Museum Suitcase Museum Suitcase
Museum Suitcase
© Museum für Sepulkralkultur, Kassel, Bildarchiv

 

Museum Suitcase "Intercultural Aspects of Death and Dying"

for Teenagers from 11 to 14 years (completion of the project at the beginning of 2023)

A central concern of the project is to promote a debate between young people who have been socialized in different cultures with different religions. In April 2018, the Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer, aged 96, spoke to around 400 people in our museum. Among them were many young people who actually sat at her feet because there were no chairs left. Mrs. Friedländer ended with the following words: "There is no Jewish, Christian or Muslim blood. There is only human blood." In addition, she urgently told the young people that they had now received the baton from her to continue talking about the past injustice and to ensure that our society remains one that lives the mutual respect of cultures and religions. After her reading, she patiently answered the questions of the young people, who at the end of the event thanked Mrs. Friedländer with tears. This event once again made it clear to us in all clarity what opportunities a cultural institution like ours has to have a positive effect on society. With the project "Museum Suitcase: Intercultural Aspects of Death and Dying" we would like to contribute to the creation of a mutual appreciation that knows no hierarchies through the encounter, discourse and cooperation of different cultures. Our vision is that these young people will start talking about the cultural difference of rituals in the context of dying, so that in the end they will experience that behind the diversity of sepulcral culture lies the unity of human needs.

 

Why a new Museum Suitcase?

 

Adressing young people with an intercultural discourse

A glance at the school curriculum shows that dealing with the topics of "death", "dying" and "mourning" has great social relevance. Almost all German states have included the topic in their curricula for all school types and grades. The Museum for Sepulchral Culture has long since promoted this development and supports teachers in the context of further training and didactic offers: not only in Kassel, but nationwide; also with the museum case "Forget-me-not". In 2006, the museum case "Forget-me-not" was presented to the public within the framework of a teacher training course. At that time it was not yet foreseeable that the small, colorful coffin with its extensive didactic material would develop into a success story. By now, the museum case "Forget-me-not" is available in over 30 cities nationwide for elementary school and daycare centers. In the vicinity of these locations, there is now the opportunity to introduce children between the ages of 5 and 11 to the topics of "death", "dying", "burial", "mourning" and "remembrance" in a playful manner. The didactic unit helps to reduce fears, offers help in crisis management and teaches important social skills such as empathy and mourning. Although the museum suitcase was not expressly designed for this purpose, it has proven its worth in crisis situations and is therefore used by institutions that have to teach children about the death of important caregivers. The working materials and tasks of the museum suitcase "Forget-me-not" are adapted to the cognitive, linguistic, emotional and motor developmental level of primary school children. This material is no longer suitable for young adolescents because this age group is in a phase of self-discovery and reorientation. Against this background, young people usually deal intensively with questions of meaning and thus with death itself and their own mortality. Accordingly, contents and methods of teaching the finiteness problem must be adapted to the interests and abilities of this age group (11 to 14 years).

 
 

Requirements for the Museum Suitcase

 

As an interactive offer in the field of intercultural education, the museum case is intended to contribute to the acquisition of socially valuable action skills for young people to better cope with situations that all people inevitably will face.

A prerequisite for this is the imparting of knowledge that is as diverse as possible, combined with methods for the practical use and application of the technical content learned. Thus, the museum suitcase is not only intended to convey factual knowledge on the topics of "death", "dying", "burial", "mourning" and "remembrance", which are illustrated in the Museum for Sepulchral Culture. Rather, it is intended to teach young people how to deal with dying and death as part of our cultural, social and religious life and to familiarize them with traditional and modern manifestations of the culture of remembrance and mourning rituals.

Another important goal is to support the young people in developing a personal understanding of death and an adequate awareness of finiteness. Empathy and acceptance of feelings, affects and moods in connection with farewells and experiences of loss should be strengthened. As with the museum case "Forget-me-not", the material is intended to offer cautious assistance in dealing with death and mourning, i.e. to provide support in crises and suggestions for coping with them.

 
 

Cultural Education

 

Just like the "Forget-me-not" museum case, the museum case to be designed is also intended to make accessible the themes that the Museum for Sepulchral Culture conveys through its exhibitions. The offer is not exclusively intended for schools that are not able to visit the museum due to their distance to the museum or for other reasons. It is also aimed at municipal and denominational youth institutions as well as extracurricular institutions and independent organizations in the field of youth work and cultural education. It is important to remember that the target group is not a group with a homogeneous cultural-religious background. This is precisely the particular area of conflict that we would like to address.

