A whole lot of half-term activities in Sunderland - and some are free

Circus skills, sandcasting, coaster painting and gardening heritage trails are just some of the activities Sunderland Culture has arranged across its venues for half-term.

The family activities are spread across National Glass Centre (NGC), Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens (SMWG) and Arts Centre Washington (ACW).

NGC offers an opportunity for children aged six+ to create a glass car, cat, owl, fish or hedgehog in a sandcasting workshop held on Tuesday, May 28, 9.30am. Booking is essential and places cost £20.

The following day NGC hosts ceramic coaster painting drop-in sessions, 10am-noon and 1pm-3.30pm). Children aged four+ can transform a ceramic coaster into a mini masterpiece. Tickets cost £4.

On Thursday, May 30, children aged four+ can paint their pets on glass at drop-in sessions 10am-noon and 1pm-3.30pm. Bookings cost £5.

On Tuesday, May 28, the museum has free Creature Collections drop-in sessions, 1pm-2.30pm. Families can explore brilliant birds and other taxidermy creatures from the Museum’s collections.

This activity supports the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition learning programme. No booking necessary

The day after sees Community Garden: Food is Fun, a drop-in session 1pm-3pm in Mowbray Park. The free session aims to make eating a playful and sensory experience.

On Wednesday, May 29 children can join Bear’s Museum Adventure: Find the History Heroes. Join storyteller Hannah Graham and Bear for another amazing adventure in the Museum.

Follow Bear through an interactive story and trail to discover the people who made history happen in Sunderland. Sessions are 1pm and 2.30pm and cost £2 per child.

Saturday, June 1 has Wildlife Spotters at the Museum, giving youngsters and their families the chance to collect a free wildlife spotters activity sheet filled with puzzles and challenges to help them explore the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Collect your free sheet between 10am and 4pm.

ACW has free creative workshops on Tuesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 30 (1-3pm) for children aged 8-10, focusing on circus skills, dance classes and a silent disco.

To sign up visit www.artscentrewashington.co.uk, priority is given to children from the Washington East Ward.

There are even more activities and further information at www.sunderlandculture.org.uk where you can also book.