You Be the Curator

In this activity developed by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, students take on the role of museum curators, using a collection of artifacts to build and communicate an evidence-based interpretation of a historical topic. They begin by activating prior knowledge and generating questions, then select and analyze objects that support a central claim. Students curate a cohesive exhibit by crafting a title, writing an overview, and developing object labels that connect each artifact to their argument. Through this process, students practice historical thinking skills while transforming artifacts into evidence and narratives about the past.