Educational programs

Young visitors of the museum can participate in a number of educational activities that have been developed over the years, as well as temporary/annual educational programs, sponsored by Imerys Industrial Minerals Greece S.A. Start your visit with the “Discover the treasures of Milos” educational brochure that guides you through the exhibits of the MMM. Questions such as “are mining companies environmentally responsible?” can be answered by Stony, a prehistoric hero whom you’ll meet during the digital tour “Minerals in our Lives”. Participate in organized visits in selected Miloterranean routes and discover the island’s unique geology, wealth of mining history and present, and its beautiful natural environment. By organizing original educational programs and the Miloterranean Geo Experience, MMM travels its visitors outside of its grounds, too, where its exhibits were first born and “live”.


Environmental Activities

The Museum carries out educational programs and entertaining activities with an aim to increase the awareness of the local community, especially the pupils’ and students’, on subjects such as natural environment and local flora, and the need to preserve them.

In April 2011, on the occasion of the International Year of Forests 2011 declared by UNESCO, the Museum organized a reforestation program in the Profitis Ilias area.

Since 2006, the Museum carries out an educational program called “With Colors and Aromas”, aimed at increasing the children’s awareness regarding environmental protection.

Since 2005, the Museum is carrying out a transplantation program, as well: local plants are being transplanted in the environmental restoration atrium, in order to inform the visitors about the island’s indigenous flora. Using peat and perlite, the visitor can transplant a local Milos plant species into a plant pot and keep it as a souvenir of his visit to the Museum

The Museum has published a booklet about Milos flora and fauna, describing in detail the native plants as well as the most representative of the island’s indigenous species of birds, reptiles and mammals.


Museum kits, Educational and Self-guiding tour packs

On the occasion of its 20-years of function celebration, the Museum developed new educational material. The Museum kits and the Educational packs are designed to travel around Greece and abroad, since they are available in Greek, English and French.

The Self-guiding packs offer the visiting families a more experiential approach within the Museum. Through games and activities they learn by the Museum itself how to have fun inside it. They are available in Greek, English and French, making of the Museum a cultural attraction for Greek and foreign visitors.


Several educational programs for primary and secondary school pupils and the young visitors of the Museum, sponsored by IMERYS, are organized every year in the facilities of the Museum, such as:

Current programs

Our own Aphrodite

The Milos Mining Museum organized and successfully implemented an educational program titled “Our own Aphrodite ” on 29 and 30 September and 1 October.
The idea of the educational program was based on the literary work by Sofia Gialouraki titled Venus de Milo is Crying, written for the Milos Mining Museum on 2010.
140 pupils (fourth to sixth grade) participated in the program from the schools of Adamantas, Triovasalos and Pollonia and was addressed in the framework of celebrations for the bicentennial anniversary of the discovery of Venus de Milo on the island of Milos on 8 April 1820, and it was organized under the aegis and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports

 


Escape Room: 21 Elements

Every second, 21 elements join together to create about 15,000 unique organisms. 21 elements, the perfect biochemical compound. A live game of balance between truth and lie … the only keys to help you find out what the ultimate recipe of creation is, are puzzles and your sharp mind! Will you make it before time runs out?

(adult groups of up to 7 people, 60′ duration)


Homo Oryctus

I am Homo Oryctus! No, I’m not a mineral, but inside me are chemical elements found in many minerals! Come and discover them through puzzles and play! Where are they to be found? What functions of our organisms and which eating habits  these elements are involved in? Are you ready for the discovery of Homo Oryctus? (pupils from the 4th Grade of the Elementary School up to the 3rd Grade of High School – 2 hours duration)


Transplanting of a local plant species.

It is mainly designed for children and teenagers visiting the museum. This educational activity aims first to get children to know the museum, and also to ensure that their active involvement becomes a pleasant, creative experience.

In the land reclamation exhibition area, each child is invited to fill out an educational questionnaire, mainly based on the observation of information related to the environment and plants of Milos.

Further on, through written instructions, children are given the opportunity, to plant in a pot one of the Milos’ plant species, using peat and perlite products, and keep it as a souvenir of their visit to the Museum.
In the same area one can also find an entertainment activity, with games and puzzles, with themes from flowers and mines of Milos.


