'The Journey was like stepping through a door of the past. I thought this way of learning was better because I learned from people who really experienced being a Jew and living in Germany during the time Hitler ruled.' Hannah, 10, St Philip-Neri and St Bede RC Primary School, Mansfield.

The Journey learning programme is based in the Journey exhibition and follows the life of Leo, who is a 10-year old German Jewish boy growing up in Berlin. Leo's story unfolds through a series of rooms which represent a six week period from November-December 1938. There is an opportunity for students to handle objects within the museum exhibition. Many of the rooms will favour the kineasthetic and tactile learner as children are given time to explore spaces and handle the items. Children also learn through other sources, e.g. by viewing real documents, artefacts, watching and listening to testimonies. The rooms develop Leo's story in the following ways:

The 1930s German Home:invites your children to discover the essence of its occupants. You will not hear “Don’t touch!” as your children are encouraged to explore the room and its contents. Handling objects and using observational and questioning skills, your children will begin to build a picture of Leo’s family. The attention to accurate detail and the aroma of chicken soup places children firmly in the Stein’s home.

Survivors recall their childhood memories of family-life. Children will listen to an extract from Leo’s Diary as he recalls a neighbour’s instruction to his friend to ‘not play with that Jewish boy’.

The Schoolroom: allows children the opportunity to sit at a schulbank, surrounded by period school furniture. They will learn about the Nazi propaganda used to influence how Jewish children were discriminated against in the classroom. Survivors recall their memories of school-life in Nazi-occupied towns and cities. A display case holds original Hitler Youth and Bund Deutscher Madel items. As Leo reads from his Diary, children will learn how the teacher’s actions led to further changes in Leo and Fritz’s friendship.

'I loved the classroom; it was very realistic and spectacular, it took me back in time.' Lucy, 10, St Philip-Neri and St Bede RC Primary School, Mansfield.

The German Street: releases the smell of a Jewish-owned bakery, which has been vandalised, an un-touched non-Jewish-owned clock shop and the front of the Stein’s damaged tailor shop as your children are asked to examine the evidence of discrimination. The imposing newspaper stand displays Der Sturmer. Archive footage of Kristallnacht will signify the escalation in hostility against Jews and the damage of Jewish-owned property. Survivors recall their memories of the changes in Laws and of the events of Kristallnacht. Here, Leo’s Diary reflects the fear of what might happen next.
The Tailor Shop: is in a state of disarray as children are asked to reflect on the events of Kristallnacht and consider the choices for Jewish families. Your children will be asked to discuss how such choices can be planned for and the problems that would have to be overcome. The consequences of each choice are then discussed before your children are invited to discover the Stein’s hiding-place.

Survivors recall overheard conversations of how their parents reached difficult decisions of how to protect their children.

The Hiding Space: Bare-bricked, the exposed pipes and cramped conditions give an insight to an uncomfortable choice of ‘accommodation’. Objects, kindly donated by survivors, reveal a story of survival in hiding as your children consider the difficulties of living in a confined and concealed space.

The Railway Carriage: sees Leo, having parted from his parents and sister, on board a train destined for England. Sitting in the carriage, images of the countryside flash past as archive footage explains how the Kindertransport saved 10 000 Jewish children, moving them safely to Britain whilst other children were not as lucky.

The Refuge: Set as an English church hall, The Refuge depicts the end of the physical journey for children. Here, your children will have the opportunity to meet a survivor, who will detail their childhood journey and answer questions. The room holds display-cases, housing artefacts, donated or loaned for the permanent exhibition. Your children will take part in activities related to the objects and suitcases on display.

'Seeing the possessions of Jewish survivors and the story behind them made me understand how it was to be sent away and only take what you could manage in your suitcase.' Celine, 11, The Nottingham Bluecoat School and Technology College, Nottingham.