HMS Caroline Learning Programme

In this hour-long outreach session developed specifically for pre-school and foundation stage, pupils will discover what life was like on board HMS Caroline through the eyes of the ship’s pets. They will have an opportunity to explore handling objects and historical photographs from our collection, play a maritime themed game and take part in an interactive story; the session concludes with an arts and crafts activity. Whole-class, group and paired activities are used to foster pupils’ communication skills, creativity, and ability to work with others, in the context of a supported learning environment.

Outreach sessions are priced at £50 per class for a one-hour session.

This hour-long outreach session designed for Keystage 1 explores what life was like for the sailors living on board HMS Caroline 100 years ago. Using a selection of handling objects, historical photographs and archival resources, pupils will have an opportunity to learn about living and working conditions, clothes, food, pastimes and the pets on board HMS Caroline. The session concludes with a creative writing activity. (WAU, PDMU, Language and Literacy, STEM).

Outreach sessions are priced at £50 per class for a one-hour session.

A Discovery Visit is a self-guided, teacher-led visit to HMS Caroline. Self-guided groups will be provided with an itinerary tailored to suit the needs of the group. They will also receive Discovery Visit Trails which pupils work in pairs to complete as they move through the ship. The structure of these resources provides potential for extension activities back in the classroom. (WAU, PDMU, Language and Literacy, STEM).

A Teachers’ Guide is available to support teachers in interpreting the ship. Teachers are also invited to tour the ship prior to the day of their booking with a FREE Teachers’ Pass. Our KS2 Discovery Visits are free for Extended Schools in Northern Ireland. All other school groups are priced at £4.50 per pupil.

A Discover Live Visit is a limited edition, museum-led visit to HMS Caroline designed to link in with a specific event, project or anniversary within the museum. These sessions are available for a limited amount of time only, be that one month, one term, or one school year – so make sure you book in while you can! For a full list of Discover Live sessions and dates throughout the year, make sure you check our website or join our schools mailing list to be contacted as soon as they become available. Discover Live Visits are suitable for a maximum of one class. A tailored itinerary will be provided to meet the needs of each group. Although this is a museum-led visit, teachers are also invited to tour the ship prior to the day of their booking with a FREE Teachers’ Pass. Discover Live Visits are priced at £6 per pupil.

Discover Live: Kit Bag Stories (Limited dates in June)

In this session a member of our Learning Team will bring to life the historic spaces on board using enquiry-led approaches and a kit bag of handling objects. Pupils will be encouraged to engage, interpret and problem solve by completing our Discovery Visit Trails in pairs. They will also have an opportunity to explore in more detail the life of Boy Telegraphist William Crick, who served on board HMS Caroline during the Battle of Jutland. By using handling objects from our collection, archival photographs and documents, as well as extracts from Crick’s diary, pupils will discover more about a sailor’s life at sea during the First World War. (WAU, PDMU, Language and Literacy, STEM)

Explore the Pump House exhibition galleries and tour the ship using an audio guide to find out more about HMS Caroline and life on board. We offer a selection of resources to support pupils and teachers pre, during and post self-guided visits, which are available to download from our website. Teachers are also invited to tour the ship prior to the day of their booking with a FREE Teachers’ Pass. Our KS3 Discovery Visits are free for Extended Schools in Northern Ireland. All other school groups are priced at £4.50 per pupil.

The Meet the Crew session is led by a member of our Learning Team and focuses on the experiences of the crew on board HMS Caroline during the First World War. Pupils will find out more about a range of topics including the Arms Race, the Battle of Jutland, recruitment, roles and responsibilities, daily life on a naval vessel, and pastimes. Using archival documents and photographs, letters, and diary extracts, this session creates an interactive experience and is supported by activity sheets.

Discover Live Visits are suitable for a maximum of one class. Although this is a museum-led visit, teachers are also invited to tour the ship prior to the day of their booking with a FREE Teachers’ Pass. Discover Live Visits are priced at £6 per pupil.

The ship is accessed via a ramp from the dockside. As the vessel is afloat, the gradient of the ramp changes due to the tidal nature of Belfast Lough; the ramp can be particularly steep at high tide.

We recommend accessing the ship at low tide if that is a concern. You can find out more about tide times here. 

There are steep steps and uneven surfaces on board. The majority of the ship is accessible for wheelchair users except for the Captain’s Quarters, the Engine Rooms and the Navigating Bridge.

We have wheelchairs on site that may be borrowed free of charge.

There are three lifts on board HMS Caroline: 

• One external lift at the aft end of the ship, which provides access between the upper and lower decks.
• One internal lift in the café at the forward end of the ship, which provides access between the lower and upper decks.
• One external lift at the forward end of the ship, which provides access between the upper deck and the Fo’c’sle.

There are three accessible toilets on site, one in the Pump House and two on board the ship next to the Drill Hall and Historic Galley.

There is a hearing loop system available in the Pump House and on board the ship.

We have a limited number of sensory kits available at the ticketing desk, which include fidget toys, sensory cards, weighted lap blankets and ear defenders. A visual menu for the café is also available on request.