Different things are amassed in different ways. Some collectors buy things at auctions, antique shops, junk shops or even car boot sales. Others join clubs and swap items. Archaeologists dig things up and some of them are displayed in museums.

You can even make a collection on the web. Some museum internet sites have a bookmark function or games which allow you to build up your own virtual collection — see www.24hourmuseum.org.uk.

Talk about display:

• Use role play and ask children to imagine they are at an auction where they buy and sell items. Introduce the concept of auctioneers, buyers, sellers and commission.

• Use a sand tray and bury items to simulate an archaeological dig.

• Set up an after-school collector’s club so that children can swap items.

• Play swapping games such as ‘Happy Families’.

Developments

• You may like to show how church brasses, old gravestones and coal-hole covers are collected by taking rubbings. Why not ask pupils to make rubbings of things in the school grounds, for example bricks, manhole covers.

• Pupils could record the memories of someone who has lived in your area for a long time.

• You may also like to discuss contentious issues such as whether we should return precious objects taken in colonial times or war, or items that are illegal to collect, for example wild flowers or rare birds_ eggs.