While the Natural History Museum is remaining closed during lockdown, the famous London museum has launched a number of new online learning resources aimed at children and educators. Their latest interactive initiative #homeworkclub is using multiple social media channels to interact with children.
With all its amazing exhibitions, the Natural History Museum (NHM) is among the most popular museums for families London. While online experiences can’t replace a visit to a real museum, digital events and resources have proved to be a great help during the lockdown.
NHM’s Homework Club
Kicking off in February with Dinosaurs as the first popular theme, a new online learning topic has since then been launched every week through NHM Twitter channel NHM_Learning. This is a special channel focused on promoting free online learning resources for teachers and home educators with the aim is to help 4-11 year-olds explore the natural world.
Online learning via Twitter and YouTube
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— NHM Learning (@NHM_Learn) February 4, 2021
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For today’s #NHMHomeworkClub activity we challenge you to make a depth chart showing where different fish live in the ocean. Find out about six deep sea fish and the depths they live at on our website: ▶️https://t.co/UCqO30qktN” pic.twitter.com/NRuxBCc3cF
By going to NHM’s Homework Club webpage and following the Twitter feed parents and children get challenges linked to the special topic that week. Some of the past challenges have included dinosaur costumes making out of recycled materials, putting together origami animals, doing kitchen experiments and sharing drawings. On Fridays, a fun and interactive quiz is hosted by NHM staff on YouTube asking questions from the week’s theme.
Since the quality of homeschooling resources vary hugely between schools in Britain, free online resources like from NHM, the Science Museum and BBC Bitesize represent an accessible way for children, parents and schools to complement their existing online learning resources during the lockdown.
Online events at the Natural History Museum
| Activity | Dates | Channels |
| NEW THEMES: NHM Homework Club | From 8 February | Online |
| NEW EVENTS: Nature Live Online | 9 February, 16 February | Online |
| NEW EVENTS: Our Broken Planet: How We Got Here and Ways to Fix It | 11 February, 16 February | Online |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature | Ongoing | Online |
| Wildlife Photographer of the Year | Ongoing | Virtual tour online |
| Nature Drawing Club | Every Friday | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
| Dawnosaurs | Ongoing | NHM website |
| Virtual Museum | Ongoing | NHM website |
| Try this at home | Ongoing | NHM website |
| ID Service | Ongoing | NHM website |
Check our News & Ideas section for more family friendly events related to London.