Leading back to the source

Students enthusiastically listen to historical stories at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum.

When history steps out of the books.

There are lessons that don't require textbooks or final exams. There are trips that are not just extracurricular activities, but journeys back to our roots, from which we can grow and mature. This is what the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum has been organizing with dedication, innovation, and enthusiasm for the education of the younger generation.

The Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum currently houses nearly 30,000 artifacts, including many rare and valuable antiques and three national treasures: the Cam Thuy bronze cauldron, the Nua Mountain short sword, and the Cam Giang bronze drum. The main exhibition system is divided according to historical progression, combined with thematic rooms introducing the cultures of the Muong and Thai ethnic groups, and the Thanh Hoa bronze drums, creating a comprehensive picture of the history and culture of Thanh Hoa province.

More than just a repository, the museum is a living space of memory. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors come here, with students making up 60-70% of the clientele. They don't come to "listen to lectures" but to "feel," to witness the artifacts firsthand, and to experience historical stories with all their senses.

Educational programs such as "Following in the Footsteps of Prehistoric People - A Journey from Caves to the Plains," "Thanh Hoa's Rear Area and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign," and "Dong Son Culture and the Story of the Bronze Drums"... have truly become vivid and memorable lessons. The museum space has been transformed into an open classroom, where each artifact is a teacher, and each statue or photograph tells a story that touches the heart. Nguyen Hoang Manh Dung, a student from QTHSHOOL Primary, Secondary & High School (Thanh Hoa City), shared: "We were very excited to participate in activities at the museum. I liked seeing the national treasures with my own eyes the most. I didn't think ancient artifacts could be so exquisite."

Not only children, but also parents recognize the value of the learning model at the museum. Ms. Nguyen Mai Phuong from Dong Tho ward (Thanh Hoa City) shared: “I want to bring my children here every summer. It's not just for fun, but also a way to learn that is rich in emotion, helping them to love their homeland even more.”

The extracurricular activities were meticulously organized: from engaging lectures to interactive games and quizzes about history through artifacts... All of these contributed to changing students' approach to history, from passively absorbing to actively exploring. More importantly, it was about emotion. When an artifact is connected to a story of courage, sacrifice, or the ingenuity of our ancestors, and students see and touch it firsthand, they will never forget it.

Connecting education with heritage

It's no coincidence that many schools in the province have chosen the Provincial Museum as a familiar destination for their extracurricular programs. Here, history lessons don't begin with the phrase "Open your books..." but with the thought-provoking question: "Do you know why bronze drums were important to the ancient Vietnamese?" This approach has completely transformed the atmosphere of the lesson.

Leading back to the source

Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum - where history is learned through interaction.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom, a teacher at Hoang Quang Secondary School (Thanh Hoa City), shared: “When students observe, take notes, and give presentations about artifacts, their ability to absorb and remember information improves significantly. History education cannot be confined to the classroom; it needs to be linked to real-world settings like museums.”

In response to this interest, the museum staff has also continuously innovated and created new activities. Ms. Duong Thi My Dung, Head of the Exhibition and Propaganda Department of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum, said: “Every year we develop educational programs with specific content, tailored to the age and curriculum of the students. In particular, young children really enjoy hands-on experiences such as coloring artifacts, simulating the incense-making process, or watching short historical films.”

Beyond fixed museum sessions, many mobile programs have also been effectively implemented. These "museum to school" trips bring artifacts, documents, and images, helping to bridge geographical distances and provide opportunities for students in remote areas to access heritage. Through these initiatives, a love of history is "sown" from the most familiar things.

Another highlight is the combination of technology and traditional displays. To create appeal, in 2022 the museum applied virtual reality (VR3D), QR code lookup, electronic display boards, etc., allowing viewers to interact more actively and vividly. It is expected that in 2025 the museum will organize 4-5 thematic exhibitions specifically for young people and continue to promote digital transformation so that history does not become "outdated" in the eyes of the younger generation.

The Director of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum, Trinh Dinh Duong, emphasized: "We not only want to impart knowledge, but also to inspire. Each artifact is a slice of the past, a message left by our ancestors. The important thing is to help the younger generation receive it with their hearts, thereby developing an awareness of preserving and protecting it."

In that tranquil setting, meetings with historical witnesses, cultural experts, and others became a valuable source of intellectual nourishment. When a story is told with genuine emotion, a heartfelt gaze, or an uncontrollable tear, students will feel that today's freedom is the result of countless silent sacrifices.

Each tour, each story told, each small artifact contributes to fostering love for their homeland, a sense of responsibility, and national pride in the children. In a place that seems to contain only inanimate objects, a love for history and culture is being kindled day by day. And it is these children, the young people touching this heritage, who will be the ones to continue, preserve, and spread the age-old values of their ancestors.

Text and photos: Tran Hang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dan-loi-ve-nguon-252279.htm