HESFES field guide
Family workshops and activities
Run a short workshop around a kitchen table, on a campsite or at a local group. Each activity includes a materials list, steps and a way to take it further.
A useful family workshop starts with an invitation small enough to try. Put two books and a sheet of paper on a table and ask, “Can you get a toy across this gap?” Let the first attempt happen before bringing out the instructions.
These activities are original projects for families using the archive today. They draw on the shared, hands-on character of HESFES. You can run them at home or take one to a local group.
Choose a place to start
- At a table: fold and test a paper bridge, or make a small exhibition from one folded sheet.
- Outdoors or by a window: map the sounds around you or record a shadow’s journey.
- With a group: pass a rhythm from person to person or draw a map a visitor could really follow.
Use the workshop finder to choose by suggested age, materials, subject or difficulty. Add an idea to a weekly plan or work out quantities for a group session.