Earlier this year My Icon Story launched a collaboration with the Natural History Museum to produce our very first gift collection for Children! The museum offers a world of magic and discovery and is an exciting day out for all the family. With 2 locations in the UK, London and Tring, free entry and a huge variety of activities, workshops and exhibitions, the Natural History Museum gets my vote for ultimate family fun.
Built in 1837, the building itself has become a part of history. The epic entrance that is now guarded by a life size blue whale skeleton structure, replacing ‘dippy’ the dinosaur whilst he is on tour around the UK. It all started with Sloane, who travelled the world showing off his finds to royals, when he died he left over 71,000 artefacts to be purchased for only 20,000 pounds, significantly less than what they were worth. The museum was then built in his honour and to display his wonderful finds. The architect Richard Owen, insisted that the building be ornamented with pieces inspired by the artefacts, which if you look closely for can still be seen. (Hint: look up!). This whole image creates a magical world unlike anything else.
Christmas time at the museum is magical. This winter, inspire the kids about becoming a Future Scientist. From Entomology (bugs and creepy crawlies), Palaeontology (fossils and dinosaurs), Planetary Science (space) and Marine Biology (our oceans), the Natural History Museum has exhibitions to inspire each of these fascinating science specialisms spread across 4 zones: Green, Blue, Orange and Red.
Here’s a link to the Museum’s map to help plan your visit.
My Icon Story have designed a fun poster checklist for each of the above Science themes, offering an activity checklist of skills for each.
Top Tip: Why not turn your trip to the museum into a game and set mini tasks and activities to help the kids tick off each skill on the checklist!
A super fun thing for a budding Entomologist or Palaeontologist is a behind the scenes tour of the Zoology spirit building. There are hundreds of things to see which have been preserved for decades, including an 8.62 metre long squid and Darwin’s octopus!
If your little ones have a fascination with Space, the new Museum of the Moon is where you should head (but hurry – this installation is only around until 5th January 2020). The room is occupied by a giant 6m model of an accurate depiction of the moon, created by UK artist Luke Jerram! This part of the museum offers a variety of different activities for all ages (even adults) including film screenings, yoga and even a ‘night in the museum’ (one for kids and one for adults too!).
Check out our Future Planetary Scientist poster and personalise with your child’s name!
Although Dippy the Dinosaur is currently on tour around the UK, Dinosaurs are of course the biggest attraction at the Natural History Museum. It’s one of the best places to discover everything about their existence and get up close and personal! With My Icon Story, children can capture the magic of their discoveries and design their very own personalised Dinosaur print featuring their favourite species.
For more Natural History Museum gift ideas, check out our Dinosaur themed gifts like these fabulous wooden initials filled with mini dinosaur icons! PS you can also choose your favourite Dinosaur specie to feature inside!
