Social story for school visits

External view of Immigration Museum from Flinders Street in early evening.

What is the Immigration Museum?

The Immigration Museum is a place with lots of information about Australia’s immigration history. There are lots of big and small things on display. I can find out why some people move to Australia from other countries. I can look, listen and learn at the museum.

Boy in school uniform visiting Immigration Museum.

Arriving at the museum

I will arrive at the museum with my teacher and school group. We will go through a big gate at the back of the building.

I will have to wait with my teacher and school group in the courtyard before going inside the museum. That’s okay because I can talk to my classmates or look at the things around me. I will stay inside the gates near my school group.

If I need to go to the toilet, my teacher will show me where the toilet is. I will go to the toilet and wash my hands afterwards. Then I will go back to the courtyard where my school group is waiting.

School children putting bags away at Immigration Museum.

Going into the museum

My teacher will tell my school group when it’s time to go inside. A museum staff member will come and show my school group where to go. We will go into a room with glass walls and it might be noisy.

Then we will go into a room with walls made of stone and I will put my bag on a big metal trolley. The museum staff member will put the trolley away so I know my bag and all the things inside it are safe. I will get my bag back when my museum visit is finished.

Special booked programs

My school group will go into the education room for a special session with a museum teacher. I will sit down on a blue mat or a chair. The museum teacher will talk to my school group. By listening to the museum teacher, I can learn more about people who have moved to Australia from other countries. I will sit as still as I can and I will not interrupt the person speaking. I can put my hand up if I want to answer a question. I might help unpack suitcases that have things inside them.

The museum teacher will give all the students an activity to do in the rest of the museum. If I need help with the activity, I can ask an adult.

We will go into small groups to look at the museum. I will stay with my group and we will look at the museum together. The adult with my group has a map and knows where to go.

Woman on staircase leading up from the Immigration Museum foyer.

Stairs at the museum

My school group will use a big staircase with a high ceiling. I will walk slowly on the stairs, because walking slowly is the safest way. If I want to, I can hold onto the railing or touch the wall.

Immigration Museum presenter talking to children who are sitting.

Inside the museum

I will sit on the floor with my school group and a museum staff member will talk to us. By listening to the museum staff member, I can learn more about the museum. I will sit as still as I can and I will not interrupt the person speaking. I can put my hand up if I want to answer a question. Then, the museum staff member will give all the students an activity to do. If I need help with the activity, I can ask an adult.

We will go into small groups to look at the museum. I will stay with my group and we will look at the museum together. The adult with my group has a map and knows where to go.

Three children of different ages walking in the Immigration Museum courtyard.

Different spaces at the museum

The Immigration Museum is a special building and inside it looks and feels different from home or school. Some rooms might be big or small. Some rooms might be dark or bright.

I will hear lots of different sounds at the Immigration Museum. I might hear music, people talking or animal noises.

If I don’t like being in an area, I will tell an adult and we can go out of the area together. Some areas I will enjoy more than others and that is okay.

Various Museum staff at the ticketing desk at Immigration Museum.

Staff at the museum

Many people visit the Immigration Museum and many people work there too. If I get lost, a museum staff member can help me. They wear tags on coloured straps around their necks.

School Children with their lunchboxes in Immigration Museum courtyard.

Food and eating at the museum

When it is time to eat, I will go with my school group to eat outside. If it is raining, my school group might eat in the room with glass walls. I will not eat inside the museum unless my teacher tells me I can.

Father and son walking into Bathrooms at Immigration Museum.

Toilets at the museum

If I need to go to the toilet I will ask my adult to take me there. There might be other people in the toilet, too. When I am finished using the toilet, I will wash my hands.

School Children on steps of the Immigration Museum.

Leaving the museum

After we have done all of the things that my teacher has planned, my school group will walk down the stairs. I might go to the toilet or have a drink of water if I need to.

We will all go to collect our bags and I will wait while the museum staff member gets the trolley. I might need to wait while other students get their bags, but I will get my bag before we leave. After I have collected my bag, I will go with my school group and we will leave the Immigration Museum together.

Important things to remember at the museum

When I am at the Immigration Museum I must remember to:
Stay with my school group
Speak with my quiet voice, even though it might be noisy
Take turns with other people
Wait patiently when I have to line up
Only touch objects I am told that I am allowed to

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