Ivory Trails

What is ivory?

Why have people used ivory to make so many different kinds of object in the past?

What effect has the use of ivory had on animal populations?

How are animals being protected from the ivory trade now?

Here are a set of learning resources to help explore issues related to ivory – a hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of certain mammals, such as elephant, mammoth, hippo, sperm whale, narwhal, wild boar and walrus. This cross-curricular topic enables children to explore the relationship between humans and the natural world, providing excellent discussion points in literacy. The resources are pitched for Key Stage 2 and designed to be used flexibly both in the Museum and in the classroom, and can also be used for home learning.

The Ivory resource guides you round ivory objects made from different animals in the Museum and explores why people have used ivory to make a particular object.

The Elephant Ivory resource focuses on objects made from elephant ivory in the Museum and how this affected elephant populations around the world.

Both the resource sets include:

• Self-guided trail (downloadable PDF for use in Museum)
• Interactive map (For classroom use)
• Teach resource (For further information)
• Editable PowerPoint for teaching

How did the resources get created?

These resources have been created in partnership with Dr Ashley Coutu, the African Archaeology Research Curator and Deputy Head of Research at the Pitt Rivers Museum. Ashley’s work has entailed extensive research of ivories in natural history and archaeological collections across Europe, North America and Africa. She looks at the relationship between humans and animals in the past and applies that knowledge to modern conservation.

Teacher Resources 

Download this pdf for more information about animals used for ivory. 

Download an editable PowerPoint file for use in the classroom. 

Interactive Slides

Journey via map to find out about different types of animals that have been used to make ivory (it's not just elephants!).

Teacher Resources 

Download this pdf for more information about elephants. 

Download the editable PowerPoint file for use in the classroom. 

For more information about legal status of elephant ivory in museums see updates from the Museum Association and Government details on the Ivory Act 2018.

Interactive Slides

Journey via elephant map to find out about ivory from different species of elephant.