Our museum’s educational programme for schools

On dogs, birds and monsters – animals in Brake Castle

Primary school: general knowledge, art

The pupils embark on a discovery trip and find familiar and unknown animals on paintings and furniture. If desired, Brako, the hunting dog (= hand-puppet) of the Renaissance Count Simon VI, will also make an appearance and explain the meaning and history of the animals depicted. After this the pupils make a fabulous creature in the shape of a paper collage, which is then integrated in a game of dice.

Supervision: a member of the museum educational staff

Price: 3 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 2 Euros for materials)

On knights and castles

Primary school upwards: general knowledge, history

Castle walls, suits of armour and weapons mark the stages in a knight’s training, but he also has to prove his value at a Renaissance table. If the squire also knows something about how coats of arms originated and what they mean, there is nothing to stop him from then being knighted. After this the pupils get dressed up as knights and ladies-in-waiting. Finally, there is a large display tournament.

Supervision: a member of the museum educational staff

Price: 3 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 2 Euros for materials)

Duration: 2 hours

Christmas in the Renaissance

Primary school upwards: general knowledge, religion, art

On our tour round the castle we investigate together the contents of a museum case in the shape of a large present. This raises questions about the Christmas tree, St. Nicholas and Christmas angels, Lebkuchen (spicy biscuits) and of course about the Christian Christmas story. After this we either make marzipan or angels.

Supervision: a member of the museum educational staff

Price: 3 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 2 Euros for materials)

Treasure hunt

Primary school upwards

This involves a circular tour, some of it in costume, round the castle, in the course of which exciting things, strange things and finally treasures are found. The teacher should previously hand in the “treasure” at the museum entrance.

Supervision: a member of the museum educational staff

Price: 2 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 1 Euro for materials)

In perspective. The secret of the third dimension

For 10-year-olds +: maths, physics, history, art

Using paintings, two-dimensional ways of expressing the three-dimensional space are shown, including aerial and colour perspective, the perspective of meaning and geometrical perspective. The computer simulation of a building seen from a geometrical perspective demonstrates how the topic can be understood in modern terms. Using copies of Dürer’s drawing device simple three-dimensional geometric bodies can drawn in correct perspective.

Supervision: one or two members of the museum educational staff

Price: 3 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 2 Euros for materials)

Duration: 1.5–2 hours

From alchemy to chemistry. Making gold

For 10-year-olds +: chemistry, physics, history, art

In the alchemist’s kitchen and in the museum’s own chemistry laboratory the students learn more about the aims and accomplishments of the natural sciences in the Renaissance. They are also paced through simple series of experiments, thus experiencing how to experiment on their own. Each school class is split into two. One half gathers information about the meaning of gold, the philosopher’s stone and the alchemists at the princely courts, while the other half makes gold in the museum’s laboratory, i. e. copper discs are galvanised and then alloyed with brass. At half-time the groups swap over. The children can take the "gold coins" with them.

Supervision: two members of the museum educational staff

Price: 4 Euros per pupil (1 Euro entrance fee, 3 Euros for materials)

Dialogue with mythology

For 12-year-olds +: Latin, German, history, art

Living Latin lessons in the museum:

Pupils study works of art that are connected with ancient history or mythology. After translating the Latin texts on which the myths are based they relate these to the works of art and try to present the “ancient” topic in such a way that it will be of interest to young museum visitors. The project can be adapted to the class’s needs as required.

Supervision: a member of the museum educational staff

Price: 1 Euro per pupil (entrance fee)

Duration: introductory session lasts at least 2 hours plus time to prepare and revise the contents in class at school