Minerals in our lives

How are minerals mined today? Which are the most common mineral mining practices? What are the uses of minerals in our daily life? How did our ancestors use minerals? What are the prospects for professional careers in the field of minerals worldwide? Are mining companies environmentally responsible?

This educational CD-Rom replies to and elaborates on these and many other questions.

This CD-Rom successfully introduces museum visitors to the field of industrial minerals in an entertaining and timely manner.

Stony, a prehistoric hero, is here to explain the uses of minerals through the ages.

This CD-Rom is also available at the museum shop.

Copyright IMA – Europe. The European Industrial Mineral Association.
Επιμέλεια – χορηγία έκδοσης στα ελληνικά: S&Β Βιομηχανικά Ορυκτά Α.Ε.


«Milos obsidian: tracing Prehistory»

In March and in April 2014, Milos Mining Museum (MMM) organized the educational program «Milos obsidian: tracing Prehistory» for the Milos Elementary School 5th grade pupils as well as those of the 1st grade of Milos high school. The program lasted 2 hours and took place at the Zapheiris Vaos Obsidian Exhibition wing of MMM, which complemented the museum’s permanent exhibitions in 2011. The program attended by a total of 50 pupils and their instructors aimed at educating them on the origin, processing, and uses of this invaluable rock for the prehistoric humans, through educational brochures and games, in a particularly simple and interactive way.

The program «Milos obsidian: tracing Prehistory» was designed and created by Ms. Korina Gavala of the Technotropia-Culture company. Ms. Gavala presented the program to the 25 Milos Elementary School 5th-graders initially in February, with the participation of Ms. Tania Koletsios, who then undertook the materialization of the program in the Milos pupil community.

Within the framework of this “experiential” program, the children had the opportunity to enrich their knowledge on volcanic activity and rocks, as well as on obsidian sources, deposits, and carving techniques.

The program was incorporated into the Museum’s activities organized on a yearly basis with the participation of teachers and museum educators.

The program’s texts are based on the printed material of the MMM Zapheiris Vaos Obsidian Exhibition, scientifically edited by Dr. Antikleia Moundrea-Agraphioti.


Miloterranean Geo Experience

Miloterranean promotes Milos into a destination of alternative and experiential tourism through 7 selected routes where nature, history and, above all, geology interwoven. The island’s unique geology is the common origin of the island’s two main economic pillars, tourism and mining, since it endows it with rare landscapes and valuable minerals, sources of prosperity from Neolithic times until the present day. The seven routes were signposted on Milos, and were also highlighted through concise descriptive text-guides and precise maps, inviting the visitor to experience Milos’ exceptional beauty up close. Aim of Miloterranean is to place Milos among unique international destinations through innovative ways of attracting tourist interest.

Milos elementary schools and high schools have included the Miloterranean Geo Experience in their educational activities on an annual bases.


Programs archive

May 2013
From Millstone to Bread

The educational activity “From Millstone to Bread” was organized on March 11, 2013, for the second consecutive year at the Milos Mining Museum. 50 pupils from the 3rd grade of the Primary Schools of Milos and Adamas, accompanied by their teachers, took part in two consecutive rounds of the program. Ms Mini Radou, an educator specialized in museum activities, designed and realized the program this year, as well.

Myths and theatrical plays were in the core of the program, with the small children performing enthusiastically. Through their participation in musical and theatrical events, they learned how the millstone contributed to the island’s economic development and its usefulness in human life. They also had the opportunity to grind wheat in the two millstones offered for the program’s needs by Mmes Anastassia Vikeli and Anthoussa Psatha-Marouditsi, who, along with Mrs Argyro Kamakari-Xydous also got voluntarily involved in the organization of the program.

Upon leaving, the ΜΜΜ’s small friends took with them a pouch of ground wheat as well as a treat from the “sweetest bread of their life”, since they knew by now how much time and work is needed for a slice of bread to reach their table.

The program “From Millstone to Bread” is now part of the Milos Mining Museum’s educational activities organized every year, with the participation of the pupils at the island’s elementary schools and volunteers from the local community.


