Students and museums team up to create educational toys

Teesside students have created educational resources for use in museums across the Tees Valley.

The work of second year BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies students, which ranges from puppet shows to large scale jigsaws and dressing up costumes, will be assessed as part of their degree.

Tracy Dalton, 35, of Middlesbrough, created colourful Punch and Judy puppets and a puppet show, which will be used at Preston Hall Museum’s school room at Preston Park, Eaglescliffe. The mum-of-two said: ‘I really enjoy making crafts and had previously made a hand puppet as part of the course. I just developed that idea.’ ‘I’ve two sons, aged three and five, and had been helping out at the nursery, but I wanted to do more so I applied for the degree course at Teesside University. I’d been working at an optician’s as an optical dispenser for seven years and needed a complete change. ‘I’ve another year to go on the course and then I’m hoping to branch into working with children through social work or counselling.’

Putting theory into practice Rebecca Walters, Senior Lecturer in Education, said: ‘This has given the students a real opportunity to relate the theory taught in lectures to the practical application of activities, relating them to curriculum guidance. The museums involved also offered a lot of support to the students.’ Janet Brown, educational offer with Stockton Council, added: ‘The educational resources made by the students will be used alongside resources we currently use in activities when we have school groups visiting and by museum clubs.’ Along with Preston Hall Museum, the students have also been working with other Tees Valley museums, including Dorman and Captain Cook in Middlesbrough, Kirkleatham in Redcar and The Museum of Hartlepool.

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