1
Living Artifact Playdough Sculpting
The Chat
Ask about their favorite personal crown, tool, weapon, or toy.
Hands-On Action
Mold a physical clay version of that artifact using non-toxic playdough.
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The Museum · Lower Wing
Exhibits Vault (K–6)
24 curated maker exhibits you can make at home. Each card pairs an interview prompt ("The Chat") with a physical build ("Hands-On Action") — so every student can turn a conversation with a historical leader into something they can hold.
Upper Wing (7–12)🎨Grade Band K–1
Sensory & Storytelling Foundations
Shape recognition, baseline fine-motor tracking, and personal connection to historical figures.
2
Crayon Rubbing Coins & Medals
The Chat
Ask what animals or symbols were stamped onto their kingdom’s coins.
Hands-On Action
Place cardboard shape cutouts under paper and use crayons to make coin rubbings.
3
The Paper-Bag Interview Puppet
The Chat
Ask what distinct style of hat or clothes they wore every day.
Hands-On Action
Glue yarn, construction paper, and fabric scraps onto a brown paper bag to make a puppet.
4
The Historic Symbol Stamp
The Chat
Ask for one shape or symbol that represents their country or home flag.
Hands-On Action
Carve that shape into a raw potato slice or foam block, dip it in washable paint, and stamp a patterned border.
5
Sensory Texture Collage
The Chat
Ask what materials they interacted with daily (e.g., rough ship sails, smooth marble, cold armor).
Hands-On Action
Glue corresponding physical scraps (burlap, foil, cotton) onto cardstock to match the figure’s environment.
6
The “Day in the Life” Paper Crown
The Chat
Ask what their main job or duty was from sunrise to sunset.
Hands-On Action
Draw icons of those duties onto a strip of construction paper, tape it into a wearable crown, and wear it during storytime.
📖Grade Band 1–2
Visual & Sequence Builders
Simple timelines, identifying community helpers from the past, and scissor-cutting accuracy.
1
The Postcard from the Past
The Chat
Ask what the land, buildings, and landscape looked like along their travels.
Hands-On Action
Draw the landscape on the front of an index card and dictate a message on the back.
2
The Invention Comic Strip
The Chat
Ask what problem their invention solved and what happened when it finally worked.
Hands-On Action
Illustrate a simple 3-panel paper layout tracking the problem, the idea, and the final success.
3
The Hero’s Badge of Honor
The Chat
Ask what core virtue (bravery, kindness, fairness) kept them going during tough times.
Hands-On Action
Design and cut out a wearable paper medallion shield featuring that core virtue symbol using safety scissors and yarn.
4
The Pop-Up Milestone Book
The Chat
Ask for two major events that happened to them when they were younger.
Hands-On Action
Fold a sheet of cardstock to create a simple 3D pop-up page illustrating those two moments.
5
Past vs. Present Sorting Mat
The Chat
Ask what tools they used for cooking, writing, or cleaning instead of today’s electricity.
Hands-On Action
Draw their historical tools on one side of a folded paper mat and draw the modern equivalents on the right.
6
The Historical Figure Paper Doll
The Chat
Ask what specialized protective gear or formal robes they wore for their work.
Hands-On Action
Cut out a basic cardstock human silhouette and dress it using paper-tab cutouts of the historical outfit.
🧩Grade Band 3–4
Material Culture & Structured Writing
Perspective-taking, comparing lifestyles across eras, and structural material construction.
1
The Diorama Box Scene
The Chat
Ask about the layout of a room, cabin, ship deck, or theater where they made history.
Hands-On Action
Turn an empty shoebox sideways and use paper, clay, and pipe cleaners to build a 3D miniature setting.
2
Invisible Ink Code Breaking
The Chat
Ask how secret messages were hidden and passed without enemies finding them.
Hands-On Action
Write a hidden message using lemon juice and Q-tips, then gently warm the paper to reveal the text.
3
The 3-Item Time Capsule Portfolio
The Chat
Ask: “If you had to pick 3 everyday items that tell the true story of your life, what are they?”
Hands-On Action
Sketch those three items on thick cardstock, write a 2-sentence descriptive caption under each, and seal them in a tube.
4
Architectural Blueprint Sketching
The Chat
Ask about the specific dimensions, materials, and rooms of their famous home or fortress.
Hands-On Action
Draw a birds-eye floor plan grid map of that building, labeling the purpose of each room based on their interview notes.
5
Historical Recipe Ingredient Card
The Chat
Ask what standard meals, crops, or celebratory foods people ate during their time period.
Hands-On Action
Create an illustrated recipe card outlining the raw ingredients, tools needed, and preparation steps used in that era.
6
Miniature Wax Museum Artifact
The Chat
Ask about a prized physical possession they could never travel without.
Hands-On Action
Sculpt that item from bar soap or wax blocks, using plastic sculpting tools to etch fine historic patterns.
🔍Grade Band 5–6
Research, Replication, & Primary Sources
Bias analysis, evaluating structural motivations, and creating complex model prototypes.
1
The Muckraker Newspaper Layout
The Chat
Interview them about a specific societal issue or injustice they fought against.
Hands-On Action
Draft a front-page exposé layout on butcher paper, including a lead article and a political cartoon.
2
Patent Blueprint & Cardboard Prototype
The Chat
Ask about the physical parts, engineering challenges, and mechanical failures of their device.
Hands-On Action
Draw a labeled multi-view schematic on graph paper, then build a non-working scale mockup using cardboard.
3
Wax-Sealed Treaty Drafting
The Chat
Uncover what structural compromises or resource trades were argued over during a peace negotiation.
Hands-On Action
Write a formal treaty document on tea-stained parchment paper and seal it physically using hot wax and a stamp.
4
Scripted Historical Mock Trial
The Chat
Ask about their greatest rival, political enemy, or the legal charges they faced during their lifetime.
Hands-On Action
Write a 3-page script for a courtroom scene featuring the figure defending their actions against cross-examination.
5
Propaganda Poster Design
The Chat
Ask what slogans, flags, or images their government or movement used to convince the public.
Hands-On Action
Use bold lettering, limited color palettes, and striking symbols to paint a period-accurate propaganda poster.
6
Decorative Heraldry Shield
The Chat
Ask about their family background, values, and the achievements they were most proud of.
Hands-On Action
Construct a cardboard heraldic shield divided into quadrants, painting symbolic icons representing their answers.
Ready to run "The Chat" with a real historical leader? Launch an Alex interview and bring these projects to life.
