The objective of the contribution is to present a specific approach to this human science learning
laboratory for pupils and show how it intends to convey understanding and knowledge to the pupils. The self study-laboratory is focussing on teachers and their influence on everything that happened within the classroom
between 1933 and 1945. In Germany those laboratories were called “Lernlabor”.
For schools, the unique advantage of those Lernlabore is the very appealing self-determination of
research on original historical documents. Oral instructions and directives will be replaced by the opportunity to
observe, analyze, develop and reflect hypotheses by themselves. The interest in historical topics will be brought
forward just as source competencies, the ability to shift in perspective, to think and argue rationally, and of
course the ability to observe will be improved. In comparison to the Lernlabore of natural sciences strongly
expanding at schools and museums in recent years, the Lernlabor of humanities research science and its
repertoire of methods are still in their infancy. Currently throughout Germany there are only institutions of that
kind in Bochum, Berlin, Hannover and Hamburg, all of which are connected with Universities.
Together with expert didacticians, researchers, teachers and pupils the Nuremberg Schoolmuseum is
going to develop a humanities-based Lernlabor. On a surface of some 300 square metres the Lernlabor will be
designed for pupils from 9th to 12th grade, and opened in the autumn of 2014.
Pupils will be enabled to work with original historic exercise books, wall maps, and other school objects
and they also will get the opportunity to examine and work with documents about the denazification of a
Nuremberg teacher. Two questions will be in the focus of their research: On the one hand having a look into the
spread of the ideology within school and on the other hand learning how historical sources have to be
contextualized and interpreted critically for getting the most accurate reconstruction of reality in the historical
event.