Year 7 pupils exploring Francke’s history

The year 7 classes at the Landesgymnasium Latina August Hermann Francke spend five weeks at the LeoLab, using historical sources to learn about August Hermann Francke and his world. The focus is on Francke’s relationship with the king, the history of the complex’s construction and its architecture, his flagship project – the Cabinet of Artefacts and Natural Curiosities – as well as the daily life of the orphans in the foundations. 

The pupils are given the chance to get up close and personal. In addition to original sources and historical sites, the programme draws on academic texts, discussions with experts from the Custody and the Research Department, and an exclusive look into the archives. Those who initially felt daunted by Gothic script were surprised there by some truly lively handwriting! In this way, we offer a taste of historical research using original material. At the end of the project, the pupils present the results of their exploration of Francke to one another in a variety of forms: we look forward to theatre performances, model-making and newly devised guided tours!