Museum Info Exhibits  Collections & Research Education Foundation IMAX® Theater Museum Store  National Flight Log Reunions
   HOME > EDUCATION > HISTORY EDUCATION PROGRAM > HOME FRONT: IN CLASSROOM V
National Museum of Naval Aviation
History Education Program

Home Front - Section V


Mini-Museum

A recent study by the American Association of Museums revealed that the majority of people in the United States rank museums second only to schools in the education of young people. This exercise seeks to couple the benefits of the two top contributors to education by allowing you and your students to create your own "mini-museum."

Exercise
Instruct your students to bring one or two small items from home that they deem historical (use discretion and instruct them in a manner in which you see fit as to the types of items they may or may not bring to class). A hint in doing this is for you to bring one or two items in yourself and go through the exercise with the students before they bring in theirs. Once students have brought in their "artifacts," put them into groups of three or four and ask them to write a brief "signboard" on a three by five inch card that describes the artifact and includes information such as the manufacturer's name and what era it is from (circa 1940). Next call on the groups to go in front of the class and set up their exhibits (you may want to provide them with "furniture" in the form of boxes with cloth over them to make their exhibits look more authentic). After the group has set up their exhibit allow them to take turns describing their artifact(s) to the class. Instruct the student to be specific about what he or she knows is true about the artifact. Next, have the student tell what has been inferred about the artifact over time in their households, or why they believe the item is historically significant. Be sure to have students differentiate between what they know is fact and what they believe is true or family lore. This exercise will not only help students create a personal connection with their history but also teach them to focus on facts. You may also want to establish an area in your classroom where all the artifacts are displayed and invite other students and teachers to view your exhibit.


Museum Info  |  Exhibits  |  Collections  |  Imax Theater  |  Foundation  |  National Flight Log  
 
Museum Store  |  Education  |  Reunions  |  Site Map  |  Directions  |  Contact Us

National Museum Of Naval Aviation

1750 Radford Blvd. Pensacola, FL 32508
Free Admission
Open 9 AM to 5 PM Daily