The University's Zoology Museum houses many fascinating specimens from around the world. Most of them were collected by the celebrated Sir D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, the first Professor of Biology at Dundee.
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.
The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.
A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.
British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.
Suitable Venues
Extraordinary collections of animals, birds, fish and reptiles from around the world, plus models, charts and other teaching equipment
A wide range of objects of artistic, historical and scientific interest
The University has over 30,000 historic artefacts, artworks and specimens acquired during the 134 years of the institution's existence. These are cared for by Museum Services, which has been awarded Full Accreditation as a public museum service.
Exhibitions and Displays
Eight stunning galleries and a changing programme of exhibitions and events
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum is a splendid Gothic Revival-style building housing Dundee’s main collection. McManus’ displays offer a fascinating insight into Dundee, through exhibitions of Art, History and the Environment.
There are 8 galleries within The McManus, which are laid out on two floors.
RFC/RAF and wartime artefacts, pictures, memories and memorabilia housed in the wartime RAF Montrose HQ, depicting the story of the historic aerodrome which opened in February 1913, and various aircraft on display outside. Also recently opened to the public is a wartime pillbox with working field telephone.
History
The museum holds significant Neolithic and bronze age artefacts, and from Montrose’s later history the collection includes examples of Montrose silver and Dryleys pottery.
A lively art gallery and museum
The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery collects objects, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Forfar together with the work of past and contemporary artists reflecting the rich art heritage of Angus.
The collection consists of several thousand objects, paintings and drawings gifted or bequeathed to the museum.
Located in the old Town House in Kirriemuir, the museum describes the social, architectural and political history of the town and the Angus glens, using touch screen technology and CD-ROMS.
This beautiful Georgian house was built in the 18th century for David Erskine, a judge of the Scottish Court of Session.
House of Dun is just 3 miles from Montrose and its picturesque unspoilt beaches and around 45 minutes' drive from Aberdeen.
A richly diverse collection forms an encyclopaedic view of past Glen life: a kitchen; dairy and farming equipment; a parlour; costume display; children’s room; bothy; and superb archives covering every aspect of the Glen’s social history.
Many cities across the UK have some form of Transport Museum as a home for their transport history, vehicles, memorabilia, etc. so please join with us and support our campaign to bring our heritage home.
The Royal Research Ship Discovery returned to her home port of Dundee in 1986 where she was greeted by thousands lining the shores of the River Tay. In 1993 Discovery Point opened as a purpose built museum, visitor centre and conference venue playing host to over 150,000 visitors per year from both the public and business communities.
Broughty Castle sits imposingly at the mouth of the River Tay. Built in 1496 on a rocky promontory, it has faced many sieges and battles.
Located on the ground floor of the former Brechin Town House, on the west side of the High Street in the centre of the town, Brechin Museum has displays highlighting the history of the town from the 10th century through to the present day.
Signal Tower Museum is located near Arbroath’s picturesque and busy harbour, in a complex of buildings originally used as the shore station and family accommodation for the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Built in 1813, Signal Tower served the lighthouse until 1955.
Two galleries above Arbroath Public Library provide changing displays from artworks held in the Angus Council Art Collections, touring exhibitions from elsewhere, and locally generated shows.
An extensive range of material, worldwide in scope, which covers the whole of the animal kingdom
The museum’s displays are worldwide in scope, from protozoa to the great whales, including taxidermy, skeletal material, study skins, fluid-preserved specimens and models. Visitors are warmly welcomed to the museum, and there is no charge for admission, though we ask that children are accompanied by a responsible adult.
The Pathology and Forensic Medicine Collection provides an historical record of disease types and causes of death in north-east Scotland. It demonstrates both pathological conditions and traumatic pathology. Changing displays of the permanent collection can be seen outside the Medical Library, The Polwarth Building at the Foresterhill campus.
King’s Museum lies at the heart of the University's Old Aberdeen campus. As well as being Scotland's newest museum, it may also be the oldest as its origins lie in a museum collection established in King's College in 1727.
The result of 200 years of collecting, the Natural Philosophy Collection of Scientific Instruments is one of the most diverse in any British University
Resulting from over 200 years of collecting, the Natural Philosophy Collection of Scientific Instruments is one of the most diverse collections in any British University. The earliest material dates from the mid-18th century and the collection ranges from the simplest demonstration pieces to those that were state-of-the-art research equipment.
The Herbarium is the only significant plant collection in the north of Scotland. Within the collection, there is special emphasis on British (especially Scottish) and south-east Asian (especially Thailand) material. The Herbarium also holds notable collections from other European and Asian locations and from North America.
Selected mineral and fossil material is on display in the corridors of the Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology in the Meston Building, Old Aberdeen. Collection highlights are the Gordon Collection of Minerals and the Lyon Collection of Rhynie Chert Devonian plant material.
Established in the 1870s, the Anatomy Museum has a wide-ranging collection used extensively for medical teaching and training, including skeletal material, fluid-preserved specimens of human tissue, historical and modern models and works on paper. Of special interest are a set of 19th century anatomical watercolours and a series of anatomical drawings by Alberto Morrocco.
The centre offers an interesting insight into the social and natural history of Tomintoul and Glenlivet. It includes a reconstructed farmhouse kitchen and blacksmith’s workshop. The centre is open seasonally from April until the end of October.
Schools
The Cowdray Hall is one of city's most popular concert venues accentuated by superb acoustics. It is regularly hired by cultural organisations and features a busy programme of concerts and recitals. It hosts the popular Lunchbreak Concert series run in association with the University of Aberdeen and is home to Aberdeen Chamber Music Concerts season.
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