Ways to Play 2024: February Half Term
05 February 2024
During February half term, families are invited to enjoy a great value day out across museums and galleries on Tyneside.
(All images available to download here)
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) and Tyne and Wear Metro are continuing their award-winning partnership to offer families low-cost fun days out.
At a time when everyone is conscious of rising costs, Tyneside’s museums are offering a range of high quality, low-cost events at well-loved family destinations across South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead. All of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ venues are near a Metro station, so families can take advantage of free travel for children under 11, with a fare paying adult.
The Ways to Play campaign is inspired by the range of ways a child can play, and encourages children to be active, creative and imaginative. Highlights of the Ways to Play programme include; a family shipbuilding competition at Discovery Museum, a series of spooky evening performances at Stephenson Steam Railway and a complete programme filled with free learning activities at Great North Museum: Hancock.
TWAM first partnered with Tyne and Wear Metro on the Ways to Play campaign in Summer 2021. The campaign has since received recognition at the North East Culture awards in 2022 by winning Best Arts and Business Partnership, as well as the best Not for Profit Marketing Award at the North East Marketing Awards in December 2022. It was also shortlisted at the Museum + Heritage Awards in May 2023 for Partnership of the Year.
Click to view the Ways to Play webpage.
Tuesday 20 February
In true Tyneside fashion, Discovery Museum are hosting a shipbuilding challenge. As a family or a group, you'll experiment to see which materials and shapes will float the best, before designing and building your own ship. You'll get to test your design in the ship tank to see how much cargo it can hold before it sinks.
Wednesday 21 February
Join our dedicated Early Years expert Amy as she reads the story Ten Little Pirates by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty to the children. The young ones can then get creative with crafts inspired by the themes in the book.
Tuesday 20 February:
Join our Keeper of Geology to make some marvellous mineral and gem models using paper and discover how these beautiful structures grow in nature.
Join our Natural Sciences team for our February half term Creature Features, discover some of the spectacular skeletons in our Natural History collection.
Wednesday 23 February
Join the Cell Detectives for a hands-on experience with microscopes, allowing visitors to explore miniature ecosystems, microbes, and microplastics.
Using the latest heat camera technology reveal hidden elements and emphasise the role of temperature in our surroundings and discover thermal patterns in everyday objects.
Join our Archaeology team to explore some hidden History Mysteries of the past, see beneath the surface of a mummified person and discover what hidden secrets reveal themselves using current technology.
Use the patterns and pigments, inspired by the past.
21, 22, 23, 24 February
Join actors from the Little Cat Theatre, for an evening of scary ghost stories at the Railway.
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery:
Tuesday 20 February
Using collage technique, create a paper plate portrait, using images of food! Visit our food & drink exhibition, SCRAN! to get inspired before you step into our learning room and participate in the activity.
Monday 19 February
Take inspiration from Roman standards to make your own design and have fun flying your own flag
Tuesday 20 February
We're getting creative and inspired by the decorative artworks on display. Weave an ornament or necklace using wool and lollipop sticks.
Create a woven paper artwork to display on your wall.
Create a colourful crown using a paper plate or thread your own necklace or bracelet using cardboard straws and string.
ENDS -
Media contact: sallie.ball@twmuseums.org.uk
About Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM)
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) is a major regional museum, art gallery and archives service. We manage a collection of nine museums and galleries across Tyneside and the Archives for Tyne and Wear. These include the Great North Museum: Hancock, Laing Art Gallery, Hatton Gallery and Discovery Museum in Newcastle; South Shields Museum & Art Gallery and Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort; Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum in Wallsend; Stephenson Steam Railway in North Shields; and Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead.
TWAM is supported by the four local authorities in Tyneside and Newcastle University. TWAM is also a National Portfolio Organisation funded by Arts Council England.
TWAM holds collections of international importance in archives, art, science and technology, archaeology, military and social history, fashion and natural sciences.
Tyne and Wear Metro’s take the kids for free offer:
