Explorers of Nature in Natural History Museums—An Approach to Integrating Children with Refugee or Migration Status

Abstract

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (2015) 59.5 million people fled from war, persecution, poverty or criminal violence in 2014. In 2015, more than half of a million people applied for asylum in Germany. To aid immigrants as they integrated into society the Education Department of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin partnered with artists, science educators and a social worker to develop an interdisciplinary program for Welcome Classes, which are special classes for nonnative students. The aim was to bring the children into a context in which language played a part with the focus being on exploring Berlin’s urban nature. During the project, the children became discoverers and investigated with all senses and in an artistic manner their environment. Within the framework of excursions to a nature reserve, canoe trips on the river Spree, and an exhibit visit in the natural history museum the students had science experiences and practiced the German language and German culture, which plays a key role in integration. This chapter describes the project Explorers of Nature and provides reflections on the project from the view of the artists, educators, and participants through vignettes. Based on these experiences, I provide a summary of how the project could be adapted for other museums.