Introductory Lesson to our new project: Create Your Own Museum

1. ON a separate sheet of paper
Bellringer: Describe a museum you
have visited?

5. Museums
• How do we define a museum?
• What is a museum and what is its purpose?

6. What is a Museum?
• What is a museum?
– Definition: A museum is an institution that cares for a
collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific,
artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes
them available for public viewing through exhibits that
may be permanent or temporary
– “An institution devoted to the gathering, care, and
display of objects of lasting interest or value.”
– "Unique contribution to the public by collecting,
preserving, and interpreting the things of this world."

7. Different Types of Museums
• Museums can be diverse
– History, art, science, sports
– Interactive, children’s
• Examples: Missouri History Museum, Louvre, NCAA Hall
of Champions, Science Center, Children’s Museum of
Indianapolis

8. Purpose
• What is the purpose?
– “Museums enable people to explore collections for
inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are
institutions that collect, safeguard and make
accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in
trust for society.” - The Museums Association
– Museums should form a collection, display it, and
interpret the material for the visitors
– Learning and access are supposed to be central to the
purpose of all museums

9. On your piece of paper
Quick Write: Why create museums? Why do
people enjoy them?

10. Museum Exhibits
• Different types of museum exhibits
– Mural exhibit: an exhibit of objects with a painted
backdrop
– Panel show: an exhibit in what documents and
photographs are mounted on the wall
– Period room: an actual or recreated room using
authentic objects from a special time period
– Diorama: a three-dimensional representation of a
particular scene
– Case exhibit: objects arranged inside a glass-fronted
case

11. Themes
• Themes
– A historical event is too large a subject to encase
in just one museum
– The museum must choose a theme in which to
present this historical event
– Tell the story in a particular way

12. Examples
• Example: Vietnam War Museum
http://www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org/museumthem
es.htm
– Presents 8 exhibits with 8 different themes
– 8 different ways to look at the Vietnam War
• Cold War; a global perspective
• Culture of Vietnam; In order to understand the Vietnam Era, it is
necessary to understand Vietnam and its people
• Vietnam War Chronology
• Weapons; An Evolution in Ground, Air and Sea Warfare
• The Home Front
• Technology
• Aftermath of the War
• Fort Wolters

13. Examples
• Example: The British Museum
– Money
– Writing
– Time

14. Making Our Own!
• Choosing a theme for our class museum
– African history is too a big a topic
– We need to break it down
• Theme will then lead to what types of exhibits to
include
• Break into small groups
– Discuss possible themes
– What story do we want to tell? From what perspective?
• Share and Decide
• Decide on color scheme and font as well

15. Getting to Work!
• Break into assigned partners
• Think of 6 topics which we could turn into
exhibits that fit with our theme
• Share and decide
• Assign exhibits to partners

16. Let’s Start
• Work with partner
• Sketch exhibit
– What materials will you need?
– What research will you need?
– How will your exhibit look? Documents, objects?
– What will you need to create?
• Begin research
– Use notes and textbook first
– Write notes
• Share ideas as a class