Some of our work > Museum of Mystery

We were given a completely open brief which was very helpful as we were able to work collaboratively with the Museum staff and local schools, with whom we held a series of focus groups, to define what they wanted from the learning resource. The result was the Museum of Mystery website, which uses a series of four ‘mysteries’ based around big questions in the natural world, i.e. What happened to the dinosaurs? Why do animals and plants need each other? What helps species survive? The numbers of animals and plants are changing – can you find out why?

 

Students are presented with a range of tasks in each mystery and can find clues using objects from the Museum’s collection, in the Evidence room, and video clips of experts from the Museum, in Meet the experts. Points are collected with the aim of reaching the next level of investigator.

 

The Museum of Mystery showcases the Museum’s collection as well its world-leading expertise in several fields and has been well received by schools. The mysteries are introduced by animations of iconic characters from the Manchester Museum, including Stan the T.rex, Madge the Manchester Moth, Nanook the Polar Bear and Bella the Baby Sperm Whale. It was launched at a family event at the Museum in May and the site had 500 unique visitors to the website in its first week.