May 2012
“From Millstone to Bread”: an educational program at the Milos Mining Museum

Milos, 22 May 2012 – The Milos Mining Museum (MMM) participated in this year’s International Museum Day by organizing an educational program for schoolchildren entitled “From Millstone to Bread”. The program was carried out twice that day, with the participation of 54 pupils of the 3rd grade at the Primary Schools of Milos and Adamas as well as all pupils enrolled at the single-class elementary school of Pollonia, accompanied by their teachers.

During this two-hour long program, the children discovered the Milos Millstone, among the Museum’s exhibits, learned its history and evolution, its usefulness as well as its contribution to the island’s economy and its development. Through myths and legends, pictorial interpretations and role-playing within the framework of theatrical and musical events, they became acquainted with the various qualities and types of millstones and their uses. They also had the opportunity to grind wheat, under the supervision of Mmes Anastassia Vikeli and Anthoussa Psatha-Marouditsi, who offered three millstones for the program’s needs and got involved voluntarily in the organization of the program. This way the children discovered through personal experience the close connection of the millstone to human diet and to one of the more important staple foods, bread. The traditional treats, at the end, included the “sweetest bread of their life”, as it was aptly put, since they knew by now how much time and work is needed for a slice of bread to reach their table. Upon leaving, they took with them the product of their toil, a pouch of ground wheat.

The program “From Millstone to Bread” is now part of the Milos Mining Museum’s educational activities organized every year, with the cooperation and participation of the teachers at the island’s elementary schools and volunteers from the local community.

The program was designed and realized by Mini Radou, an educationalist specialized in museums.


April 2011
International Year of Forests 2011 – Reforestation program on Milos

On 8 and 11 April 2011, on the occasion of the proclamation by Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, of 2011 as International Year of Forests, the Milos Mining Museum (MMM) organized an educational reforestation program in the area of Profitis Ilias.

A total of 76 pupils of the fifth and sixth grades of the Milos and Adamas primary schools participated in the reforestation and local vegetation enrichment program. The children planted 550 local plants such as oak trees, schinus shrubs and cypress trees as well as Phoenician junipers, in an enclosed area. The children participated enthusiastically and received small thank you gifts at the end of the program. The pupils were transferred to and from the reforestation area in Profitis Ilias by the MMM in cooperation with the Municipality of Milos.

In order to ensure the successful establishment of the seedlings in their new environment, the MMM in cooperation with S&B Industrial Minerals S.A. that sponsored the program, will irrigate the young plants regularly.

The program was organized and implemented in cooperation with the Municipality of Milos and the Milos Forest Department.

Educational activity brochure (download .pdf file):

 


April 2010
«Aphrodite of Milos is crying»

Educational program based on the book «Aphrodite of Milos is crying»

The program is addressed to children aged 8 – 12 years.

Educational program for the pupils of the elementary schools of Milos island, Greece

On Wednesday 14/4 and on Thursday 15/4/2010, Mrs. Sophia Yialouraki and her collaborators Lilian Lykos and Katerina Yieorma implemented educational programs at the Milos Mining Museum’s specifically prepared exhibition area (ΜΜΜ). In the educational programs participated 130 children of the three last grades of the elementary schools of Adamas, Milos, and Polonnia.

The programs were based on the educational material of Mrs. Yialouraki’s new book «Aphrodite of Milos is crying», published in the framework of the educational programs implemented at the MMM. Excerpts from the book were presented in a theatrical way by Mrs. Yialouraki and her collaborators with the active participation of the children, who assumed the roles of heroes from the Greek mythology and from Milos ancient history, as those are presented in the book.

The children’s participation was enthusiastic, as they learned beautiful and touching stories of their homeland through the theatrical game and the roles they played, all conveyed to them by Mrs Yialouraki in the simplest and most straightforward way.

When the children returned to their classes, they wrote that they had never participated in such a lively and impressive educational program before, while their teachers thought of the programs as a unique opportunity and wished they would be repeated in the future.

Mrs Yialouraki, a distinguished pedagogue, with studies in archeology, psychology and theatrical game, was born in Egypt and worked as a teacher for many years, while she created her own school in Athens. She is a writer of children’s books. Her book «The Fayum Portraits and the mysterious Ms Julia» was awarded in 2008 the State Children Book Award.

