Guided by their 6th grade teachers, Tara Auld, Amber Reeves and Amanda Laca, students from Carson Valley Middle School embarked on a unique project based learning adventure at the Nevada State Museum. During their visit, they explored exhibits with a critical eye, noting what captured their interest and identifying areas for improvement to better engage their generation.

Armed with these insights, the 6th graders were tasked with brainstorming creative marketing strategies to enhance museum experiences for young visitors. Working in groups, they chose specific exhibits to reimagine and developed innovative concepts, including scavenger hunts, escape room challenges, "Night at the Museum" sleepovers, and interactive arts and crafts sessions.

After refining their ideas and creating marketing materials, the students presented their proposals to Mahal Moon, the museum’s Curator of Education. Ms. Moon provided valuable feedback and selected one idea to implement at the museum next year, showcasing the potential of student-led creativity to make a lasting impact on local cultural institutions.

This project gave students a hands-on opportunity to connect with history while honing essential skills in collaboration, critical thinking, research and public speaking.