Key Stage 1
Take part in an interactive school workshop, guided tour or use our self-guided resources as you and your pupils explore the SS Great Britain and discover more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
To enquire about a school visit please complete the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.
“It was fantastic and my class will never forget their first ever school trip!” – KS1 class teacher
School Workshops and Tours
Our interactive school workshops are led by a member of the Education Team and intended for up to 30 children per session.
Brunel and His Ship
Duration: 1 Hour
Location: Medlock Education Centre
- Explore a range of Brunel’s projects
- Discover what makes the SS Great Britain so special
- Find out how the ship was built, and have a go at riveting in the Dry Dock
- Dress up to re-enact the launch of the ship in 1843
Brunel the Engineer
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Medlock Education Centre and Being Brunel
- Explore a range of Brunel’s projects
- Discover what powers the SS Great Britain and how its steam engine works
- Have a go at powering a model of the screw propeller
- Explore Being Brunel looking for real objects linked to Brunel and his work
Victorians at Sea
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Medlock Education Centre
- Discover what Victorian passengers on the SS Great Britain did to keep themselves busy
- Take part in a carousel of activities including writing with dip pens and ink, playing with Victorian toys, dressing up and taking a closer look at some object
Guided Tour of the Ship
Location: Onboard the SS Great Britain
Find out about the SS Great Britain’s long and adventurous life, discover passengers and crew stories as you explore the ship with our knowledgeable volunteer tour guides.
Self-Guided Resources
These free resources have been designed to enhance your school visit and support students to explore the site. Please print your required resources and bring them with you on your visit.
Brunel’s Curiosity Quest
Duration: approximately 30 minutes
Location: Being Brunel Museum
Have fun and learn more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel with Brunel’s Curiosity Quest! This self-guided activity encourages your group to explore Being Brunel whilst they carry out a range of open-ended tasks, including hunting for objects and drawing a circle in a moving train carriage.
Captain’s Trail
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Ship
Equipment: 1 Pencil and clipboard per printed trail
Explore the SS Great Britain and complete tasks as the “Captain” of the ship using the Captain’s Trail. With 5 versions, each with a different starting place onboard, this self-led activity will allow your class to discover the SS Great Britain in smaller adult-led groups.
Each version of the trail has an adult guide to accompany it with facts and information about the ship.
Children do not need their own trails; we recommend 1 or 2 trails per small group.
Download the Captain’s Trails
Download the Adult Guides
Dockyard Museum Hunt
Duration: approximately 30 minutes
Location: Dockyard Museum
Hunt for objects and discover more about the SS Great Britain. This self-guided activity is based in the Dockyard Museum and will get the children exploring the museum while looking for real objects from the ship’s past.
Dry Dock – Explorers Under the Glass Sea
Duration: approximately 30 minutes
Location: Dry Dock
Dry Dock – Explorers Under the Glass Sea is a STEM themed activity to support small groups while they look around the Dry Dock.
It encourages the children to explore the space whilst providing facts and background information for the grown-ups accompanying them.
Dry Dock – Explorers Under the Glass Sea – student activity sheet
Explore Everywhere
Duration: Flexible
Location: Anywhere
There is so much to discover and explore at Brunel’s SS Great Britain! These fun, simple and flexible challenge cards help children engage with their surroundings.
We recommend one set per group of children.
*For best results, set your printer to “flip on long edge” and to “actual size”. Print in A4 landscape, double-sided and in colour. Then cut into cards.
Explore Art Everywhere
Duration: Flexible
Location: Anywhere
Arts and creativity are everywhere at Brunel’s SS Great Britain! These fun, simple and flexible challenge cards help children explore and identify art forms present in their surroundings.
We recommend one set per group of children.
Download Explore Art Everywhere
*For best results, set your printer to “flip on long edge” and to “actual size”. Print in A4 landscape, double-sided and in colour. Then cut into cards.
Senses Scavenger Hunt *New*
Duration: Flexible
Location: Site wide
Equipment: 1 pencil per group
Children can use their senses to explore Brunel’s SS Great Britain. The Senses Scavenger Hunt encourages them to look, smell, listen and touch to see what they can discover with a range of open-ended tasks which can be carried out anywhere onsite including the ship and dockyard.
This self-led activity can be done in groups or as a whole class while you’re exploring.
Download Senses Scavenger Hunt
Print booklet double sided, fold in half, then in half again.
Prices
Our current UK school visit prices are:
- £8.50 per child for entry
- One free adult place for every 6 children, additional adults charged at £8.50
- Free entry for 1:1 carers
- £60 per School Workshop – sessions last 1 hour for a maximum of 30 children
- £20 per School Guided Tour of the SS Great Britain – tours last 1 hour for a maximum of 30 children
- Free allocated time slot for lunch in the Riggers’ Yard, an outdoor covered picnic area
Enquiry Form
Please use the enquiry form below to start the process of booking your school visit to the SS Great Britain.
After receiving your form, a member of our Bookings Team will get in touch, as soon as possible, to either confirm your visit, offer alternative dates/times or to ask for any additional information.
Please find our booking terms and conditions here.
