Below we have a range of ideas, resources, activities and projects to entertain, educate and engage young people.  The ideas on this page are ideal for use with the family, as a Home Learning project or even to support pupils’ knowledge and understanding before or after their school visit to Wheal Martyn Clay Works. 

We will add to this page and update the materials, so please do keep popping back to see what else we have on offer.  Find out about our programme of hands-on creative activities exploring what makes us proud: Our Proud Roots. You can help to co-create a performance at Wheal Martyn!

NEW! My Mini-Museum Challenge

Take the challenge to design and create your own ‘mini-museum’.  Re-imagine your own museum exhibition and become a Curator of your own artefacts. It could be in any form – a Time Capsule Box, a table-top display or a digital gallery of images and words.

You might theme it to “My Lockdown Mini Museum” or “The Place I Call Home”, to document these unusual times that we are living in?

Use these resources to plan your challenge:

• Find out what and who a Curator is in the following film by our Trainee Curator:

• Complete the Fact Sheet What is a Curator Download here
• Take a closer look at what makes for a good exhibition, before accepting the My Mini Museum Challenge Download challenge here
• Now it’s time to get creative and plan your own exhibition! Use this planning sheet to get started Designing My Mini-Museum Download planning sheet here

We would love to share the best and most creative ideas with the public!  Do send a digital copy or photos of your Mini-Museum to [email protected] and use #whealmartyn200 on social media.  

Cornish clay heritage activities:

• Colour by Numbers is an easy introduction to some of the wonderful uses of China clay, all found in our everyday. Download here
• So, you think you know what China clay is used in?! Then test yourself with the Clever Clay Uses Crossword. Download here
• Do you fancy more of a challenge? Then undertake the Cornish Clay Knowledge Crossword, testing your knowledge of the China clay industry, old and new.  Download the crossword here and the crossword answers here
• Discover some of our hidden gems at Wheal Martyn with the Wheal Martyn Word Search: an ideal way to introduce you to, or remind you of our beautiful and unique Victorian clay works.  Download word search here and the word search answers here
• Think outside the box and use your imagination! Take on the Transport Scavenger Quiz: get searching through your classroom, playground, garage, bedroom draws, and kitchen cupboard or toy boxes to find objects and inspiration to complete the challenge. Download Transport Scavenger Quiz here
• Relax and get colouring with our Clay Transport Colouring sheet, revealing some of the methods of transporting China clay Download Clay Transport Colouring here
• Unleash your inner Scientist and engineering spirit! Take a STEM Challenge with our Clay Cargo Ship Activity, and investigate what makes ships float and find the best designs to carry a load.  Download Clay Cargo Ship Instructions here

Crafting and building activities:

• Make up your own mode of ‘China clay transport’ and build a model or draw a picture of your creation. You could raid your recycling bin and create a fantastic junk model
• Create your own Clay Country, with clay works, railways, roads and ports. Build a track in your sitting room or garden for your model cars, trucks and trains, delivering and collecting clay.  You could even make a papier-mâché clay pit!
• Bake and decorate a cake or some biscuits in the ‘Clay Transport’ theme. Top Tips:

Simple Solutions: simply decorate a plain biscuit, like Rich Tea or Digestives, with a wagon wheel design. Or build a biscuit collage of a vehicle like a lorry

A Bit More Tricky: bake a cake and decorate it as a vehicle or build it in the shape of a vehicle, like a cargo ship or train

Get active and outdoors:

• Build a Mini Nature Raft with Badger Forest Schools. See the following great video demonstration:

               - Simply gather some simple materials from around your garden or during your hourly walk, such as short sticks,                           leaves and grasses.

               - Use some wool or string to tie together to create a simple raft. You could add a mast and sail.

               - Test your raft in a pond, stream, puddle or even a paddling pool. You could even have a raft race!  

Please make sure you send us pictures of your creations and hard work by sharing on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using #whealmartyn200 

We have some fantastic stories and competitions, exploring and investigating our museum collection and our local heritage.  To find out more click here and follow our hashtags #whealmartyncreate  #celebrateclaycountry and #whealmartyn200  

Thanks for helping us to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of china clay first being mined at Wheal Martyn in 1820!

Do you want to find more fantastic ways to get creative whilst at home?

Get involved with #FrontRoomFieldTrips! Search the hashtag on social media to find virtual workshops, activities, and learning projects for your children designed by museums in Cornwall. Keep them learning in new and fun ways about Cornwall and its heritage from the comfort and safety of your own home and classrooms. Share what you have been doing by posting and using the #FrontRoomFieldTrips. Where will your front room take you?

We have worked for several years with our partners, bringing schools and families together with some wonderful arts and heritage projects.  Now is a good time to share the wealth of all these wonderful artists’ that we work with, and get involved in their fun activities.

The Writers' Block

Sharing our love of a story, The Writers’ Block has recorded a series of stories and fairytales for Early Years children, Little Story Seekers.  In addition, they have commissioned five new stories that have been read, sung, illustrated and filmed by our Story Republic team.  These are suitable for adults and children alike.  The videos are shared on their Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Cornwall Music Education Hub

Keep up to date with events and activities offered through the Music Hub by following their Facebook page.