This past week was very busy for all of us at the museum. Thursday we wrapped up our Anti-bullying forum in which the new CEO of Chicago Public Schools spoke, Jean Claude Brizzard, and it was a major success. Friday we had FIVE field trips back to back. Over 250 kids arrived within a 30 minute time period and we interns did an excellent job if I do say so myself. The field trips are now our baby of sorts. We run them from beginning to end and it is quite a feeling of accomplishment when they run smoothly. We each have our somewhat designated roles in handling each field trip. Brinkley enjoys the more technological side of the field trips and working with kids so she mans the check in computers and occasionally tags along on the youth tours when a volunteer is missing. Alexis is our head hancho! She directs us as well as the students and teachers upon entering the building. She makes sure that everyone enters security efficiently as well as marking our completed tasks off the field trip check list. Myself, well I have what I think to be the most exciting part of the field trip process. I typically greet each bus full of students and quickly discuss details with teachers. I really enjoy the face to face interaction. I also gather the docents when their buses are ready to be debriefed and send them out to meet with their students and teachers. Our system works really great and we all work really well together.
This week we have 168 students coming just from one school. Our system is so synchronized and runs so smoothly when the field trips arrive. We had one small mishap with a school on friday but it was a little misunderstanding and we worked together to take care of the issue. We received a really great email complimenting us on a successful day...which is always nice :)!
Later today I am hoping to post again with new pictures from the renovated Miller Youth Exhibit. It is exceptional! Amanda Friedeman is a creative genius and did a fantastic job bringing her vision to life!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Make A Difference! Miller Youth Exhibit "Before" renovation
I finally got clearance from the museum to start using photographs of our exhibits. The relaunch of the Miller Youth Exhibit took place yesterday October 16, 2011. AMAZING turnout from adults and children. There are so many amazing new features but before I introduce you to those I want to give you a look at what the exhibit looked like before the newly introduced pieces...
Upon entering the exhibit these two seating areas are the first feature you encountred. Each computer displays six videos of individuals that were a "witness" during the Holocaust, some survivors. They purpose of these videos is to teach children the right way to approach relationships with other children and that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their background. One of the videos features Fritzie Fritzshall the president of the museum.
The next four pictures are our interactive screens within the exhibt. Each set of five computers serves a different purpose. It allows the children to become a part of different scenarios in which children are being bullied or mistreated. There is also an opportunity for the children to record a video describing a time when they were bullied or witnessed another individual being mistreated. It is a great way for students to maneuver their way through difficult situations and find the best result! 
The next three pictures all surround the rubbing wall actitity. Throughout the exhibt their are words cemented on the walls in which the children can choose words that best describe themselves and then display them on the yellow rubbing wall. These words are mean't to inspire better characteristics and attitudes of the kids.
And last but not least is the new puzzle that the kids put together. It is designed like a lunch table with different scenarios in which the kids are meant to act out to represent how you should and should not treat or react to others.
Upon entering the exhibit these two seating areas are the first feature you encountred. Each computer displays six videos of individuals that were a "witness" during the Holocaust, some survivors. They purpose of these videos is to teach children the right way to approach relationships with other children and that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their background. One of the videos features Fritzie Fritzshall the president of the museum.
The next four pictures are our interactive screens within the exhibt. Each set of five computers serves a different purpose. It allows the children to become a part of different scenarios in which children are being bullied or mistreated. There is also an opportunity for the children to record a video describing a time when they were bullied or witnessed another individual being mistreated. It is a great way for students to maneuver their way through difficult situations and find the best result! 
The next three pictures all surround the rubbing wall actitity. Throughout the exhibt their are words cemented on the walls in which the children can choose words that best describe themselves and then display them on the yellow rubbing wall. These words are mean't to inspire better characteristics and attitudes of the kids.
And last but not least is the new puzzle that the kids put together. It is designed like a lunch table with different scenarios in which the kids are meant to act out to represent how you should and should not treat or react to others.
Monday, October 3, 2011
ILHMEC *Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center*
This time of year is so very exciting at the museum as we are installing two brand new exhibitions. The first, which was completed last week, is the Art of Gaman Exhibit.
http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/special_exhibitions/21.php
The Art of Gaman is dedicated solely to the rememberance of those individuals, Japanses in decent, that were forced into internment camps during WWII. It is an absolutely beautiful exhibit curated by a women whos family members were contained during the war. Throughout the exhibit there are pieces of art work that range from small hand made pins to very large water color canvas paintings. The exhibit is rather small but it houses 100's of beautiful artifacts!
The other exhibit that we are launching this month, October 16th to be exact, is the Make a Difference: The Miller Family Youth Exhibit. This exhibit is designed for grades 3-8, but I enjoy it just as much as the 3rd graders! The exhibit has been in place for a while but we are now installing the finishing touches to make it spectacular. It is a character building/anti-bullying focused exhibit where kids have an opportunity to learn hands on and visually about the risks of bullying/discrimination against others regardless of the origin.
http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/make_a_difference__the_miller_family_youth_exhibition/19.php
There are so many great people that get involved here at the museum and help to develop a world renowned institution. Today we had a seminar that I attended for all the volunteers that help to run the tours along with our docents who lead our tours. Many of these people are retired and older individuals who love being involved in what our museum represents. People are mislead by the term "holocaust" and what the word represents on an international level. The museum is representative for all historys holocausts and genocides. It is not strictly a Jewish museum as much of our staff is not either. I have learned while working here that places like the ILHMEC are a major source for further prevention of these grotesque acts against the worlds people!
http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/special_exhibitions/21.php
The Art of Gaman is dedicated solely to the rememberance of those individuals, Japanses in decent, that were forced into internment camps during WWII. It is an absolutely beautiful exhibit curated by a women whos family members were contained during the war. Throughout the exhibit there are pieces of art work that range from small hand made pins to very large water color canvas paintings. The exhibit is rather small but it houses 100's of beautiful artifacts!
The other exhibit that we are launching this month, October 16th to be exact, is the Make a Difference: The Miller Family Youth Exhibit. This exhibit is designed for grades 3-8, but I enjoy it just as much as the 3rd graders! The exhibit has been in place for a while but we are now installing the finishing touches to make it spectacular. It is a character building/anti-bullying focused exhibit where kids have an opportunity to learn hands on and visually about the risks of bullying/discrimination against others regardless of the origin.
http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/make_a_difference__the_miller_family_youth_exhibition/19.php
There are so many great people that get involved here at the museum and help to develop a world renowned institution. Today we had a seminar that I attended for all the volunteers that help to run the tours along with our docents who lead our tours. Many of these people are retired and older individuals who love being involved in what our museum represents. People are mislead by the term "holocaust" and what the word represents on an international level. The museum is representative for all historys holocausts and genocides. It is not strictly a Jewish museum as much of our staff is not either. I have learned while working here that places like the ILHMEC are a major source for further prevention of these grotesque acts against the worlds people!
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