Overview
How did one person help change nursing forever?
In this engaging KS1 history workshop, pupils discover the remarkable story of Florence Nightingale and explore how people cared for those who were ill or injured during the Victorian period.
Through storytelling, discussion, dressing up and practical activities, children learn why cleanliness became such an important part of nursing and compare hospitals, nurses and medical care in the past with those of today.
The experience is brought to life through a unique Discover With Us session, where pupils meet Florence Nightingale herself and hear her incredible story in character.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, pupils will be able to:
- Understand who Florence Nightingale was and why she is remembered today.
- Explore how nursing has changed over time.
- Understand why cleanliness is important in hospitals.
- Compare Victorian and modern nursing.
- Develop empathy for people who care for others.
- Apply simple first aid skills safely.
Key Questions
Throughout the workshop, pupils explore questions such as:
- Who helps us when we are poorly?
- Why is it important to keep hospitals clean?
- Who was Florence Nightingale?
- How has nursing changed since Victorian times?
- Why do nurses still help people today?
Workshop Activities
Caring for Others
Children begin by discussing who helps them when they are unwell and discover how paramedics, nurses and doctors work together to care for patients.
Together they explore:
- When to call 999.
- Who helps people when they are injured or ill.
- The different roles within hospitals.
- Why caring for others is important.
Why Cleanliness Matters
Through discussion and simple demonstrations, pupils discover why washing hands and keeping things clean helps stop illness from spreading.
They compare modern hospitals with those of the Crimean War, learning how poor hygiene affected patients and why Florence Nightingale believed cleanliness could save lives.
Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole
Children discover the lives of two remarkable women who helped care for soldiers during the Crimean War.
They explore:
- Why Florence Nightingale became a nurse.
- How she improved hospitals.
- Why she became known as the Lady with the Lamp.
- The important work of Mary Seacole.
- How both women helped improve nursing.
Using replica uniforms, pupils compare Victorian nurses with modern nurses and discover how nursing has changed over time.
First Aid Challenge
Working in pairs, pupils practise applying a simple bandage while discussing the importance of:
- Clean hands.
- Clean equipment.
- Caring for injured people.
- Working carefully and safely.
This practical activity reinforces the importance of kindness, hygiene and helping others.
Reflection
The workshop concludes by reflecting on how nursing has changed over the last 170 years and why Florence Nightingale’s work continues to influence hospitals today.
Children consider how small acts of kindness and care can make a big difference to other people.
Discover With Us: Meet Florence Nightingale
Following the workshop, pupils take part in a guided Discover With Us session where they meet Florence Nightingale, brought to life through an engaging costumed character performance.
Through storytelling and conversation, Florence shares her experiences of nursing during the Crimean War, explaining:
- Why she chose to become a nurse.
- What hospitals were like when she arrived in Scutari.
- How cleanliness helped improve patient care.
- Why she became known as the “Lady with the Lamp”.
- How she hoped to change nursing for future generations.
Children have the opportunity to ask Florence questions about her life, making this an immersive and memorable way to explore one of history’s most influential figures.
Students then continue exploring the museum independently, discovering authentic ambulance vehicles, medical equipment and stories that chart the history of healthcare and emergency medicine.
Curriculum Links
This workshop supports learning across several areas of the KS1 curriculum, including:
History
- Significant individuals.
- Events beyond living memory.
- Similarities and differences between past and present.
- Historical enquiry.
Science
- Animals, including humans.
- Health and hygiene.
PSHE
- Keeping healthy.
- Caring for others.
- People who help us.
Skills Developed
Pupils will develop:
- Historical enquiry.
- Observation.
- Communication.
- Listening.
- Empathy.
- Comparison and contrast.
- Practical first aid skills.
- Teamwork.
Visit Information
This workshop forms part of a full museum learning day, running from 10:00am until 2:00pm.
During the day, groups rotate through a programme of activities consisting of:
- One 45 minute Florence Nightingale workshop.
- One 45 minute Discover With Us guided museum experience.
- Two 45 minute self guided museum exploration sessions.
- One 45 minute lunch break.
This varied programme combines facilitated learning with opportunities for independent exploration across the museum’s galleries.
Practical Information
Suitable for: KS1
Workshop duration: 45 minutes
Museum visit: Full learning day, 10:00am to 2:00pm
Group size: Up to 35 pupils per group
Daily capacity: Up to three groups (approximately 105 pupils) can be accommodated each day, with groups rotating through the day’s activities.
Accessibility: We are committed to making our learning programme accessible to all learners. Please let us know about any access requirements when booking so we can adapt the session wherever possible.
Why Choose This Workshop?
By combining history with practical activities and immersive storytelling, this workshop helps children understand how nursing has developed and why Florence Nightingale’s work changed healthcare forever. Meeting Florence Nightingale in character creates a memorable learning experience, while hands on activities encourage pupils to explore kindness, cleanliness and caring for others in a way that is engaging, interactive and age appropriate.
