House of the Wannsee Conference

WORKING IN SMALL GROUPS WITHIN THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION

The educational department offers to groups interested in the permanent exhibition the opportunity to work in small groups supported by staff members. This method is particularly suitable for pupils who find it difficult to concentrate for an extended period of time on a detailed guided tour. They can be motivated by their active contribution to the reception of the exhibition. Since pupils differ in learning preferences and learning habits, different models of how to work in small groups have been developed. Teachers and staff members of the educational department can clarify before the visit which particular model seems best suited for the class in question.

I.  Work in small groups with questions and discussion based on a questionnaire

At the beginning of the visit, the pupils are introduced to the topics and set-up of the exhibition. They are then provided with a sheet with questions related to the exhibition on the basis of which they can work in small groups. Each group will work in two or three rooms of the exhibition. The pupils working in Room 1 of the permanent exhibition (Dictatorship in Germany) may then deal with the question: “How were the German Jews turned into foreigners among the German people?“ Or they may be asked in Room 7 (Deportations): “How did the remaining non-Jewish population react to the deportations of Jews? Make sure to include the photographs in your answer.“ The questionnaires vary in complexity and emphasis.
The responses to the questions posed are not just to be copied from the introduction and commentary found in the exhibition. The pupils can only answer the questions in a meaningful way if they take note of the exhibition’s historic photographs and documents, and then give some thought of their own to them. This task requires them to concern themselves actively with the photographs, written sources and annotated texts. Beyond that, the young people are also given the opportunity to visit those rooms of the exhibition in which they did not work with their small group. Afterwards, all members of the group will meet in a plenary session to talk about their impressions, discoveries and questions. In this way, the participants are encouraged to discuss the contents of the exhibition.

II.  Work in small groups with a subsequent guided tour “for pupils by pupils“ 

The technique of a guided tour “for pupils by pupils” is used with pupils aged 14 to 16 who work in small groups. This approach encourages the pupils to determine for themselves the principal focal points of the permanent exhibition, thereby enhancing their willingness to take notice of new items of information. 
The pupils prepare a guided tour for their classmates through one of the rooms of the exhibition. The presentation of each room generally lasts from five to seven minutes. The pupils can choose the room on which they want to concentrate. The staff members of the educational department take care that sufficient rooms of the exhibition are included in order to make sure that the process of deprivation of rights, segregation, and finally extermination will emerge clearly.
To assist those pupils working in small groups, they receive an easily understandable introductory text relating to the contents of the room they have chosen, a glossary, and a chronology. In addition they are provided with an autobiographical text written by a survivor which relates to the events displayed in the chosen room from the victims’ point of view. The objective of preparing an autonomous guided tour is not merely to present facts to one’s fellow pupils but also to find an individual approach to the contents of the exhibition, and then to discuss these with fellow pupils. For this reason, the young people are asked to introduce the subject of their chosen room briefly to their fellow pupils, and then to concentrate on two or three displays which they found particularly significant.
Once the preparation has been concluded, the pupils take turns guiding each other through the rooms on which they have concentrated. The staff member in charge joins this guided tour and provides information about the Wannsee Conference in the room where it was held.