Concord Middle School Eighth Graders Present ‘Walking Museum’ After Two-Month Holocaust Study

Concord Middle School students created original projects for the “Resilience of the Human Spirit” walking museum exhibit. (Photo Courtesy Concord Public Schools)

CONCORD — The hallways at Concord Middle School recently became a living exhibit as eighth graders presented a “Walking Museum,” sharing projects that examined the resilience of people who lived through The Holocaust.

The exhibit was the culminating project for a two-month Holocaust unit led by eighth grade English language arts teachers Jen Coty, Sarah Oelkers and Jancie Gullotti.

As part of the assignment, students were asked to find personal connections that helped them better understand the history and the themes of resilience and identity explored in the unit.

Students created original projects for the “Resilience of the Human Spirit” walking museum exhibit, combining historical research with personal reflection. Each display highlighted stories of people who endured profound hardship but continued to show courage and dignity.

During the event, students stood with their projects while classmates walked through the exhibit, reading the displays, asking questions and leaving written feedback. The setup allowed students to engage with each other’s work and share ideas.

One student wrote in response to a classmate’s project: “This [student’s project] strengthened my understanding of resilience because it is a powerful demonstration of how people were able to bear witness to the events in the Holocaust even if reliving their trauma was painful. These stories and testimonies are important for people to acknowledge and learn from.”

Principal Justin Cameron said the walking museum provided a means for students to connect with the difficult parts of history.

“The Walking Museum gave students an opportunity to share what they have learned while hearing different perspectives from their classmates,” Cameron said. “Projects like this encourage students to think carefully about the past and the responsibility we all share to treat others with dignity and respect.”

Through their projects, students showed careful research and thoughtful analysis while considering how the lessons of The Holocaust still shape conversations about empathy and moral courage today.

“This project asked students to engage with difficult history in a thoughtful way,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter. “By researching these stories and sharing them with their classmates, students learned why it is so important to remember the lessons of The Holocaust and carry them forward.”

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