Deutsches Historisches Museum - Verf�hrung Freiheit. Kunst in Europa seit 1945 - Blog

We meet the class and our workshop leader in the morning at the entrance to the exhibition. There are still a few things to clear up. The group chats about names and ages and where everyone lives or is from. It turns out that the average age is six and a half and the children come from a variety of countries. The children again turn to the map to show the others where they are from. Then it’s time to start. The topic for this history workshop is ‘Worlds to live in, worlds to take in’ and we look at towers, igloos, too-small houses and too-large bodies, bicycles, palaces, and supermarkets.

Who lives how, and how do we live? Do we have it good? Do we have it better than a homeless person, whose entire belongings are kept in plastic bags hanging on a bicycle? The questions mount, as do the answers. The class disagrees about whether living outside (provided the family is there) might not actually have its advantages. The word ‘luxury’ gets mentioned. Who has their own room? Almost half of the children do.

After an hour, most are in agreement that they would now like to do something themselves. The group moves to an activity room on the second floor of the Zeughaus (museum building), where there are plenty of materials to work with: egg cartons, cardboard boxes, markers, scissors, and glue. How does your dream house look? Some children paint, while others construct. In the end, there are magical houses, colourful houses with yards, igloos (with entrances!), and much more.

The history workshop is over. The class heads home—together with their dream houses. The children put them down briefly next to the wardrobe, forming their own little exhibition: possible worlds to live in. The last remaining question is: Are we all going to fit into the tram with our dream houses?