Welcome to the Kindy Museum
Have you ever stopped to think how you would describe a museum? Kindergarten have been reflecting on this, which has led to them creating - and curating - their very own Kindergarten Museum!
Ms Richardson asked Kindergarten what they knew about museums. Well, they have dinosaur bones and old-fashioned stuff, they said. There鈥檚 stuff to look at and touch, and they can be big. Some museums have artefacts and sculptures from a very long time ago. And some museums have caf茅s and art!
Okay, said Ms Richardson, what would Kindergarten like to know about museums. Well, they said, they鈥檇 like to know if there is any 鈥榓live stuff鈥 in a museum. And why are they so big? Where do they get the things on display from? And why do they even exist in the first place?
This led to a lot of reflection and rich discussion. The girls decided that museums protect and care for things that people treasure. And the reason museums put these treasures on display is so that other people can enjoy them too - and learn more about the history behind them.
Ms Richardson then asked Kindergarten to think about an object they treasure and why. If they had to choose a personal artefact to display in a museum, what would it be? What would it say about them and their lives?
After much deliberation, the students each brought in their most treasured object from home. They were so inspired by each other鈥檚 chosen 鈥榓rtefact鈥 that they decided to create their very own Kindergarten Museum, for the whole of Woodstock to enjoy. This meant working together to plan, design and build their museum. What would they need?
Well, they knew they needed tables to display their collection. But they decided they would also need an entrance with plants because, according to them, all museums have plants at the entrance.
And of course, they would need signage to make sure each guest had a fun and safe time at their museum, so they set about designing their own welcome signs.
But they would also need a few warning signs to prevent people damaging their displays in any way.
It was then time to curate their collection. Objects are often tied together thematically, so how could they group their objects in a way that would allow each student to tell their own story within the display? How should they present information about their object to visitors?
Some of the students had brought in blankets so it seemed logical, they decided, to create a blanket collection. They made a sign 鈥 which read 鈥楾he Blangkits鈥 - and carefully laid them out with a handmade label, featuring each student鈥檚 name, photograph and details about why it was special to them. The information was concise and informative.
Annabelle said she loved her blanket because she鈥檇 had it since she was a baby.
Sophia chose to bring in a teddy called 鈥楾eddey鈥 that she鈥檇 had since she was born. It was special to her, she said, because it was a present from her brother.
Isabel loved Catty Ellis that she鈥檇 inherited from her sister.
And Ruby said she loved Eyor the donkey because it was so soft.
Probably the most impressive part of the Kindergarten Museum was their interactive family tree, which formed the centrepiece of the exhibition. The students decorated its branches with photographs of their family. Beneath each one was a QR code for visitors to scan in order to download a short video about each student鈥檚 family and the special things they like to do together.
Sophia even wrote a sign: 鈥淜indergarten family tree teaches us about our families and each other鈥檚 mums and dads and brother and sisters. We are all different.鈥
The Kindergarten Museum has helped each student to tell their own story. It has helped them to learn more about each other and their families, respecting their similarities and celebrating their differences. And it has sharpened their information-gathering, organisational and problem-solving skills, and allowed them to be collaborative and creative.
Having gone through the process of creating their very own museum, Kindergarten reflected on what they now know about museums in general. Ms Richardson then updated their sign to demonstrate their new-found knowledge and insight.
So much learning. So much fun!
Well done Ms Richardson and Kindergarten!