Planning a visit

Self-directed visits

You can come and visit the Nick Baldwin Collection exhibition at the Heritage Motor Centre (available after April 2007).

The exhibition develops the story of road transport and there are objects to handle, costumes to try on and stories and video footage to hear and see plus much more!

If you book a visit to the Heritage Motor Centre through the Education Officer you will be able to see the exhibition displays and facilities for yourself, and have time to complete your risk assessment thus ensuring that your group or class has a really successful and enjoyable visit.

There is one education room available if you would like to work with your groups away from the displays or to have lunch. Please book the education room in plenty of time as space is limited.

All information about facilities, directions, entrance charges and opening times is available at the Centre can be found on the Education pages of the Heritage Motor Centre website.

Museum Education

If you are a veteran of class visits to heritage sites then you will already know this information. However if you are unsure, or planning a first visit, please read on.

This is a unique opportunity for your group or class to learn in an environment other than school. To gain the very best from your visit the learners can work in independent social groups so divide your class into four to five groups with an adult with each group to act as a facilitator.

Select activities from the suggested online activities, download and print
Balance these with activities that involve just looking and thinking
Have a supply of sticky notes to record ideas and impressions
Give each activity a focus – something to find out from the exhibition

Each group can then work their way through the carousel of planned activities.

Start by giving a clear objective to the visit. Describe what the exhibition is about generally and the objectives of the activities. Allow 10-15 minutes for your introduction and 10 minutes for a plenary at the end – what did they all find, was it something surprising or unusual? Divide the remainder of the time equally between the activities. Allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for an exhibition visit.

If you plan to use activity sheets or resources please ensure you bring everything you need for the whole class or group as the Heritage Motor Centre does not stock any supplies. Allocate enough resources for each group and put into a pack to be given to each of the group facilitators.

Try to build in some time to reflect on the exhibition, to sketch, take digital photographs or record reactions. These are useful information gathering mechanisms.

Most of all have an enjoyable time!