The Mid Antrim Museum has developed this online learning resource as an extension to the Museum's collection. It is intended to support classroom teaching by focussing on the local story in Ballymena during the Home Rule crisis period of 1911-1914.
In particular it draws strongly on documents from an Ulster Volunteer Force archive held at the Museum. The archive was found at the Braidwater Spinning Mill. The Young family who owned the Mill were instrumental in setting up the local UVF and were prime movers in the anti Home Rule movement.
The resource uses objects, photographs and documents to explore some of the key local people and events of the time. It draws on research by local historian Philip Orr. The range of activities allows pupils to complete free research as well as taking part in progressive tasks.
The material is particularly suitable to support Year 10 and Year 14. The material can be used in a variety of ways either through group work on an interactive whiteboard or small group or individual work in an ITC suite. All the source material is available in the download gallery so you can create your own classroom materials either utilising IT or by printing documents out. The site has been deliberately designed to be as flexible as possible.