The Georgian House teacher information

Rooms are presented as they might have been in the time of the first owner, John Lamont of Lamont, and reflect the domestic surroundings and social conditions of the age.

The school programme offers curriculum-linked tours of the house, led by specially trained education guides. A range of tours is available for different age groups, all of which are based on different aspects of life in the house.

‘Trainee Servants’ sees pupils take on the role of servants learning their duties in the house, while ‘Georgian Life’ and ‘Houses and Homes’ (for younger children) compares life in the house with life today. For classes studying ‘Old Edinburgh’ or the ‘Development of the City’ there’s also an introduction to the New Town and Charlotte Square. There are handling objects in many of the rooms, and pupils dress in costume to tour the house.

The school programme offers many opportunities for cross-curricular work and engaging with Curriculum for Excellence.

Secondary schools are also welcome – please phone us to discuss your requirements.

Possible topics

• The Georgians
• History of Edinburgh
• Georgian architecture

Resources for schools

• You can download The Georgians teaching pack which contains historical information and activity sheets (see below).
• Georgian Dance Pack: A CD and instructions to enable your pupils to learn simple Georgian dances at school is available for loan. Pupils may then dress in costume to perform these dances in the drawing room of the Georgian House (please allow an extra 35–40 minutes, additional to your tour, for this).
• A 16-minute film Living in a Grand Design is available for loan. The film gives an excellent pre-visit introduction to life in the Georgian House, and includes information about the building of the New Town.

Planning your class visit

• To book: please contact the Georgian House for a booking form.
• Book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
• The Georgian House is open for educational visits from March to November. School programmes run in the morning and the afternoon, and usually last 1½ to 2 hours, depending on class size.
• Maximum class size: 35 with a ratio of 1 teacher/adult to 10 pupils
• Access: there’s limited access to this historic house for those with mobility impairment. Special touch tours of the house can be arranged for those with sight impairment, and a portable induction loop is available for pupils with hearing difficulties – please discuss any additional support needs with the property manager when booking your visit. You can also check the Georgian House webpage for further information.
• Parking: coaches normally drop pupils off and pick them up later, as parking availability is limited. Many bus services stop at the west end of Princes Street, which is very near the Georgian House.
• Toilets: there are limited toilet facilities at the property.
• Refreshments: there are no refreshments available at this site, but the education room can be used for eating packed lunches, if required.
• The site has been risk assessed. Teachers are expected to prepare their own risk assessment for the visit.

Charges

• For the latest charges, please contact the property.
• Class teachers are encouraged to make a free preparatory visit to the site.

During your class visit

• On arrival: please press the buzzer on the right-hand side of the front door.
• Trust staff will lead the school programme.
• For the programme, your class will be taken to the education room, where pupils will dress in costume (over their own clothes). From there, pupils will be divided into groups and toured round the house, spending time in each room, before meeting again in the education room for costumes to be removed.
• Teachers are responsible for their pupils and their behaviour.
• Pupils do not need to bring any materials for the school programme.
• Non-flash photography is permitted inside the Georgian House.
• Coats and bags can be left in the education room.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Georgian House & were thrilled at the chance to dress up. They said it brought the project to life.” Musselburgh Primary School

“We had a wonderful, interesting, informative and welcoming visit. Many thanks. The children are still talking about it.” Broxburn Primary School