EDUCATORS K-12

Discover ancient civilizations and explore modern cultures through remarkable objects and powerful stories that emerge from the Museum’s extraordinary expeditions across the world. These artifacts illustrate the human story: who we are and where we came from. A Museum visit helps your students understand how culture affected people in the past and how it affects our lives today.

Using artifacts as evidence, our galleries show students that we are still learning about history through new discoveries. Stories of human history align with academic standards in many subjects, including social studies, science, and visual, performing, and English Language arts. We offer programs that meet the needs of all learners, including accessible programs that focus on social skills and functional academics.

What can archaeology teach my class?

Archaeologists aren’t treasure hunters, they’re evidence seekers. Artifacts help archaeologists reconstruct human history. The Penn Museum will help your students sharpen their observational and analytical skills as they learn to see ancient artifacts as evidence of the past.

What can anthropology teach my class?

Anthropology is the study of humankind, past and present. The Penn Museum can help your students appreciate how culture affected people in the past and how it affects their lives today.

Museum Field Trips

Explore the human experience through one of the greatest collections of ancient artifacts from around the world. A visit to the Penn Museum allows students to extend their learning and explore their curiosity through tours, workshops, and more.

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Traveling Programs

Explore the Penn Museum without leaving your school or community space. We bring the museum to you through video conferencing technology, outreach educators, and artifact loan boxes. Traveling programs can also be paired with museum visits to extend the experience and deepen student engagement.

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Access Programs

Explore ancient cultures while reinforcing goals from your students’ Individualized Education Programs. Our multisensory access programs intertwine academics with social and life skills, and are appropriate for students with cognitive, sensory, motor, mobility, and behavioral disabilities.

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Title I Schools

Explore the Penn Museum through free programs available to Title I Schools in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. A Museum visit helps your students understand how culture affected people in the past and how it affects our lives today. We offer programs that meet the needs of all learners, including accessible programs that focus on social skills and functional academics.

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Donor Recognition

Unpacking the Past

This program is made possible by the generosity of the following donors:

Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation
Albert A. Ciardi III, W88
Marie A. Conn, Ph.D.
Kristin Davidson, CGS84, GED88
Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation
Pamela Freyd, Ph.D., GED68, GR81, and Peter Freyd, Ph.D., PAR
Ghislain Gouraige, Jr., C80, and Marjorie P. Gouraige, PAR
GRoW Annenberg Foundation
Diane von Schlegell Levy and Robert M. Levy, WG74
Merle-Smith Educational Endowment
Jill Meyer
Morel Family Foundation, Lauren Bayster-Morel and Donald Morel, Jr., Ph.D.
Agnes M. Mulroney, CW57, PAR
National Endowment for the Arts
PECO
Barbara Rittenhouse
Kathryn Sorkin and Sanford Sorkin, W67
Lee Evan Tabas, C72, ME72, and Nancy Freeman Tabas, PAR
Jeffrey Weiss and Jill Topkis Weiss, C89, WG93, PAR

International Classroom

The International Classroom program is made possible by the generosity of the International Classroom Endowment and the Charles C. Harrison Endowment.

Inquiry Into China

Inquiry Into China is made possible by the generosity of the Freeman Foundation.

Global Guides

The Global Guides: Immigrant Stories Tour Program is made possible by the generosity of the Barra Foundation.

Access Programs

Access Programs are made possible by the generosity of the Albert B. Millet Memorial Fund, administered by BNY Mellon Wealth Management, and the Museum Education Endowment.