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’s 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 cafés and art!
Okay, said Ms Richardson, what would Kindergarten like to know about museums. Well, they said, they’d like to know if there is any ‘alive stuff’ 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’s chosen ‘artefact’ 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 – which read ‘The Blangkits’ - and carefully laid them out with a handmade label, featuring each student’s 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’d had it since she was a baby.
Sophia chose to bring in a teddy called ‘Teddey’ that she’d 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’d 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’s family and the special things they like to do together.
Sophia even wrote a sign: “Kindergarten family tree teaches us about our families and each other’s mums and dads and brother and sisters. We are all different.â€
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!