The Mobile Museum of Tolerance seeks to inspire students and adults from across the state of Illinois to stand up against hate and foster positive change in their communities. Our workshops have been specially crafted to engage all age groups, serving schools, faith groups, community organizations, businesses, and more.
You can browse a list of potential program offerings below. If you are interested in bringing the MMOT to your school or community, please refer to our MMOT Reservation Form. The MMOT is wheelchair accessible.
The Anne Frank Story
Aimed at younger audiences, the goal of this workshop is to enhance middle school students’ ability to become proactive members of society by influencing positive change. Students view an immersive short film about the life of Anne Frank before launching into a discussion on the Holocaust, antisemitism, and resistance. Stereotypes, racism, and prejudice are defined and discussed in an age-appropriate manner. Suitable for grades 6-8.
Civil Rights
This workshop explores civil rights in a historical and contemporary context. Students view a documentary featuring numerous American civil rights heroes and draw comparisons between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s with other fights for civil rights throughout US history. Major topics of discussion include discrimination, racism, segregation, and nonviolent protest. Suitable for grades 6-12.
The Power of Ordinary People
While ordinary people have the power to create positive change in their communities, they can also become enforcers of hate and violence. This workshop explores both sides of this complex issue through the lens of the Holocaust, with short films discussing both bystanders to antisemitic violence in Nazi Germany and heroes who stood up against hate and saved victims of the Holocaust. The discussion brings the roles of upstander and bystander into the modern day, leaving students with the understanding that they must take an active role in preventing hate and promoting tolerance in their communities. Suitable for grades 9-12.
Digital Media Literacy
Our Digital Media Literacy program will provide students with the tools to identify and analyze potentially harmful media, stand up against hate and violence online, and develop strategies to create a positive social media presence. The program will provide safety and empowerment for young digital citizens during the post-COVID social media age. Students will discuss their own social media presence and experience with hate online. Using tablet computers, students are then asked to use the Center for Media Literacy’s Five Key Questions to analyze carefully curated examples of online hate in small groups. Students will also discuss consequences of online hate and the concept of a “digital footprint.” Finally, students will fill out an Action Card with their plan for fighting hate online. After approximately 60 days, students will participate in a virtual follow-up discussion to reinforce and evaluate their learning in the first workshop. Suitable for grades 9-12.
Virtual Workshops:
We offer the following LIVE Zoom (or other platforms) interactive workshops and presentations which you can book on a date/time of your choice for groups of 25-30.
Please choose from any of the Interactive Field Trips listed below. You can also combine multiple sessions for a broader experience.
Each module is designed to cover a classroom period (approx. 50 minutes)
Anne Frank: A Fascinating Look at the Real Anne
Your students experience a virtual exploration of the dynamic MOT exhibit, Anne, to discover her story through carefully curated research that challenges many popular assumptions. The session sheds lights on Anne’s family background and reveal little known details of Anne’s childhood, as shared in personal testimony by her last remaining relative, cousin Buddy Elias, exclusively for the MOT. We also examine rare artifacts and discover fascinating connections between Anne Frank and the U.S. The session concludes with the period after the arrest, imprisonment and deportation of everyone from the Secret Annex. Students are inspired, anew by the legacy and lessons of her writing and indomitable voice. This workshop focuses on the theme of identity. In understanding more about Anne we gain tools to help better understand ourselves and those around us.
Tolerancenter: Contemporary Lessons
Led by the MOT Youth Educator, explore some of the MOT’s most moving interactive exhibits examining themes such as dynamics of discrimination, personal responsibility and democracy and diversity. The session is designed to draw connections from history to current events and to spark personal reflection on how to create the changes we seek. Conversation focuses on the impact of hate and hate crimes, media literacy and personal responsibility.
Holocaust History Session: Youth Voices and Resistance
In Holocaust education, students resonate especially with modules that examine the Holocaust through the lenses and voices and other children. As the Holocaust’s most tragic victims, children were also resilient resisters. This module led by a skilled MOT Youth Educator offers an introduction to the Holocaust through primary documents and interactive activities. This module introduces students to major themes including the use of propaganda, effects of dehumanization and roles & responsibilities of ordinary people in effecting change.