Reading Mencap – Sensory Objects

Reading Mencap at MERL 06.03.14

By kate | March 7, 2014 - 6:12 pm |July 29, 2016 Reading College

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Reading Mencap Coffee Club came to MERL to help us with our research.

We focussed on the sense of smells to begin, Kassie organised 6 bags with smells inside and asked the group to find something in the museum that linked to the smells in the bags. Kassie had placed some of the wellie boots filled with herbs in around the museum.

Smells in bags Reading Mencap

These are the places the group thought the smells belonged

The group photographed where they thought the smells belonged. Next we demonstrated some of the sensory objects developed by our Co-Researchers at Reading College.

Sroking for sounds

Sians boot was very popular mooing when stroked, although Caroline found it disturbing, she preferred the sheep fleece cushion that went baa when stroked. We are working with Reading Mencap as local advisors for our project we were keen to hear their thoughts and opinions about the project so far. The next activity was to focus on taste, lead by Robyn the group made their own smoothies and juice, they really enjoyed this, learnt about how healthy and easy it was and delicious too.

Smoothies and Juice

After Robyns delicious lunch at which we spread our bread with butter that we had made from shaking cream in a jar with a marble in it we showed the group some of the electronics kits we have used with our Co-Researchers from Reading College. We wanted to see if they found our littleBits go LARGE kit easier to use. Kevin had a go with both and found them both easy, Charlie and Miranda made some excellent sounds with the Synth Kit.

Reading Mencap try littleBits

Discussion with Reading Mencap at MERL

By kate | September 11, 2013 - 2:41 pm |July 29, 2016 Reading College

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This video documents our discussion after our pilot workshop at MERL with Reading Mencap organised by our UROP student Kassie. We wanted to find out what the group enjoyed, did they like using the sound box?, what other sounds would they like to hear?, would they like to leave their own sounds? were the instant photos useful? Suggestions included a stuffed sheep that would make a sound, we liked this idea but won’t be holding a taxidermy workshop at MERL! Thanks to everyone involved.

Pilot Workshop at MERL Museum of English Rural Life Reading

By kate | September 5, 2013 - 8:57 pm |July 29, 2016 Reading College

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Today we held our first pilot workshop at MERL Museum of English Rural Life, in Reading. We were joined by Co-Researchers from Mencap Reading, many thanks to Miranda, Stacy, Charley, Caroline, support worker Alle and Stuart from MERL who gave us the tour. Also thanks to Kassie our project UROP student thats Undergraduate Research Opportunity Placement who devised and organised the workshop and Nic and Craig who made the sound box kit we used during the day.

The picture below was taken by Miranda using an instant camera it shows us all in the education room at MERL

Group shot by Miranda

The picture below is a group shot taken by Charley with the instant camera

Group with taken by Charley

We used two instant cameras, we asked the group to photo anything in the museum that matched sounds on special sound boxes that Nic and Craig had constructed. The picture below shows Stacy using one of the sound boxes. She turned a knob to choose sounds such as steam engine, sheep, hammering on an anvil and horses and milk bottles, then played them by pressing the button.

Stacy and sound box

Kassie with Stacy and Caroline listen to sounds from the sound boxes.

Using sound boxes

The picture below shows the group listening to Stuart from MERL giving a tour of the museum.

Stuart gives tour of MERL

The picture below shows the group finding out about metal work, Stuart showed us a draw of creatures made by blacksmiths from metal. We played the sound of an anvil being hit by a hammer and took so instant pictures.

All pointing in draw on tour

The picture below shows all the instant photos the group shot.

all the instant photos the group shot

Kassie prepared us a farmers lunch, she bought produce that came from farms and related to some of the equipment we had seen in the MERL collection. Our lunch included cheese, milk,apples, butter, bread, crisps, ham, tomatoes, chutneys it was delicious and gave us the chance to discuss where and how the food was produced. Caroline mentioned that they had visited a farm recently and watched milk being churned. The picture below shows us eating lunch.

Eating Lunch

After lunch we made our own sounds to accompany a silent films about farming the group were very creative using all sorts of things to make sounds and creating sounds with their voices.

Making sound effects

Sound effects