Excursion Enquiries
Fire up your curriculum with an out of the ordinary excursion to Canberra Glassworks!
Glass is such an important material we use in everyday life. Our education program engages students through the amazing transformations and properties of glass.
Students will be inspired to engage in outside of the box learning; experience hands-on and sensory experimentation; dip their toes into the practice of glassmaking; connect to history, science, design, technology and visual art; and have an unparalleled experience to share at the family dinner table.
HISTORY
Through the Looking Glass Tour
Our unique building is viewed through the lens of the historic Kingston Powerhouse; a building of historic and cultural significance. Today repurposed as an important public building, the Glassworks is a leader in artistic innovation through the science of glass.
Key learning outcomes:
- consider notions of continuity and change
- examine a public building within the local community
- understand cultural value and historic significance
- discover different methods of glassmaking, artistic innovation and practice
Duration 45 minutes
Years 2 – 12
| Image of a tour through the heritage stairwell in the Kingston Power House. |
Curriculum outcomes
This tour is particularly well aligned to history learning achievement outcomes addressed in lower primary (year 2) but is adaptive to all school ages.
The history of a significant person, building, site and/or part of the natural environment in the local community and what it reveals about the past (ACHASSK044)
The importance today of a historical site of cultural or spiritual significance in the local area, and why it should be preserved (ACHASSK045)
See Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
VISUAL ARTS
Hands on Glass
Experience a hands-on tour of the Glassworks that enlivens the senses. Explore behind-the-scenes of this working facility, then cut, design, and arrange glass to make your very own fused-glass tile.
Key learning outcomes:
- Discover different methods of glassmaking, artistic innovation and practice
- Explore different creative techniques and processes
- Develop technical skills in glass cutting and design
Duration 90 minutes
Years 2 – 12
Please note the final artwork needs to be fused overnight in a kiln. Finished tiles will then be posted to the school within two weeks.
| Image of cut glass tiles prior to kiln firing in Hands on Glass. |
Curriculum outcomes
This hands-on tour experience provides a unique opportunity for students making and responding to artworks independently and learn about safe practices within the Visual Arts.
Year 3/4
Develop and apply techniques and processes when making their artworks (ACAVAM115)
Plan the display of artworks to enhance their meaning for an audience (ACAVAM116)
Year 5/6
Develop ways to enhance their intentions as artists through exploration of how artists use materials, techniques, technologies and processes and techniques. (ACAVAM119)
See Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
SCIENCE
Elements of Glass
Investigate glass from a scientific perspective through a live Hotshop demonstration. This opportunity demonstrates the impact of temperature and the molecular structure of glass and students will observe molten glass and its transformative properties.
Key learning outcomes:
- Scientific understanding is crucial to glass artists practice
- The transformative properties of glass
Duration 45 minutes
Years 2 – 12
| Detail image of the heat and fusion whilst blowing a cup from molten glass |
Curriculum outcomes
Covering topics within the science learning achievements, this demonstration offers teachers an avenue of visually exploring complex processes in chemistry and physics.
Year 3/4
Heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another (ACSSU049)
A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (ACSSU046)
Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (ACSSU074)
Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance (ACSSU076)
Year 5/6
Solids, liquids and gases have different observable properties and behave in different ways (ACSSU077)
Changes to materials can be reversible or irreversible (ACSSU095)
See Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
Interested in booking a tour or experience at the Canberra Glassworks? Please complete the form below and our Public Programs Manager will be in touch with you very shortly. Please note a minimum of two weeks’ notice is required to arrange your booking.
Read the terms and conditions for school group bookings
If you have any further questions, please email our Public Programs Manager at education@canberraglassworks.com
