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Banner image of the Throwing it out There Learning and Engagement Activities

This webpage was created by twelve MA Museum and Artefact Studies students at Durham University. It is a component of our Museum Communications module and exhibition ‘Throwing It Out There: The Archaeology of Ritual, Rivers and Rubbish’. The exhibition is based on the theme of ‘ritual’, and focusses specifically on objects deposited in the rivers in, and around, Durham. The exhibition includes objects found in the River Wear by divers Gary Bankhead, and in the River Tees by Robert Middlemass and Rolfe Mitchinson, as well as artefacts from Durham’s Bronze Age hoards. 

This page includes a variety of activities designed to be suitable for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students as well as free downloadable teaching resources, podcast and our online exhibition.

The activities aim to cover English, maths, science, history, geography, and art. We would like to assure you that there has been extensive use of the National Curriculum guidelines to create these resources, and that you are more than welcome to adapt them if necessary. The instructions for all the activities are provided, and we would love it if you shared your pupils’ work with us at museumcommunication2023@gmail.com!

Online Learning Resources

There are lots of free online resources for you to bring cross curricular archaeology into your children's learning. 

Teacher Resource Packs

These free teacher resource packs bring river archaeology and ritual into your teaching for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Year groups.
Image of underwater archaeology remains found in Durham and piercebridge

Learning Resources

These learning resources accompany the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 learning packs or can be used as a stand alone activities.
An Image of a toy plane form the 20th Century found in the River Wear

Family Resources

These activities can be used at home, in your learning or just for fun. Join in and see what you can create!
Image of a medieval pilgrims cross found in Durham

Throwing it Out There Podcast

As part of the Things To Do, we have created a podcast series to accompany our physical and online exhibition. Coming soon!
Image of the throwing it Out There Podcast Image
Pixalated image of a person standing on a bridge throwing a personal item into a pixelated river.

Throwing it Out There: The Archaeology of Ritual, Rivers and Rubbish

To complement the teacher resource packs, downloadable activities and listening to the podcast, you are welcome to explore our accompanying online exhibition.

Online Exhibition