There is no limit to what has been, or might be collected.

Some collections comprise everyday items that are easily available, such as football programmes or badges. Others are determined by a particular feature for example, military items, miniature toys, timber-framed buildings or artefacts from a particular locality. Some collections are of a more general nature. Many provincial museums have historical and environmental displays that are of both local and national interest.

Use objects, written sources and pictures to:

• Ask children to describe any museums they may have visited and what they liked/didn’t like about them

• Discuss different types of collections such as small, large, perishable, valuable, old and modern items

• Encourage Children to write about a ‘Fantasy’ museum in which they can collect anything they like, or make one using pictures chosen from magazines and catalogues.

Developments

• Discuss the value of things — what is valuable to one person may be of no value to another

• Explain that objects may have a historical, scientific or emotional value event though they have little or no monetary value