The equipment of the museum suitcase should enable the young people to independently explore sepulcral topics, which they are introduced to in the school environment and which they encounter in everyday life. The museum suitcase is therefore more than just an individual project in the field of intercultural education, which can be repeated on different occasions or adopted in its structure. Rather, its contents should make it possible for different projects to be carried out one after the other or by several groups at the same time – whether in the context of project weeks at schools or in independent educational institutions.

Individual projects, to which the museum case encourages, also aim at the cooperation of different project partners in extracurricular learning fields. The school classes or youth groups are to get to know social areas and fields of work through direct experience and thus acquire the appropriate skills to act.

 
 

Topics to be illustrated across cultures and religions

 

Death in Abstract

  • From a scientific perspective as a perpetual cycle of becoming and passing away.
  • From the personal perspective as an occasion to deal with one's own finiteness and the mortality of other people (understanding of death, finiteness consciousness, question of the meaning of life).

Death as Experience

  • Mediated by the sciences (historical).
  • Mediated by the media (current).
  • Directly in the context of personal experiences of loss

Suicide

  • Since young people in the developmental phase of puberty have a growing desire for autonomy and understand that they can determine the time of death themselves, dealing with the subject of "suicide", which is still taboo in large parts of society, must be obligatory.
  • In this issue, it will be essential to secure the advice and support of suicide specialists in order to be able to give young people real concrete advice on how to deal with emerging suicidal thoughts or how to react if they are perceived by third parties.

Dying

  • As a scientific phenomenon.
  • On the societal level as an ethical, social and also economic challenge.
  • As a personal experience with which we are confronted by the death of others. How can young people deal with the death of friends or family members? How can they find their role in such a process?

Burial

  • On the one hand socially against the background of historical changes and the paradigm shifts associated with them (e.g. Christianity/enlightenment/immigration). The culture of burial has been subject to major changes for twenty years. It is important to address this change and to offer explanatory models.
  • The importance of burial as a ritual act, to deal with severe experiences of loss, and burial as the important beginning of the mourning process.

Mourning

  • As a personal experience, overcoming it represents an emotional and social challenge for those affected.
  • As a psychosocial and psychological phenomenon, the significance of which must be explained and emphasized in order to counteract social trends by acknowledging grief with all its rituals as an elementary component of experiences of loss.
  • As a cultural phenomenon (e.g. historical and current forms of public and collective mourning).

Commemoration

  • Thematization of the ritual mechanisms of remembering and commemoration in connection with the personal mourning process.
  • Forms of public remembrance as an essential component of cultural identity.
 
 

Requirements on Appearance and Equipment

 

The materials and assignments should be suitable for both classroom and out-of-school projects. The museum suitcases and equipment, apart from consumables, must be made in such a way that they survive the numerous assignments without damage.

Appearance

The outward appearance should encourage curiosity about the topics and convey that natural fears and reservations can be overcome. For example, one could take up references to death motifs from youth fashion and pop culture. The appearance should definitely be developed together with the young people.

Variety of Materials

The variety of materials to be used provides the basic prerequisite for the interdisciplinary use of the museum case and will therefore be decisive for the acceptance of the didactic unity. Media units from the fields of literature (fiction, poetry, reportage), visual arts, performing arts, music, film, photography and Internet culture are conceivable. In addition, utensils for role-plays and original objects from funeral culture should also be included in the suitcase.

Manual

The manual to be created will contain didactically prepared explanations, tasks and background information that will serve to prepare the content for the teachers.

Secondary Literature

Central publications should be included as a supplement to the handbook in terms of content, in order to offer teachers a diverse selection of entry level opportunities.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire will be developed to evaluate the museum case, which will serve as a suggestion for the optimization of the didactic materials. It will be an essential part of the museum suitcase.

 

Questions & Contact

Gerold Eppler M.A.

Position: Deputy Director, Museum Education

Telefon: 0561 / 918 93 23

View Details

 

The project is supported by

                                  

 

Museum Suitcase Forget-Me-Not

for Children from 5 to 11 years

The museum suitcase "forget-me-not" is a didactic teaching package on the subject "dying and death, burying, mourning and remembering" for children from 5 to 12 years. A mobile participatory exhibition for preschool and primary school children, which can also be used very well, for example, in confirmation lessons or for other teaching groups. The children are introduced to the subject of transience in a playful way with the suitcase, which they can unpack and explore themselves. The aim is to reduce fears, offer help in crisis management and learn important social skills, such as the ability to put oneself in others' shoes or the ability to grieve.

Pictures, worksheets, objects, films and pieces of music provide an introduction to the subject. Stethoscopes, feathers and flashlights illuminate death from the medical side. And because fears of contact with the subject can be overcome more easily through playful elements, a funeral can be replayed as a role-play with make-up, sunglasses and a black lady's hat with a veil.

