Since 2001, the Ceramics of Tuscia Museum has made available an Educational Laboratory open to the public where young visitors can participate in activities such as clay manipulation and ceramic decoration.
The Laboratory is equipped with all necessary equipment to conduct theoretical and practical exercises, as well as a small library with books relating to ceramics and a “Shard library”.
In 2004, the Laboratory introduced special teaching methods which promote guided play as a tool for learning, resulting in the creation of its own project: “Manipolarte”.
“Manipolarte” is an educational workshop aimed at promoting the local museum heritage among young people and enhancing their understanding of the historical and technological aspects relating to ceramic production in our territory.
It adopts the “Giocare con l’Arte” learning method developed by Bruno Munari at the Educational Laboratory of the International Museum of Ceramics of Faenza.
The workshop sessions are divided into theoretical-practical activities aimed at stimulating learning and creativity through games involving clay manipulation and ceramic decoration under the guidance of experts.
This way, children can gradually become accustomed to “soils” and materials. They have the opportunity to create, design, and improve their ability to observe reality and reinterpret it with their own hands, using all five senses to express their emotions naturally in a positive atmosphere.
“A CREATIVE CHILD IS A HAPPY CHILD”
Bruno Munari
Since 2020, there have also been “Manipolarte” online courses which offer remote access to the activities of the laboratory, and a new choice of educational play-based activities: “Discovering the museum”, “The profession of the apothecary” and “Dining in the Middle Ages”.
Educational activities
For schools of first and second grade in the province of Viterbo, the educational project "Manipolarte" is free and offers 4 different activities: “Manipolarte” is free and offers 4 different activities:
“Manipolarte”in the laboratory, and “Manipolarte Online”, remotely.
Educational play-based activities of clay manipulation and ceramic decoration.
Participating in this educational workshop is an opportunity for young people to discover the local museum heritage and enhance their understanding of the historical and technological aspects relating to ceramic production in our territory. The workshops have adopted the “Giocare con l’Arte” learning method developed by Bruno Munari at the Educational Laboratory of the International Museum of Ceramics of Faenza.
The theoretical-practical activities stimulate learning and creativity through games involving clay manipulation and ceramic decoration under the guidance of experts. Kids become gradually accustomed to “soils” and materials: they design, create and improve their ability to observe reality and reinterpret it in their own way using their hands and all five senses to express their emotions naturally in a positive atmosphere.
“Discovering the Museum – Treasure Hunt”
This is a fun educational workshop where the participants are encouraged to solve stimulating riddles designed to increase their knowledge of the local museum heritage and enhance their understanding of the historical and technological aspects relating to ceramic production in our territory.
The educational play-based, activities can be carried out in a group or individuallyThey teach kids to know and recognise the different shapes of ceramics used in everyday life by people in the Middle Ages. The young participants are engaged by encouraging them to solve puzzles and riddles connected with the lives of characters and families depicted in the Museum collections, as well as participating in a treasure hunt to find love tokens that princes used to give to their ladies.
“The profession of the apothecary”
A fun educational workshop to learn about the secrets of the profession of the apothecary, their alchemical recipes and the ceramic containers where they stored the medicines. Answering quizzes and riddles, the participants have the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the museum heritage and enhance their understanding of the historical aspects of a now-extinct profession.
These educational play-based, activities can be carried out in a group or individually, give kids the opportunity to learn about medicines of the past, following the original ancient instructions and methods used in medieval and renaissance pharmacology.
“Dining in the Middle Ages”
A fun educational activity which involves riddles and games to stimulate the understanding of the historical and technological aspects connected to the production of ceramic kitchenware in our territory.
These educational play-based, activities can be carried out in a group or individually, give kids the opportunity to learn about everyday life in the Middle Ages through the reconstruction of customs, rituals, colours and flavours of medieval and renaissance cuisine, as well as recognise the most common spices.
All practical and educational play-based activities can be carried out in the laboratory, or remotely in some cases. They have been designed to engage students in positive experiences which stimulate learning and creativity and help them to discover the collection of the Ceramics of Tuscia Museum, its peculiarities, and the history of the city of Viterbo.
To reserve your place for the free educational activities, please fill in the booking form selecting the type of educational activity you want to participate in and send it by email to museoceramicatuscia@fondazionecarivit.it.