Excerpts from the children’s impressions (download .pdf file):


November 2009
“All Around Us” minerals embrace our lives.

The educational board game “All Around Us” was designed for children aged 5 and above and is available in greek an in english.
The objective of the game is to educate. Winning is not an end in itself. Simple information can become essential knowledge, which can be applied as widely as possible in our life. Using paper replicas of minerals, question and activity cards, children learn and familiarize themselves during the play with the earth’s minerals, and they discover their multiple applications in everyday life. However, beyond the excitement that new knowledge creates, there is also an “added value” in the activity: the fact that minerals are so valuable, while the earth actually has limited reserves, proves that the need for efficient use and recycling is truly imperative.
The game rules outlined in the enclosed leaflet, are indicative and differ according to age and level of difficulty. The game can also be played in different ways according to the needs and imagination of the players or the teachers who will use it.

The bilingual board game is designed for:

    • pre-elementary, elementary and high-school children
    • groups – organized visits of schools, educational institutes etc.
    • families
    • the general public

Design – Editing:
EFPALINOS
www.efpalinos.gr
Sponsor:
S&B Industrial Minerals S.A.


July 2007 - to the present
Discover the “treasures” of Milos!

  1. Designed for children and teenagers (9-14 years old)
  2. Developed in 2007 in cooperation with the organization “Technotropia – Politismos” a private organization that designs cultural products and activities aiming to promote Greek cultural heritage and modern Greek culture
  3. The program has been designed
    • to familiarize the children with the Museum/s exhibits
    • to acquaint them with the rocks, minerals and ores linked to the island/s mining activity throughout its 11,000 year history
    • to make them aware of the defining role that the mineral wealth of Milos played in shaping local society, culture and social & economic development, and
    • to help them discover important elements of the island/s cultural heritage.

May 2006 - to the present
Colors & Aromas

  • Designed for elementary and high-school children of Milos
  • Developed in 2006 in cooperation with the Environmental Education Council of Elliniki Etairia (one of the oldest NGOs in Greece)
  • Aims to raise awareness among the Milos students about the endemic flora of the island, as well as educate them about the local plants “of their back yard”, so as to make them appreciate their intrinsic value and protect and preserve them
  • The program is eligible for inclusion in the “flexible educational zone activity” of Greek schools, where environmental education is also taught.

See a video from the program:

Photos from the program:


2006 – to the present
Instructive and entertaining activity: Minerals in our lives
Industrial minerals – our world is made of them

How are minerals mined today? Which are the most common mineral mining practices? What are the uses of minerals in our daily life? How did our ancestors use minerals? What are the prospects for professional careers in the field of minerals worldwide? Are mining companies environmentally responsible?

This educational CD-Rom replies to and elaborates on these and many other questions.

This CD-Rom successfully introduces museum visitors to the field of industrial minerals in an entertaining and timely manner.

Stony, a prehistoric hero, is here to explain the uses of minerals through the ages.

This CD-Rom is also available at the museum shop.

Copyright IMA – Europe. The European Industrial Mineral Association.
Επιμέλεια – χορηγία έκδοσης στα ελληνικά: S&Β Βιομηχανικά Ορυκτά Α.Ε.


February 2005
Educational program titled “Rock, mineral, ore: Their role in our daily life”.

In the context of its educational programs, Milos Mining Museum, in cooperation with the Crafts and Industries Educational Museum, situated in Lavrion, organized an educational program titled “Rock, mineral, ore: Their role in our daily life”.

About 350 pupils from primary and secondary schools of Milos attended successfully the program within the period from February 10 to March 18, 2005. A total of 15 educational sessions per school grade were held, each of them with a duration of one hour and a half.

This specific educational program has been sponsored by S&B Industrial Minerals S.A. since October 2003 and, apart from Milos, it was also carried out in Lavrion Mineralogical Museum, with the participation of pupils from Attica.

