Thank you for visiting the Gellert Center for Education
The Only CHEC Partner in New Mexico
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CHEC Partnership
In 2022, the New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum (NMHIM) became the official Holocaust education center in the state because of a partnership with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and its CHEC program (Community of Holocaust Education Centers). This affiliation provides NMHIM with opportunities that support the development and
distribution of accurate and relevant resources and training for teachers, schools, and communities.
CHEC advances quality Holocaust education by providing:
- Teacher professional development support at state and local levels
- Guidelines, lesson plans, and other classroom activities aligned with state requirements
- Holocaust survivor testimony
- Projects and resources that connect Holocaust history to local history
Path to understanding human rights issues
Holocaust education is used as a foundation to help students not only understand social justice and human rights matters but to build empathy for those impacted by these concerns.
An arts integration-based model is used to teach history through creativity and imagination. Research has shown that many positive emotional and cognitive skills are acquired when students are engaged in this way. Additionally, research affirms that students
who participate in the arts are more likely to stay in school and perform better academically compared to those who are not engaged in arts learning.
NMHIM also uses the expertise of other recognized Holocaust education experts with innovative
approaches that emphasize empathy, compassion, and the learner as an individual. We seek to bring the best educational opportunities about the Holocaust and other instances of genocide and intolerance to our fellow New Mexicans.
Exhibit Design Program
Developed for high school students, this is our most comprehensive educational offering. Over the course of an entire semester, students work collaboratively with museum staff to conceptualize, research, design, and ultimately create an exhibit for display in our museum.
Throughout the program, students are guided step-by-step by experienced museum professionals who provide both instruction and mentorship. These experts teach the fundamental principles and practices of exhibit creation, ensuring students gain a thorough understanding of the process. From conducting detailed academic research and learning museum interpretation techniques to submitting professional proposals and mastering exhibit design principles, students are immersed in an engaging, hands-on educational experience. They also develop essential skills in time management, teamwork, and collaboration, preparing them not only for the demands of exhibit creation but also for the challenges of collegiate-level academics.
As students explore and research a topic of their choice, they form meaningful connections with history while bringing their vision to life. By the end of the semester, they have a personal understanding of the dedication, creativity, and effort required to produce a museum-quality exhibit, along with the confidence and skills to tackle future academic and professional challenges.
The exhibit design program offers a unique and transformative experience for high school students, blending academic rigor with creative expression and practical application. The semester-long journey fosters intellectual growth, collaboration, and a sense of accomplishment, giving students a lasting appreciation for the art of storytelling through exhibits and the impact of their work on the wider community. Student-designed exhibits have focused on topics such as the LGBTQ+ history of New Mexico, immigration and refugees, the Chicano movement, and Japanese American concentration camps in New Mexico during World War II.
We can work with any school to create shorter versions of this program or one geared toward middle school students. NMHIM educators will bring objects and replicas for students to create their own exhibit in school in this shorter class length program.
Teacher Training and Professional Development
NMHIM offers professional development opportunities throughout the year and across the state. We partner with experienced professional educators to give teachers the tools to combat hate in their classrooms and teach difficult subjects with confidence.
Lesson Plans
Lesson plans on a variety of topics are available at no cost on our website. Written by museum staff, educators, and historians, these lesson plans use personal stories to bring history alive. Based on New Mexico social studies standards, our lesson plans can be used by teachers to fulfill necessary educational requirements.
Museum Tours for School Classes
We offer guided tours by trained docents. Available speakers can include a Holocaust survivor or a survivor descendent. When appropriate, students can get an up-close look at historical artifacts from our collection. Please click here to schedule a tour for your class.
In-school Offerings
We bring NMHIM education to your classroom with lectures about the Holocaust and related subjects. NMHIM education also offers the rare opportunity for students to meet with and engage Holocaust survivors and survivor-descendants. Students can hear firsthand about how the Holocaust impacted people and their families and their stories of survival and resilience.
Thank you to our partners in this program:
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