Educational Activities for Bronze Ware Exhibition Held by Hunan Provincial Museum

The Bronze ware exhibition held in Changsha Municipal Museum attracted a lot of visitors. In the last week of 2013, the educational center of Hunan Provincial Museum held the educational activities of “Small Trolley”, “Legendary beasts” and “Looking Back hisotry”, embracing the New Year with visitors together.

“Small Trolley” was very popular. Firstly, education staff introduced to them the activity instruction and relevant information about bronze. Visitors then, touched  the copies of 12 artifacts in the “Small Trolley”, watched pieces of relics and several enlarged pictures through which they gained more knowledge about the bronze of the late period and became more aware of the conservation of the cultural relics. The interactive and well-participated “Small Trolley” activity was a successful trial among recent educational activities in the museum.

The activities instruction of "small trolley"

Visitors touches the copies of artefacts

“Legendary beasts” intended to enhance children’s ability of observation and judgment and their emotional communication with parents. Cartoon characters “knowledgeable brother” and “Xiangxiang sister” were grandly introduced by the education center. Their appearance enriched the exhibition and made the atmosphere more lively and relaxed.

Knowlegeable brother and Xiangxiang sister

The museum worksheets of "legendary beasts"

There were three steps in “Legendary beasts.”  Firstly, the staff acting as the “knowledgeable brother” assigned tasks to 25 groups of family. They were asked to find out the objects listed in the paper and answer the questions there within the given time. Later, “knowledgeable brother” provided a guided tour for children to visit the exhibition. Through asking questions, they knew more about the design, decorations, functions and other related information of legendary beast bronze. In the final part, children and their parents made the masks of “ Xiezhi”--- a kind of legendary beasts in Chinese legend, blessing for the new year.

Kids are making the masks of "Xiezhi"

“Looking Back History” activity with the focus of family ancestral hall gave a detailed introduction to visitors about the ritual vessels and sacrificial utensil. Besides, the educators uses pictures  to introduces the Confucius-commemorating rituals in academies and Confucian Temples as well as the traditional worship in family ancestral hall, spreading some professional knowledge among people.

These educational activities, especially the Museum Worksheets, were greatly praised by parents. The Museum Worksheets was a great guide for children to visit the museum and learn about bronze.

Our museum will present more original educational activities later. Please stay tuned and welcome your participation!