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Choosing Objects for Handling
To decide which objects to use, you will need to:
- decide what you want to use them for e.g. age-group, subject
- assess each object's suitability for that activity (see download below).
Not all objects will be suitable for handling, but objects could be:
- displayed where children can examine them closely, or
- protected, e.g., the "Perspex sandwich" (Reading Museum).
Objects chosen for handling will need to be fairly robust.
- More delicate objects such as a wax doll may be able to be handled selectively, i.e. one child examining the object while the session leader holds it.
- Alternatively, substitute a real object with a replica object. Replicas may not inspire the same excitement that original artefacts do but are still valid in terms of teaching investigative skills and the process of historical enquiry.
Real or Replica
- Children need to be able to closely examine an object, seeing and feeling the techniques that have gone into its creation.
- Replicas do not convey the weight, feel and smell of original objects, and mass produced replicas lack detail.
Replicas can have a place:
- when an object is incomplete, the original can be closely examined whilst the replica shows the appearance of the complete object
- where the original item is too fragile to handle, e.g., lace or delicate porcelain
- where only fragments have been preserved replicas can be used in conjunction with the suitably protected original, e.g., costume (visitors can obtain a lot of pleasure from wearing a reproduction outfit, whilst looking at the real.)
If you are using replica objects make it clear to children that they are replicas or encourage them to deduce this for themselves.
Downloads
Guidelines for Establishing, Managing and Using Handling Collections and Hands on Exhibits in Museums (Val Munday, MLA. Word DOC, 350Kb).
Risk Assessment of Objects for Handling (Word DOC, 43Kb).