School in the Past” Came to Life for a Day at Bovec Elementary School

By bringing our programs to branch schools, we give their students access to high-quality museum educational content even in more remote areas. By learning through cultural heritage, we foster curiosity, preserve memories of school life in the past, and build bridges between the museum and schools.

On Thursday, October 8, we visited Bovec Elementary School, where we were joined by students from the Žaga and Soča branch schools. For students in grades 2 through 5 and students from the branch schools, we organized an engaging cultural day that took place in two parts: all students participated in the “Sunday School” history lesson, and two workshops were held—“Exploring Museum Objects” and “History Under the Lid.” A total of 73 students participated in the programs, the highest number to date.

The “Sunday School” lesson was particularly memorable; through a live reenactment of history, the students got a feel for what school was like in the past. Under the watchful eye of a strict teacher, they briefly experienced what it was like to sit at their desks and strictly follow the rules. The teacher, cane in hand, guided them in reading and writing and also tested their diligence. Such an experience allows students to learn about the past in a direct and experiential way.

The Museum as a Partner to Schools
We also took advantage of our visits to branch schools to exchange educational perspectives with staff and to reflect together on the importance of branch schools for the preservation of rural Slovenia. These schools play an important role not only in educating children but also in maintaining the cohesion and vitality of local communities.

Through these visits, we demonstrate that the museum can make a significant contribution to the development of reading literacy even in more remote school settings. With high-quality educational programs, we strengthen the skills and knowledge that enable students to understand, interpret, and apply texts—skills that form the foundation of successful learning.

The project “Reading Literacy and Strengthening Competencies Between Museums and Schools” thus continues our museum’s mission: to support schools and teachers throughout Slovenia with modern and experiential learning approaches, and to bring cultural heritage to as wide an audience of children and young people as possible.