The Garden City and the Museum

This popular, introductory workshop generates historical understanding though a series of hands-on, role play activities. Pupils will engage in a topical debate, “the benefits of town and country” whilst also placing local history into a social context. Pupils will recognise the national importance of our local history and the role the museum plays in delivering to the community. SEN learning resources are also available.

Curriculum links with this activity:

History KS1

• 3 - Historical interpretation;
• 4 - Historical enquiry;
• 6 - The way of life of people in the more distant past who lived in the local area or elsewhere in Britain.

Geography KS1

• 7    - Identify and describe what places are like [for example, in terms of landscape, jobs, weather], identify and describe where places are [for example, position on a map, whether they are on a river] recognise how places have become the way they are and how they are changing [for example, the quality of the environment in a street], recognise how places compare with other places [for example, compare the local area with places elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Pre- Visit Activities

Introducing the Past

Prepare for your visit with supporting resources provided to you by First Garden City Heritage Museum. Introduce pupils to the local past through a series of photographs from the museum’s collection. Pupils can familiarise themselves with identifying features of Letchworth’s history, including early development maps of the town and local landmarks. A teacher’s pack is available upon request.

The Garden City

Prepare for your visit with supporting resources provided to you by the First Garden City Heritage Museum. Introduce the ideas of the Garden City through a series of photographs from the museum’s collection. Pupils can identify the changes in poverty housing, with recognition of the living and working benefits of both town and country. A teacher’s pack is available upon request.


Post-Visit Activities - Cheap Cottage Activity Box

Take the arts and crafts of the Garden City back to school with our new Cheap Cottage Activity Box. Pupils can re-create Letchworth’s Cheap Cottages Exhibition with a variety of fun-filled class activities. With a broad range of supporting resources, images and worksheets, pupils will experience a famous event of Letchworth’s history. This activity box with teacher’s pack is available for loan on a small, weekly charge. SEN learning resources are also available with this loan resource.