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- Primary sessions at Mackintosh at the Willow
Primary sessions at Mackintosh at the Willow
We offer a range of sessions for primary schools. These sessions range from 90 minutes to 120 minutes, and all conclude with 30 minutes to sample complimentary tea/coffee/juice and cakes in one of our historic tea saloons.
Journey of Tea
Pupils will learn about the geography of the tea trade and the history of tea rooms in Scotland. This session will also uncover the story of the Willow pattern and pupils will design their own plate to take home.
- Suitable for P2–P4
- 120 minutes (90 mins workshop + 30 mins in tea saloon)
- Curriculum for Excellence: EXA 1-05a | HWB 1-35a | SOC 1-22a
Victorians or Edwardians?
By comparing and contrasting the Victorian and Edwardian eras, your class will learn about two of Glasgow’s famous characters that traverse both periods: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Kate Cranston. Pupils will also make their own Edwardian toy to take home.
- Suitable for P2–P4
- 120 minutes (90 mins workshop + 30 mins in tea saloon)
- Curriculum for Excellence: SOC 1-04a | TCH 1-12a | EXA 1-07a
My Mackintosh Portfolio
Pupils will examine Mackintosh architecture first-hand and build their own portfolio of Mackintosh patterns and shapes, before learning the traditional technique of stencilling and visiting our on-site exhibition.
- Suitable for P5–P7
- 150 minutes (90 mins workshop + 30 mins in tea saloon + 30 mins in on-site exhibition)
- Curriculum for Excellence: MTH 2-19a | TCH 2-11a | 2-06a
New for 2025: Miss Cranston’s Classroom
Pupils will get a taste of 1903 in this extra-special Living History learning experience, where they will meet Miss Kate Cranston and take part in her interactive classroom to find out if they have what it takes to work in a turn-of-the-century tea room. Pupils will practise their mental arithmetic, copper plate handwriting, Mackintosh-inspired design skills and – most importantly – the art of serving the perfect cup of tea.
Can your class pass Miss Cranston’s tests, and earn a Tea Room Skills certificate to take home?
- Suitable for P5–P7
- 90 minutes (60 mins workshop + 30 mins exhibition)
- Curriculum for Excellence: MNU 2-03a | EXA 2-01a | SOC 2-03a
- Special offer: book for November 2025 or February 2026 and pay only £88 per class!
This new workshop was developed with Yilin Zhu and Qiyao Hu, students from University of Glasgow's MSc Museum Education, and actress Lesley Robertson. Costume, hair and make-up were generously produced by Flavia Burroni Miglio, Gilberto Miglio and Scottish Opera. Testing for the workshop was undertaken in collaboration with Golfhill Primary School, St Brides Primary School and St Aloysius Junior School.
