There are countless amazing teachers in the world, but there are some out there who just "get it."
History teacher and TikToker Malinda Nichols doesn't just teach history—she immerses her students in the worlds of different decades, generations, and historical events through costumes, decorations, fun facts, interactive activities, and the occasional party.
In the past months, Nicols has created immersive decade studies for the students to explore, including a '60s day to highlight that "Boomers weren't always out-of-touch old people."
Most recently, she collaborated with fellow elder Millennials and Gen Xers, the parents of the Gen Alpha students in her classroom, and put together a "Millennial Museum" for the students to explore.
Nichols and the parents gathered up various Millennial artifacts, from appliances found in the home like a rotary phone to fun toys that passed the time, like Nintendo GameBoys and Furbies. Beanie Babies even made an appearance!
Some of the parents even visited during the event to demonstrate how to use different game systems, electronics, and home appliances, and they answered questions, like how they used to make plans with their friends before texting was an option, or what songs and commercial jingles from their childhoods they still get stuck in their heads sometimes.
You can watch the video here:
The students proved to be so invested in the experience, imagining the fun days of the '90s and the era their parents grew up in, that Nicols included a few other activities after the museum, like watching the beloved family film Casper.
Fellow TikTokers felt a mixture of amusement and nostalgia over the curated museum.
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
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@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
Others were shocked that they were old enough to be included in a museum.
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
@hipsterhistorywithmrsn/TikTok
Especially with how we're all presented on social media, it's easy to "other" each other and imagine each decade as completely different, separate, and unable to get along. But through explorative exercises like this, it's easier to imagine how someone else grew up, what life was like for them, and what they might actually have in common with the person looking at their memories.
Ms. Nichols has made printouts available to make it easier for other teachers to curate similar museums, and hopefully more Gen Alphas—and beyond—will be able to experience the fun of Millennials and other generations.
@LauraLoomer/X
