Sixth Graders Visit the Anne Frank Exhibit
As part of the English curriculum, sixth graders recently visited the Anne Frank Exhibit.
The trip was a powerful extension of their reading of The Diary of Anne Frank which, along with classroom discussions facilitated by teacher Anne-Carter Stowe, helped deepen their appreciation and understanding of the powerful memoir.
The exhibit unfolds in three distinct sections. The first provides historical context, helping students understand the aftermath of World War I and the rise of antisemitism. The second, which is the centerpiece of the exhibit, is a recreation of the Secret Annex in the Frank family’s Amsterdam home. Before the trip, Ms. Stowe encouraged students to pay close attention to the details Anne describes in her diary, and many were quick to point out familiar objects and spaces. “That’s the desk that Anne had a fight with Mr. Dusel over!,” said one student, while others shared moments of recognition, whispering to Ms. Stowe, “I remember when she wrote about that.” The authentic artifacts on display, including a Monopoly board and a dress that belonged to Mrs. van Daan, added to the trip’s emotional impact. The final section features a glass floor, beneath which is a map of Europe marked with concentration camps—a striking visual that illustrates the vast scope of the Holocaust.
“It’s a powerful experience for the students,” Ms. Stowe reflected, noting their respectful demeanor and focused attention. “You can almost see in their facial expressions that they’re making connections and experiencing the text in a whole new way as they move through the exhibit.”
After the visit, students journaled about what they found most compelling about the experience. Delphina B. ’32 reflected on the complexity of the experience, noting, “There were so many different things to look at and explore. Each one came with the overwhelming sensation of being both happy and sad at once. I was thinking about how much Anne Frank would have loved seeing all of the things that she created and that were created for her. I loved being able to reflect on the book while I was looking at the different exhibitions. It was like all of Anne Frank’s dreams and aspirations had come true and that was an exciting experience for me, but it was also emotional because after reading the book and getting to know Anne Frank, I just know how much it would have meant to her and how excited she would have been to see the incredible things that were created from her work. Anne always talked about how she doubted her own ability as a writer, but I know that if she saw the exhibit, she would realise how vast her talent and abilities really were. There were so many amazing things in the exhibit, but there were also so many incredibly sad things. I had so many mixed feelings about what we saw, but one thing that I know for sure is that it was a meaningful, possibly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget.”
“ I loved being able to reflect on the book while I was looking at the different exhibitions.”
