Eight-year-old Jesus Cruz’ class had roamed the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City for three hours, and yet the interest of the boisterous children had not subsided one bit.
The children were not enchanted by the thrill and chill of the movie “Night at the Museum.” Instead, they were intrigued by the exhibits inside the museum and the legends and stories related to them.
“Yes, I liked it here,” Cruz remarked while taking notes to mark links he had spotted between exhibits and school books.
“At school they asked us to find out (about) the first settlers– how they lived, how they dressed and how they hunted.”
And in the museum, he had found answers. Indeed, thousands of Mexican children flock to the museum for answers.
According to the museum registrar, scores of primary schools organize visits to the museum every day. Pupils, averaging over 1,000 for any given day, are especially fascinated by the archaeological and ethnographic halls.
The Pre-Colombian Culture Hall is a favorite with both pupils and teachers.
Against the backdrop of human figures hewn on rocks and stones, Maria Enriqueta Vargas narrated the legend of Coatlicue and told stories of the 11 Tlatoanis, or Aztec rulers, in Mexico City before the Spanish arrival.
The art historian also dwelled upon the Aztec rulers Acamapichtli, Axayacatl, Moctezuma, Tizoc and Cuauhtemoc.
“I try to motivate them, get them interested and ensure they leave the museum satisfied with having learned more about history,” said Vargas, who has been teaching for the past 37 years.
She said that the museum left its mark on children and adults alike.
(Source: xinhuanet.com)
