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Before the trip
Before the trip
Ensure you have the group register and emergency contact numbers for all leaders and students
Make sure you have the tickets you need to enter with your group
Wear the official group T-shirt or hoodie for easy identification
Charge your phone fully and bring a power bank
Review the risk assessment for the day’s route and activities
Remind students to bring a raincoat or umbrella in case of light rain
Take group photos at key locations and share them with the programme WhatsApp group
The Timetable for the Trip
The Timetable for the Trip
0:00 – Meet at Ruskin College for a welcome and safety briefing by Activity Leaders.
0:05 – Depart Ruskin College and travel by public transport to the Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museums.
0:30 – Arrive at the Museum of Natural History and gather outside the main entrance.
0:35 – Activity Leader gives an introduction to the two museums and their history.
0:40 – Begin exploring the Museum of Natural History (self-guided visit).
1:10 – Move through to the Pitt Rivers Museum for the second part of the visit.
1:40 – Regroup near the museum entrance for a wrap-up and group photo.
1:45 – Prepare for departure; students gather belongings and use restrooms if needed.
1:50 – Leave the museum and begin the return journey by public transport.
2:15 – Arrive back at Ruskin College.
1. Entrance Introduction
1. Entrance Introduction
Welcome to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. This building opened in 1860 and has been used for scientific research ever since. Inside, you’ll see fossils, minerals, insects, animals and objects connected to the history of science.
Before we go in: please stay with your group, use indoor voices, and don’t touch the displays unless they say you can.
(Gesture towards the building) Take a look at the large windows and the pointed arches – this is Neo-Gothic architecture, a style that was very popular in the 1800s.
2. The Dinosaur Gallery
2. The Dinosaur Gallery
This gallery is one of the museum’s most famous areas. The dinosaur bones here are real fossils, and some are over 150 million years old.
The most important one is the Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur ever described scientifically. That discovery happened in Oxfordshire.
You can also see a T. rex skull and the tall Iguanodon bones. Notice how different dinosaurs evolved different shapes depending on how they lived.
You can let students explore freely here as long as they stay in this space.
3. The Dodo and Oxford Science
3. The Dodo and Oxford Science
This is one of the museum’s most popular objects: the Dodo. It became extinct in the 1600s, and the museum has the last remaining soft tissue from a real Dodo, plus this full-size model.
It’s the museum’s symbol because Oxford scientists were some of the first to study the bird properly.
Fun to point out: Even though we call it the Natural History Museum, the Dodo is probably the most photographed thing here.
4. Darwin’s Specimens
4. Darwin’s Specimens
These specimens were collected by Charles Darwin on the HMS Beagle. They were part of the evidence that helped him develop the theory of evolution.
You can remind students that before Darwin, people didn’t have a clear scientific explanation for how species changed over time. These objects helped change that.
(Optional prompt) Ask students: Why do you think collecting real specimens mattered so much for Darwin’s ideas?
5. Linking to Pitt Rivers
5. Linking to Pitt Rivers
Now we’re moving into the Pitt Rivers Museum, which is connected at the back of the Natural History building.
The Natural History Museum is arranged by scientific category, but Pitt Rivers is arranged by purpose. So instead of seeing objects by region, you’ll see them grouped by what they’re used for: weapons, masks, musical instruments, money and more.
6. Shrunken Heads & Masks
6. Shrunken Heads & Masks
One of the museum’s most famous displays is the shrunken heads. They are no longer just curiosities; the museum explains their cultural and ethical context today.
Look at the ceremonial masks too. Each one shows a unique cultural story. Some were donated by explorers in the 1800s, but we now think carefully about how they were collected.
(Prompt for engagement) Ask students: What do you notice about the materials or designs? How might they have been used?
Natural History Museum Highlights
The Dinosaur Area
The Dinosaur Area
Look out for: skeletons from species once found in Oxfordshire, including Megalosaurus – the first dinosaur ever named by scientists.
Fun fact: When Megalosaurus was described in 1824, people still imagined dinosaurs as giant lizards walking on all fours.
The Fossils and Rocks
The Fossils and Rocks
Look out for: the huge ammonite fossils near the central aisle.
Fun fact: Oxford used to be underwater, which is why so many sea fossils were found nearby.
The Museum Roof and Columns
The Museum Roof and Columns
Look out for: how each column is made from a different type of British stone.
Fun fact: Many of the carved animals and plants were made by artists who were learning about nature as they carved it.
Pitt Rivers Museum Highlights
Global Cultures Gallery
Global Cultures Gallery
A famous space filled with objects from many societies around the world.
Look out for: how items are arranged by type (weapons, clothing, musical instruments) instead of by continent.
Fun fact: General Pitt-Rivers believed this layout helped people compare how different groups solved similar problems.
Masks and Ritual Objects
Masks and Ritual Objects
A wide range of masks, ceremonial items and artistic traditions.
Look out for: the large masks hanging high above the cases.
Fun fact: Many objects here were collected in the 1800s and early 1900s. The museum now works to explain their histories and the ethical questions around collecting.
Human Stories and Sensitive Displays
Human Stories and Sensitive Displays
Some cases include objects connected to life, death and belief.
Look out for: signs that explain the cultural meaning of these items and why they are displayed with care.
Fun fact: The museum regularly reviews how it cares for and presents sensitive material, working with communities connected to the objects.
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