CHALLENGE
New Approaches to Hands-On Learning The current exhibit occupying the Simmons Gallery called “M is for Museum” is a new step for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Designed for kids 5 to 13 years old, the exhibit focuses on helping curious young visitors discover how museums protect, explore, and explain the cultures of the world and wonders of nature. Featuring multimedia and hands-on activities, “M is for Museum” breaks the boundaries of traditional, behind-glass museum exhibits. From videos to microscopes, from touching real animal pelts to putting post-its with questions on the wall, the exhibit presents information in more engaging ways and utilizes heightened amounts of sensory learning. However, the space itself still retains the sterile feeling of a museum exhibit with the glass cases, pristine dark wood furniture, and ever-present, ever-verbose wall placards. What the space lacks is character, the human quality of being well-worn and lived in.
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