We thank our sponsors:

Bund deutscher Friedhofsgärtner im Zentralverband Gartenbau e.V., Kuratorium Deutsche Bestattungskultur e. V., Bundesinnungsverband des Deutschen Steinmetz, Stein- und Holzbildhauerhandwerks, Verband der Friedhofsverwalter Deutschlands e. V.

 

Information for rental

 

The rental of the museum suitcase "Forget-me-not" is possible only in Germany with our museum suitcase sponsors. The stations are arranged according to the federal states Schleswig Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Thuringia, Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria:

Schleswig-Holstein

Dawartz Bestattungsinstitut Philipp Gerlach e. K.
Plan 25
25813 Husum
Telefon: 04841/89 01-0
Fax: 04841/89 01-50
www.dawartz-bestattungen.de
info@dawartz-bestattungen.de

Mecklenburg Western Pomerania

Ambulanter Kinderhospizdienst OSKAR
Augustenstraße 85
18055 Rostock
Tel: 0381-4547244
Fax: 0381-4547211
www.rostocker-stadtmission.de/beratung/kinderhospizdienst/
kinderhospiz@rostocker-stadtmission.de

Hamburg

GBI Großhamburger Bestattungsinstitut rV
Fuhlsbüttler Straße 735
22337 Hamburg
Ansprechpartner:
Holger Wende
Telefon: 040/24 84 02 03
Fax: 040/24 84 00
www.gbi-hamburg.de
wende@gbi-hamburg.de

Bremen

GE BE IN
Bestattungsinstitut Bremen GmbH
Nordstraße 5 - 11
28217 Bremen
Tel: 0421-3877651
www.ge-be-in.de
gerhards@ge-be-in.de

Berlin

Otto Berg Bestattungen GmbH & Co. KG
Residenzstraße 68
13409 Berlin
Ansprechpartner: Carsten Pohle
Tel:  030-49 10 11
Fax: 030-49 10 12 01
www.ottoberg.de
museumskoffer@ottoberg.de

Lower Saxony

Treuhandstelle für Dauergrabpflege Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH
Böttcherstraße 7
30419 Hannover-Herrenhausen
Telefon: 0511/32 67 11
Fax: 0511/36 32 566
www.kinder-und-trauer.de
email@kinder-und-trauer.de

Religionspädagogische Arbeitsstelle/Diözesanmedienstelle Osnabrück
Große Domsfreiheit 5/6
49074 Osnabrück
Telefon: 0541/318 208
Telefax: 0541/318 455
www.medienstelle-osnabrueck.de
medienstelle@bistum-os.de

Hesse

KF Krematorium und Friedhofsgärtnerei GmbH
Tannnenhecker Weg 6
34127 Kassel
Ansprechpartner: Torsten Schütz
Telefon: 0561/98 39 5-0 oder
Telefon: 0561/98 39 5-57
Fax: 0561/98 35 0-77
www.krematorium-kassel.de
info@krematorium-kassel.de

Genossenschaft der Friedhofsgärtner
Eckenheimer Landstraße 192
60320 Frankfurt/Main
Telefon: 069-25780770
Fax: 069-2578077-40
www.frankfurt-grabpflege.de
info@frankfurt-grabpflege.de

Thuringia

parisat
Bergstraße 11
99192 Neudietendorf
Tel.: 036202-26102
Fax: 036202-26234
www.paritaet-th.de
nyentural@parisat.de

Saxony

Landesverband für Hospizarbeit und Palliativmedizin Sachsen e. V.
Ermelstraße 17
01277 Dresden
Tel: 0351-2104855
Fax: 0351-2104856
info@hospiz-palliativ-sachsen.de
www.hospiz-palliativ-sachsen.de

VEID - Bundesverband verwaiste Eltern und Geschwister e. V.
Roßplatz 8 a
04103 Leipzig
Tel.: 0341-9468884
Fax: 0341-9023490
kontakt@veid.de
www.veid.de

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bestattungshaus Deppe
Oelmühlenstraße 9
33604 Bielefeld
Tel.: 0521-88666
Fax: 0521-174806
www.deppe-bestattungen.de
an@meinbestatter.de

Bestattungshaus Kreuer
Walder Straße 6
40724 Hilden
Tel.: 02103-20190
www.kreuer-bestattungen.de
info@kreuer-bestattungen.de

Gesellschaft für Dauergrabpflege Westfalen-Lippe mbH
Friedhofsgärtner Dortmund eG
Am Gottesacker 52
44143 Dortmund
Telefon: 0231/56 22 93-0
Fax: 0231/56 22 93-20
www.dauergrabpflege-wl.de
kontakt@fg-do.de