The educational programs Dept. of the Crafts and Industries Educational Museum was responsible for the implementation of the program in Milos Mining Museum. The pupils of Milos acted as researchers: they “discovered” the natural properties and features of minerals from the collections of the Museum and linked each mineral to its use in daily life, thanks to various museum-educational activities, according to their school grade.

More specifically, the objectives of the program for pupils of grade 2, 3 and 4 of Primary School, were:

  • To understand the concepts of ground, underground, rock, mineral and ore.
  • To make the connection between certain minerals of the Mining Museum and objects of daily use.
  • To make a mock-up of a mineral, using materials that contain powder of these minerals (e.g. blue powder of azurite).

The objectives of the educational program for the pupils of Primary School grades 5 and 6, were similar to those of lower grades, the only difference being that older pupils used written sources and samples from the museum’s collections in order to understand the concepts ‘rock’, ‘mineral’ and ‘ore’. Afterwards, they collected information (e.g. color, shine, shape, origin etc) on minerals of Milos from the exhibits of the museum. Then, they identified and displayed their use in man’s daily life, in the context of a matching activity. Finally, the pupils used clay to make a mock-up of a mineral.

The objectives of the program for the High-School students were as follows:

  • To understand the concepts of rock, mineral and ore.
  • To connect certain minerals of the museum to products used in daily life.
  • To organize their own workshop to measure the natural properties of the minerals they studied (e.g. hardness). In this case too, pupils worked as researchers, since they had written sources and samples from the museum’s collections available, in order to understand the new concepts. Following that, they used the museum collections as sources, and made comparisons among minerals on the basis of observations. Students, then, in a laboratory which had been organized in an auxiliary room of the museum, made experiments on the natural properties of the minerals. Finally, they connected once again the minerals to their role in man’s life, matching each one of them to objects and products we all use daily.

Upon completion of the educational activities, the pupils were invited to continue research, in order to gather and organize a collection of rocks, minerals and ores of Milos, with the purpose of exhibiting them in their school.


2003 - 2004
Mosaic-making

The “Mosaic creation” educational program included 4 courses, of 108 hours total duration, with the participation of 35 children from Milos, aged from 9 to 15. The person in charge of the educational activity was Mr. Antonis Lionis, graduate of the School of Fine Arts, professional maker and conservator of mosaics.

The educational program included the following units:

  • Introduction to the creation of a mosaic – getting familiar with the natural tesserae (pebble, stones).
  • Mosaics techniques – making mosaics on frames.
  • Brief reference to the Milos mosaics.

When the courses were completed, the children’s works were displayed for a period in one of the museum’s exhibition areas.


2002 - 2003
Pottery-making

The “Ceramics for children” educational program included 4 courses, of 140 hours total duration, with the participation of 62 children from Milos, aged from 9 to 15. Mrs. Bronwyn Katri, a ceramist from Australia, with long experience on respective educational programs in Greece and abroad, was in charge of the education.

The educational program included the following units:

  • Introduction to the concept of clay, with reference to the Milos’ minerals.
  • Presentation of the different stages of forming the clay into shapes.
  • Decoration.
  • Screening of educational films.
  • Visit to Mrs. Katri’s ceramics workshop in Adamas.

Upon completion of the program, the children’s ceramics were displayed for a period in one of the museum’s exhibition areas.


2000 - 2002
Internet access and web navigation training lessons

The “Round of the world in 2 hours” educational program was designed for children and adults. Lessons were held in summer time, daily, during the afternoon working hours of the museum. Participants could be guided by an adequately trained individual, S&B’s associate.


1999 - 2001
Painting courses – Participation of Milos children in annual Nationwide Children’s Drawing Contest.

In cooperation with the Museum of Greek Children’s Art, aesthetic education seminars were held, for Milos’ school and kindergarten teachers; Mrs. Yota Kalliakmanis was responsible for the program and education, a painter – educator, in charge of the M.G.C.A.’s educational department.

During the program, pupils of Milos’ primary schools participated in two Nationwide children’s Drawing Contests: “A journey into the depths of the earth” in 2000, and “These flowers are for you” in 2001. Twelve children from Milos gained distinction for their works, while all students received a Diploma of participation.
The children’s works were displayed for a period in one of the museum’s exhibition areas.


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