You will need to identify items so that your pupils can find out more about them. When they have gathered as much information about them as possible, they can then be classified and recorded.

Identification

• Introduce children to identification using books. The local reference library will have well-illustrated books to help with identification

• Contact your local museum who might be willing to help with identification from an expert or ask collectors to come in and help

• Show children how to get further information from a museum. Explain that they will get more information by asking for specific information. For example: "please send me any information you may have on how houses were built in Tudor times" rather than ‘tell me all you know about buildings in the past’. If pupils get a helpful letter back encourage them to write a letter of thanks.

• Use the internet; access museum sites through the 24 Hour Museum, www.museum.org.uk, or its linked site for children www.show.me which includes identification games.

Classification

• Sort items into different groups for example by common features, historical period, materials, size etc.

• Use sorting diagrams or maths equipment to reinforce ideas about classification

• Use branch diagrams and computer programs to create a classification process.

Recording

• Help children to keep simple notebooks of a classroom collection

• Ask your local museum curator to show children how large amounts of information are stored. Explain how databases can deal with all sorts of questions about the collection (for example, how many objects in the museum were made in 1900), without the curator having to sift through all the details.

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