Schoolkids plan to occupy their local museum in London’s East End on Friday to show adults how things should be done.
Pupils from Harbinger Primary on the Isle of Dogs take over the Museum of London Docklands for the day.
Special educational and fun activities are being laid on as part of the Children’s Commissioner’s nationwide ‘Takeover’ day, following last year’s success.
The nine- to 11-year-olds become hosts and gallery actors at the museum complex in West India Quay, near West Ferry Road, running front-of-house operations, greeting visitors arriving and taking charge of the information desk.
“A third of our visitors are children, so we’re giving them a chance to show us how it’s done,” said the museum’s Frazer Swift. “Children’s Takeover Day last year was such a success that we’re making it bigger this time, with 45 pupils taking part.”
The children have also researched historic events which they are turning into drama to perform in period costume every half-hour from 10.30am to 2pm.
They are acting out stories of the 1889 Dockers’ strike and the devastation of the Isle of Dogs targeted by the Luftwaffe during the Blitz in 1940-41, among other historic events.
Takeover Day is a nationwide event which gives youngsters the chance to ‘shadow’ grown-ups in different jobs, get involved in decision-making and say how things should be run.
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