"Can't Touch This"

Crosby

Activity 1: Five Six Pick Up Sticks

This activity is the start of 5 short activity lessons on why museums ask you not to touch items on display.

This activity requires:

• A small stick.

• Glue or Tape

It can be a stick found outside, a popsicle stick from the kitchen or anything similar that an adult will allow you to break.

• 1. Take the stick and break it in half.
• 2. Now try to put it back together.
• You can use tape, glue or anything to make it look as it did before it was broken in half.

How easy was it to put the stick together again?
Is it as strong as before you broke it in two?

 

Mirror Fragments on Gray Surface With The Reflection Of A Person’s Arm

Matos

Activity 2: What Have You Broken?

What have you broken that was worth a lot of money or special to someone?

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What happened after you broke it?

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"Assorted Print-painting Lot"

Neel

Activity 3: That's Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Museums are fascinating places, and not just for adults but for kids too!

Though, it’s not easy to visit some museums. There are so many exciting things to see and learn from that you are not allowed to touch.

• When told you’re going to visit a museum what is your first thought?
• Why? Don’t be scared to answer, your opinion counts.

While at a museum, have you considered ignoring rules and touch something on display?

• Did you touch the item?

• Did you get caught?

The next activity will open your eyes to reasons why museums have ‘No Touching” rules.

• Activity: Watch the You Tube cartoon video:

"What if You Damaged Something in a Museum by Accident?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dToolaaYfmc

 

Activity 4: Yup, It's Ruined

Now that you’ve watched the YouTube video, the following pages feature photos and information about the damaged pieces mentioned in the video.

For the record:
Adults, not children, damaged each of the historic pieces featured in that video.


Do you remember the stick you tried to put back together in the first activity?
Was it ever the same as it was before it was broken? The same can be said for the pieces featured in the video.

Activity: Take a look at the pictures of the damaged pieces. Think about each accident and what you can learn from it.

• Write or talk about your answer with an adult or another child.

 

Activity 5: "Erase the Face! or Maybe You Shouldn't"

Breakage by touching is not the only way to damage a museum piece; our fingertips, therefore hands, contain oils that can ruin a sensitive object. It’s also why Curators (those in charge of the items in a museum) wear cotton gloves when handling objects.

The next activity will introduce an old form of photography called the
Daguerreotype (duh-ger-oh-type). The g is pronounced as the ‘g’ in go.

This activity is an exercise to show how oils on our fingertips can quickly damage one.

 

"Men Climbing On Wall"

Photo: Sayles

The End:

Exhibits and other public displays of art or objects are for us to enjoy.

Can you imagine someone ruining this interesting piece because they refused to follow directions?

Let’s all make sure children and adults continue to enjoy objects and works of art on display by respecting rules.