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Robert Burns Birthplace Museum teacher information

Primary sessions at RBBM

We offer a wide range of sessions for primary schools.

Property-based sessions

Tim’rous Beasties

Using storytelling, drama and Scots language, children will explore the museum dressed as Burns’s wee tim’rous beasties to learn more about his much-loved poem ‘To a Mouse’.

This workshop is ideal for building movement and language skills through imagination and performance.

  • Suitable for Early Years & P1
  • 90 mins
  • Curriculum for Excellence: LIT 0-01c | LIT 0-11a | LIT 0-20a | EXA 0-14a
A young child wearing a furry mouse costume sits on the floor, laughing. A lady stands behind, adjusting the shoulders of the costume.

When Burns was a Bairn

Pupils will explore Burns Cottage to discover more about the Bard and his family through the objects they used and the chores they carried out. They’ll even compete to make butter using historical methods.

This session is an interesting fusion of history and technology.

  • Suitable for P2–4
  • 90 mins
  • Curriculum for Excellence: SOC 1-02a | MLAN 1-05a | LIT 1-09a
A young girl wearing a red school cardigan stirs a white mixture in a metal bowl on the table in front of her. A couple of other children look on.

Being Burns

Wearing traditional 18th-century costume, pupils will explore Burns Cottage to understand how Robert Burns became a poetic genius in a time before compulsory education.

This workshop develops pupils’ Scots language skills and brings history to life using re-enactment and drama in an authentic historical setting.

  • Suitable for P5–P7
  • 90 mins
  • Curriculum for Excellence: SOC 2-04a | EXA 2-13a | LIT 2-07a
Two schoolchildren wear old-fashioned milkmaid hats and hold wooden beating sticks.

Self-led visit

Your class can enjoy a visit to Robert Burns Birthplace Museum led by you. We’ll provide resources beforehand to help you prepare for the visit. Explore the museum, Burns Cottage, Alloway Auld Kirk, Burns Monument and the Brig o’ Doon. Undertake outdoor learning by visiting our attractive walkway – the Poet’s Path – and our Burns and Scots language-themed play park.

This is a cross-curricular learning experience that you can adapt for your own class.

  • Suitable for P1–S6
  • Flexible duration
  • Curriculum for Excellence: SOC 2-02a | SOC 2-06a | LIT 2-07a
A group of young children all gather round a large statue of a mouse outdoors, trying to touch it!

Outdoor learning

Wee Tweets

Through exploring Burns’s poetry and his relationship with nature, pupils will learn about species of birds and Scots language names for them. They will become birdwatchers, using binoculars and identification charts. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) will be discussed, familiarising pupils with respecting the interests of others, caring for the environment and taking responsibility for their own actions.

‘Leave only footprints, take only photographs!’

  • Available April–June
  • Suitable for P5–P6
  • 90 mins
  • Curriculum for Excellence: SCN 2-01a | MLAN 2-11c | HWB 2-19
A young girl looks through a large pair of binoculars, whilst leaning on a wooden railing. She wears a camouflage bucket hat and a pale blue raincoat.

Woodcraft Weans

Using Burns’s nature poetry, pupils will examine how important an outdoor education is today. We’ll explore mental health and wellbeing benefits, as well as learning skills for life including shelter building, wood whittling and fire lighting. Pupils will discuss the importance of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC), ie respecting the interests of others, caring for the environment and taking responsibility for their own actions.

‘Leave only footprints, take only photographs!’

  • Available April–June
  • Suitable for P6–P7
  • 90 mins
  • Curriculum for Excellence: HWB 2-19a | TCH 2-10 | ENG 2-19a
A boy wearing glasses and a t-shirt sits beside an old tree stump. He's using a knife to whittle a piece of wood.

Related Content

Children stand in Burns Cottage, listening to a teacher and smiling.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum teacher information

The best place to get close to Robert Burns and his genius is his birthplace in the beautiful village of Alloway.

A weather vane, showing the figure of Tam on his horse being chased by a witch, is almost silhouetted against a grey sky. Bare branches are in the background.

Secondary sessions at RBBM

We offer property-based sessions for secondary schools.

Lots of children stand in Burns Cottage on a school visit. Many of them are excitedly putting their hands up! A man is talking to them, with his back to the camera.

Practicalities for your school visit

Here is some helpful additional information about booking your school trip at RBBM.

A statue made from willow showing Tam fleeing on his horse Meg. The sculpture is in a meadow-like setting.

Teacher planners

Downloadable resources to help you prepare your class for their visit to Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

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