Huhn Bestattungen
Rahmerstraße 31
44369 Dortmund
Tel.: 0231-9310400
bestattungshaus-huhn.de
info@huhn-bestattungen.de

Bestattungshaus Wendland GmbH
Hauptstraße 85
44651 Herne
Tel.: 02325-93500
www.wendland-best.de
info@wendland-best.de

Bestattungen Fritz
Hattinger Straße 854
44879 Bochum
Tel.: 0234-946960
www.bestattungen-fritz.de
Service@bestattungen-fritz.de

Bestattungshaus aus dem Siepen GmbH
Duisburger Straße 232
45478 Mühlheim a. d. Ruhr
Tel.: 0208-9411430
www.aus-dem-siepen.de
post@aus-dem-siepen.de

Stellwerk
Evangelische Gemeinschaftsstiftung des Kirchenkreises
Gladbeck – Bottrop – Dorsten
Haus der Evangelischen Kirche
Humboldtstraße 13
45964 Gladbeck
Ansprechpartnerin:
Evangelische Frauenreferentin und Kulturbeauftragte
Petra Masuch-Thies
Telefon:02043/2793-36
Fax: 02043/2793-52
www.stiftung-stellwerk.de
Petra.Masuch-Thies@kk-ekvw.de

Rainer und Karin Geismann
Bestattungsinstitut
Bochumer Str. 26
46282 Dorsten
Telefon: 02362-22 64 5
Fax: 02362-98 95 20
www.bestattungen-geismann.de
info@bestattungen-geismann.de

Bestattungshaus Christoph Kuckelkorn
Zeughausstraße 28-38
50667 Köln
Tel.: 0221-661513
www.kuckelkorn.de
info@kuckelkorn.de

Bestattungshaus Bakonyi
Augustastraße 25
52070 Aachen
Telefon: 0241/ 505004
www.bestattungshaus-bakonyi.de
info@bestattungshaus-bakonyi.de

Rhineland-Palatinate

Bestattungen Welsch UG
Hüberlingsweg 49
56075 Koblenz
Tel.: 0261-56146
www.bestattungen-welsch.de
info@bestattungen-welsch.de

Reber Bestattungen GmbH
Weißenburger Straße 2
76829 Landau in der Pfalz
Tel.: 06341-92260
www.reber-landau.de
info@reber-landau.de

Baden-Württemberg

Bestattungen Weiß & Mozer GmbH
Ansprechparterin: Fr. Johanna von Bernsdorff
Marienstraße 6
71083 Herrenberg
Tel.: 07032-5185
www.weiss-mozer.de
info@weiss-mozer.de

Bestattungsdienst Rilling & Partner
Handwerkerpark 5
72070 Tübingen
Telefon: 07071/92780
Fax: 07071/927899
www.rilling-und-partner.de
www.haus-des-uebergangs.de
info@rilling-und-partner.de

Bestattungsdienst Ammerbuch Riling & Partner
Bahnhofstraße 5/2
72119 Ammerbuch
Tel.: 07071-92780
Fax: 07071-927899
www.rilling-und-partner.de
info@rilling-und-partner.de

Maichle Bestattungen
Steinbeisstraße 3
73312 Geislingen
Tel.: 07331-931110
Fax: 07331-9311129
post@maichle.de
www.maichle.de

Info-Center Friedhof Karlsruhe
Haid-und-Neu-Straße 33
76131 Karlsruhe
Telefon: 0721/7820933
Fax: 0721/ 7820934
www.friedhof-karlsruhe.de
info@friedhof-karlsruhe.de

Bavaria

Erzdiözese München und Freising (KdöR)
Fachstelle 5. MD - Medien und Digitalität
Kapellenstraße 4
80333 München
Telefon: 089 / 2137 2450
Fax: 089 / 2137 1557
www.fachstelle-md.online
medienbestellung@eomuc.de

 
 

>> to the new brochure (German)

 

Rental Fee

regular 2 weeks: 100€
reduced 2 weeks: 50€
extension per week 15€ each
plus 0,52 Euro insurance per day and 50,- deposit at pickup

Lending

Kerstin Hering

Position: Administration and Accounting

Telefon: 0561 / 918 93 13

View Details

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Arbeitsgemeinschaft Friedhof und Denkmal e.V.

Zentralinstitut für Sepulkralkultur

Museum für Sepulkralkultur

Weinbergstraße 25–27
D-34117 Kassel | Germany
Tel. +49 (0)561 918 93-0
info@sepulkralmuseum.de

Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst
Kassel Documenta Stadt
EKD
Deutsche Bischofskonferenz
Berlin
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