barrier to get onto the platform. Then we waited in the little room for the train, where we got split up into two groups before getting on. The train left the station at 10.06 and took less than an hour and a half to get to London. We arrived at Kings Cross Station at 11.30. Once we got off the train we all met up and started walking from the station to the British Museum, which took about 15 minutes. We arrived at the British Museum at 12.0, at first we stood looking at the building. It was huge! Some people took photos of the building and someone took a photo of us all. Then we went inside the museum and stood in the Great Court, while we waited for someone to take us to the locker room where we could leave our stuff. Then we had a tour round the museum and first of all looked at some of the largest and most comprehensive collection, including the bust of Ramesses II. Then we went to the Round Reading Room, where the British Library used to be. After the tour we went back downstairs to the locker room to have lunch. After lunch we split up into two groups. My group went to the basement to a little room, where we were allowed to touch some objects. Whilst sitting on the floor we took it in turns to have our say about how the objects were made. We then swapped with the other group and Kevin took us to the Roman bit, where he explained about the objects and the life of the Romans, why they came to Britain, how they built the A46 (Fosse Way) and also about the Roman Empire. When we had finished we had a break for a drink and chilled, before we left the museum. Some went to the shop, but I sat down with Cameron and Chris waiting for the others. Just before leaving we saw another part of the museum, which had an object made from African guns. We left the museum and made our way back to St Pancras Station. When we got to the station some went and got some snacks and shopping, whilst the rest of us stood and waited whilst they finished. Then we all headed back to Kings Cross Station, where I got a Burger King, but refused to eat it until I got on the train. Once everyone was ready we had to hurry for the train and left Kings Cross at 7.00pm arriving back at Newark at 8.30pm, then I went home.
As well as the mosaic and Roman pot making workshops in which the students participated, most of the students have produced a drawing of their chosen object. This is Daniel’s drawing of the brooch:
