Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom Museum

The lesson is intended for students in grades 7-12 and deals with the topic of war and peace, telling stories about the choices made by Estonians during World War II and the occupations that followed. In this value-based and active learning-focused museum lesson, we will explore, through World War II and biographies, what a person’s life could and can be like in the midst of war and under harsh politics. What are people willing to risk to stand up for their homeland, loved ones, and freedoms, and what can these choices bring? We will analyze the political situation and choices in Estonia before and after World War II in more detail. We will also talk about resistance, escape, and going to the front against foreign power based on the biographies of five different people. In addition, we will discuss what each of us can do to preserve and value our hard-won national independence and the freedoms that come with democracy.