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Museum Summer fun and facts
Released on 24 Jul 2008
The Museum of Oxford's collections and exhibitions inspire a series of fun activities throughout the summer months.
The Museum's popular Ollie the Ox's fun arts and crafts workshops each take a different historical theme. Kids can become a WW2 Evacuee, try their hands at making Victorian Sweets, or make Roman Mosaics. How about decorating an Egyptian Mummy Mirror, Making Paint from scratch or creating model Hot Air Balloons inspired by Sadler's 18th century balloon flight in Oxford?
All Ollie the Ox activities are available for children aged between 5-12 years. Under eights should bring an adult with them. Places are limited so pre-booking is recommended. All workshops run 2.00pm - 3.30pm (full listing below).
On Thursday 7 August at 2pm, children aged 3+ and their adults are invited to a special Lewis Carroll Storytelling session in association with local Audiobook company 'Oxford Storypods'. Children will meet 'Charles Dodgson' (aka Lewis Carroll) ' and listen to the stories he wrote for a little Oxford girl called Alice...followed by a simple puppet making craft, which costs £2.50 per person.
Younger children and families can also take part in creation station and a special gallery trail. Travel through the galleries and fill in the missing pieces in the summer gallery trail, find all the pieces to win a prize or make a simple toy from the past - a jingling jester stick or a jumping jack puppet. Both cost £1.00 per person. No need to book, just drop in.
Admission to the museum is free.
Tuesday 29 July and Thursday 31 July: Mummy Mirrors: £5.50
Make an Egyptian mummy mirror to hang at home, and jewellery worn by the Pharaohs.
You need to come to both sessions to make your craft.
Wednesday 30 July: Roman Soldiers: £3.00
Be a victorious Roman soldier. Make a ceremonial helmet, victor's laurel wreath and paint a lorica segmentata.
Tuesday 5 August: Victorian Bath Times: £3.50
Choose your own colours, scents and flowers to make a Victorian bath time treat.
Wednesday 6 August: Illuminated Ceramics: £3.00
Design and decorate a ceramic masterpiece in the style of the medieval manuscript writers.
Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 August: Medieval Rubbish: £5.00
Discover the medieval rubbish pit from under the Westgate and make a medieval glazed jug and decorative tile.
You need to come to both sessions to make your craft.
Wednesday 13 August: Hot Air Balloons: £2.50
Use the first successful English balloon flight in 18th century Oxford to inspire a model of your own.
Tuesday 19 August: William Morris felt-making: £3.50
Find out how to make felt and use William Morris's designs to inspire your own pieces to take home.
This session requires a lot of elbow work.
Wednesday 20 August: Roman Mosaics: £3.50
Design and make a real Roman mosaic.
Your work will need to be left at the museum to dry and collected at a later date.
Thursday 21 August: Paint making: £2.50
Discover the secrets of making paint from scratch and have a go at mixing some of your own colours.
With Joy Todd of Oxford University Museums.
Wednesday 27 August: Victorian Treats: £3.00
Find out what a penny lick was and make Victorian sherbet and sugar mice.
Thursday 28 August: WW2 Childhood: £3.00
Investigate an evacuee's suitcase, rationing and recipes, and 'make do and mend' a stuffed toy and a gas mask to take home.
For more information on all these events or to book a place on a workshop, please call the Museum of Oxford reception on 01865 252761 or visit the Museum of Oxford website.