What a week I have had! I’ve been blown away by everything I’ve done and experienced, as well as learnt. I can’t believe it’s nearly over; this week has flown by so quickly as I’ve had so much to do and had so much fun. I’m doing a second blog post to catch-up on everything that has happened since my last post on Tuesday. Work Experience Week will be one I’ll never forget, as I’ve done some things that I’ve always wanted to do as well as learning a lot about all different kinds of jobs. I can’t wait to go back to school and compare work placements with everyone, as I’m sure mine will be the best!
Going to East Coast FM was really fun. It was pretty daunting when I first got there, and I wasn’t sure how loud to speak or when to speak either, but I soon relaxed a bit and got more comfortable with the microphones, etc. I even got to go behind the desk and see how everything works, which was really interesting. I didn’t know that they had so many dials and buttons to press whilst they were talking, it was all very confusing! But I had a lot of fun there and everyone was really friendly and made me feel welcome and stopped me from being nervous, being on the radio is definitely something I would like to do again! In the afternoon I worked on the World War One loan box; creating worksheets and front covers as well as checking everything was working. This was a really good day as I got to experience the office-side of the job as well as the more out-and-about side of the job. The day was one I’ll never forget and I really hope I get to do something like this again.
Alice and the organ at Kelvingrove
On Wednesday we went on an all day trip with students from Cockenzie Primary to museums in Glasgow. When everyone first sat down on the bus it was very quiet and sedated-that’s what an early start does! But as we got closer to Glasgow everyone started to wake up a bit and get more and more excited for their day out. We arrived at Kelvingrove around ten o’clock after an hour and a half bus journey. We were greeted by a learning assistant named Lesley, who talked to the children about how museum displays are made and what they have to think about when making a museum, as well as what jobs everyone has who works in a museum such as Kelvingrove. Most of the children seemed to like the job of a taxidermist the most! The children were all really engrossed in the task, especially once they had been split up into groups. They were then assigned a person with a specific job in the museum to try and find and ask them their questions. Our group was assigned the expert who sits at reception ready to answer any tourists’ questions. She was very nice and the children had some very sophisticated questions. The pupils were then allowed to tour the museum freely in their groups, which they all loved-especially the stuffed animals, as well as the interactive displays,
Maybe a giant visited Kelvingrove?
which I’m sure will give them some great ideas for the museum they will be creating soon. After lunch everyone got back onboard the bus and headed to the “behind the scenes” building for Kelvingrove and other museums. This is where all the items that museums can’t hold go. It was fascinating seeing everything that other members of the public don’t see, as well as being able to hold real Egyptian artefacts. However the thing that most amazed me was the fact that Kelvingrove held only 2% of what the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre holds, which completely baffled me. Overall it was a really good day and all the children enjoyed it too.
At least this dog would be okay in puddles!
Today I have already been to Aberlady Primary School with Sarah to show them what happens behind the scenes at museums and how they can create a great museum on World War Two. They all really enjoyed getting hands on with the artefacts and had some really great insights into who might have worn/used the item, why it was used, why it had dents, etc. They were equally as fascinated at how they could display their museum, one girl even got up and showed the medals that a member of her family had received, which gave members of the class some good ideas as to how they could present the medals, considering the fact that smaller children might not be careful with them. They were a lovely class and their museum is obviously going to be incredible. The rest of today I will be finishing off the World War One loan box, which will have many contemporary items from the First World War that schools can borrow as resources. I will also be sorting out tickets for a competition that will be coming up and creating a poster as well, which I’m really looking forward to as I like doing creative things. On Friday Sarah and I will be going to Prestongrange mining museum to set up a children’s corner, which will take up most of the day.
I’m sad my work experience week is almost over but I had an incredible time and it was so much fun that I’m looking forward to writing my English essay and talk on it, to show off about how incredible my week has been! I’m very grateful to Sarah and everyone who works at the East Lothian Museum Service for being so welcoming and kind and making my week so much fun!
