Handling Boxes

Historic Scotland offers a range of Free Handling Box sessions at a variety of its sites.  These boxes offer a great opportunity for hands-on learning!

• Bronze Age Handling Box - Fort George
• Georgian Life Handling Box - Duff House
• Iron Age Handling Box - Orkney
• Medieval Castles Handling Box
• Skara Brae Handling Box - Orkney
• Victorian Life Handling Box - Duff House
• Vikings Handling Box - Orkney & Shetland
• World War I & II Handling Box - Stirling Castle
  

Fort George
P1 - P7
This innovative handling box is designed to help teachers explore life in the Bronze Age.  The replica artefacts together with our suggested activities will allow children to see, feel and explore many different aspects of a period of great complexity, social change and development.  These ‘symbols of power’ explain the appearance of the first metalworkers in Britain and the spread of ‘Beaker culture’, a widespread European tradition of fine pottery and state-of-the-art bronze axes

How to book
The box can be booked for use in school from Fort George on 01667 460208 and could accompany a school visit to any early prehistoric site, such as the Clava Cairns.



Duff House
P4 - P7 & S1 - S2
This box is available on site at Duff House for teachers leading visits to the property.  It contains resources and activities to explore the architecture of Duff House using historical documents, images and carved architectural decorations.

How to book
The handling box can be booked for use during a visit by phoning Duff House on 01261 818181.



Orkney
P1 - P7
Open up a box full of replica artefacts to see, feel and explore life in the Iron Age. The Iron Age in Orkney saw the construction of many impressive brochs - defensive strongholds designed as much to demonstrate land ownership and power as to protect their occupants. This handling box is accompanied by images and suggested activities designed to help teachers with the difficult task of explaining everyday life in the ruins of the Broch of Gurness.

How to book
To book the box please call the Orkney Rangers on 01856 841732 and specify whether you wish to use the box on site or in the classroom.




P3 - P7 & S1 - S2
Structured around the themes of Castle Defences, Domestic Life and Court Life, when combined with a site visit the handling box will help pupils to explore the exciting world of medieval castle life through objects that would have been used during the period. The handling box has been designed to allow teachers flexibility to use it as appropriate to the needs of individual groups and accompanying guidance notes can be downloaded from the Historic Scotland website.

How to book
To access the Medieval Castles Handling Box, please book direct with the site that you want to visit. Details of participating sites and contact numbers are listed on the Historic Scotland website.



Orkney
P1 - P7 & S1 - S2
There are two handling boxes available for Orkney schools at Skara Brae, on the theme of life in the prehistoric village. Both are identical and contain replicas of artefacts found on the site, along with a teacher’s pack that includes photocopiable pupil worksheets, ideas for classroom-based activities, a photo CD and reference books.

One box can be used on site at Skara Brae, while the other one is available for Orkney schools to borrow and use in the classroom, although schools must collect it and return it themselves.

How to book
Please call the Orkney Rangers on 01856 841732 and specify whether you wish to use the box on site or in the classroom.



Duff House
P1 - P7 & S1 - S2
A box of replica Victorian artefacts is available on site at Duff House for teachers leading visits to the property. It contains domestic items and pupil question / answer sheets to explore the objects and learn more about life in the Victorian house.

How to book
The handling box can be booked for use during a visit by phoning Duff House on 01261 818181.



Orkney & Shetland
P1 - P7 & S1 - S2
There are two handling boxes available, one in Orkney, one in Shetland, on the theme of Viking life. The boxes include replicas of artefacts found at Viking sites such as Jarlshof and Brough of Birsay, along with a teacher’s pack that includes photocopiable pupil worksheets, ideas for classroom based activities, a photo CD, a DVD and reference books.

The boxes can be borrowed for use in the classroom, but schools must collect and return the boxes themselves.

How to book
Schools in Orkney can borrow a box by phoning the Orkney Rangers on 01856 841732.
Schools in Shetland can borrow a box by phoning the Education Officer at Shetland Museum & Archives on 01595 695057.



Stirling Castle
World War I Handling Box [PDF, 3.1 mb] (S3-S4)
World War II Handling Box [PDF, 882 kb] (P4-P7)

Follow specific routes (with differentiated worksheets) around the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum and Stirling Castle. In the education room investigate the life of a soldier through artefacts and uniforms.

Teacher - led activity: September to April - Mondays and Fridays on request
10.00am, 12.30pm for 2 hours
Maximum number of pupils: 33

How to book
Contact the Education Unit on 0131 668 8793 / 8736