Happy Birthday, Old House!
Exactly 200 years ago – on July 9th, 1825 – the foundation stone for the Altes Museum was laid. It was Berlin’s very first major museum – with giant columns, a royal staircase, and a collection that took us far back into ancient times. It was also one of the first museums that KidsKultur ever visited with the children back in 2019.
We celebrated this special birthday with a program full of art, architecture, movement, and history. Just like the ancient Greeks and Romans – but in our own way: with body, mind, and heart!
We had planned three group visits to the special anniversary exhibition at the Altes Museum.
We saw real Greek vases, statues, and bronze treasures – and of course, we brought our sketchbooks to draw on-site like real artists.
At the same time, we said goodbye to KidsKultur until after the Berlin summer holidays.
Saturday, July 5, 2025 | 12:00 – 17:00
Columns Fit for Gods – Architecture You Could Touch
We explored what made a temple – and why the Altes Museum was built to look like one! Together, we designed our own façades, glued, drew, and built our very own columned hall.
Out on the big lawn, we investigated where and how the large fountain had been installed. As always, we meditated together or went on a visual journey into ancient times.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 | 12:00 – 17:00
Treasures of Antiquity – Vases, Bronze & Imagination
Right after the museum’s birthday (July 9), we visited the grand anniversary exhibition.
Inside the Altes Museum, we saw authentic Greek vases, bronze figures, and marble statues.
Afterwards, we gathered in the garden, drew our favorite pieces, and presented our works in a mini-exhibition – open to adults too!
Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 12:00 – 17:00
Time Travel & Museum of the Future
We asked ourselves: What was our own history? Which everyday objects from our lives might one day be part of a museum?
We brought such items with us, displayed them in our own “Museum of the Future,” and talked with adults about memory and what was to come. Our small exhibition took place right outside the museum.
Mind, Body & Soul
Mind – Thinking, Knowing, Understanding
Children learned what a museum was, why it was built, and why it resembled a temple.
They discovered similarities and differences between ancient and modern life.
They learned and used concepts like façade, column, bronze, exhibition, memory, and mythology.
The KulturKids engaged with the idea of history, time, and cultural heritage – in an age-appropriate and hands-on way.
Body – Sensing, Building, Moving
The KulturKids created façades, columned halls, and their own museum objects using real materials.
They moved freely through the iconic Lustgarten, discovering the space through movement, play, and physical exploration (e.g., lawns, fountains, museum spaces).
Through meditation, body journeys, and role play, they experienced history not just with their minds, but with their entire bodies.
Soul – Feeling, Remembering, Belonging
Children developed a sense of cultural belonging and the meaning of shared places and memories.
They experienced self-efficacy by creating exhibitions, presenting their work, and engaging in dialogue with adults.
They learned that their own lives, objects, and thoughts were valuable enough to be part of a "Museum of the Future."
The mindful farewell before summer break was guided with care and created space for anticipation and inner calm.
