Key Stage 2

Duration: 1 hour 
Location: Medlock Education Centre Explore the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the ship that made him famous. 

Pupils will: 

• Learn about a range of Brunel’s engineering projects 
• Discover what makes the SS Great Britain so special 
• Find out how the ship was built 
• Try a hands-on riveting activity in the Dry Dock 
• Dress up and re-enact the ship’s launch in 1843 

Duration: 1 hour 
Location: Medlock Education Centre and Being Brunel 

Discover how Brunel’s ideas changed engineering and transport. 

Pupils will: 

• Explore a range of Brunel’s major projects 
• Learn how the SS Great Britain was powered 
• Discover how a steam engine works 
• Try powering a model screw propeller 
• Visit Being Brunel to find real objects linked to his work 

Duration: 1 hour 
Location: Medlock Education Centre 

Step into the daily lives of Victorian passengers on board the ship. 

Pupils will: 

• Find out how passengers spent their time at sea 
• Take part in a carousel of hands-on activities 
• Write with dip pens and ink 
• Play with Victorian toys 
• Dress-up in period clothing 
• Handle and explore real objects 

Duration: 1 hour 
Location: Medlock Education Centre 

Find out about real passengers who travelled on the SS Great Britain.  

Pupils will: 

• Trace the journeys of the SS Great Britain 
• Work with real objects and transcripts 
• Investigate the stories of real passengers 
• Explore themes of migration, empire and travel 

Duration: up to 1 hour 
Location: On board the SS Great Britain 

Explore the ship with one of our knowledgeable volunteer guides. 

Your group will: 

• Discover the ship’s long and adventurous life 
• Hear stories of passengers and crew 
• Visit key spaces across the ship 
• Learn how the ship was built, used and saved  

Duration: about 30 minutes 
Location: Being Brunel Museum 

A fun, self-guided activity to help pupils learn more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel. 

Your group explores the Being Brunel museum while completing open-ended challenges, such as object-spotting and creative drawing tasks. 

Downloads 

• Brunel’s Curiosity Quest 
• Teacher’s Guide 

Duration: about 1 hour 
Location: On board the ship 
Equipment: 1 pencil and clipboard per trail 

Explore the ship as if you were the captain. Pupils’ complete tasks and answer questions while moving around different areas on board. 

There are five versions of the trail, each starting in a different location. This makes it easier to split your class into smaller, adult-led groups. 

Each trail has a matching adult guide with facts and background information. 

Children do not need their own copies. We recommend one or two trails per small group. 

Downloads 

• Captain’s Trail 1 
• Captain’s Trail 2 
• Captain’s Trail 3 
• Captain’s Trail 4 
• Captain’s Trail 5 

Adult Guides 

• Adult Guide 1 
• Adult Guide 2 
• Adult Guide 3 
• Adult Guide 4 
• Adult Guide 5 

Duration: about 30 minutes 
Location: Dry Dock 

A STEM-focused activity for small groups exploring the Dry Dock. 

Pupils investigate the space while adults can use the guide to share facts and background information. 

Downloads 

• Student activity sheet 
• Adult guide

Duration: flexible 
Location: anywhere on site 

There is plenty to discover across the site. These simple challenge cards help pupils stay curious wherever they are. 

We recommend one set per group. 

Download 

• Explore Everywhere 

Printing tip: 
Print in A4 landscape, double-sided, in colour. 
Set your printer to “flip on long edge” and “actual size”, then cut into cards. 

Duration: flexible 
Location: anywhere on site 

Creative challenge cards that help pupils notice art and design around them. 

We recommend one set per group. 

Download 

• Explore Art Everywhere 

Printing tip: 
Print in A4 landscape, double-sided, in colour. 
Set your printer to “flip on long edge” and “actual size”, then cut into cards. 

Duration: 1 hour
Location: On board the ship 

Chart Your Own Course is a fun, interactive ‘choose your own adventure’ style activity, that allows students to put themselves in the shoes of Victorian sailor making a 60-day voyage to Australia on the SS Great Britain. 

Chart Your Own Course is free but must be booked in advance. For more information download the Teacher Guide