Education
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Enhance your social studies curriculum by participating in a program at the Museum of the City of New York. School programs can register for a visit during the school day, at 10:00 am or 1:00 pm. All groups require a reservation. Programs cost $125 for a maximum of 35 children and run 90 minutes, except where noted.
Call 917-492-3334 or email schoolprograms@mcny.org to schedule your visit.
HISTORY LAB EXPERIENCES
Students will see highlights from the archives on a range of urban history topics and create group projects reflecting the content they learned at the Museum. These programs take place in the Museum’s classrooms and will expose students to our rich collections.
Reading Buildings for Grades 1- 4
Why would the Museum of the City of New York built in 1932 try to look like it was built during the colonial period? Using the Museum as an artifact, students will discover the architectural features of the building done in the Colonial Revival style. Students will assume the role of an architect to create their own models based on this style.
Central Park: Then and Now for Grades 4-6
Forty-eight years after the 1811 Commissioners’ Plan mapped out the grid of Manhattan, a grand park opened in the heart of the island. Students will examine sources to see how Central Park was transformed over a century and a half by reformers, planners, and public officials. Students will create a guide to the park that can be used during an independent visit to the site.
The Grid: Urban Planning in New York City for Grades K-6
Students will be introduced to concepts of city planning, including zoning and land use, that impact the makeup of our city’s neighborhoods. Participants will learn about the origins and evolution of Manhattan’s grid system and how it changed over time. Afterwards, the group will construct a model city based on key principles they learned during the program.
*Before visiting us for The Grid, you may choose to participate in Building Fun, presented by Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts. Available for schools located on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem, activities include a walking tour of a lively mixed-use block. Learn more about these programs by visiting www.friends-ues.org/education. To book, contact Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts directly at education@friends-ues.org
Getting Around: How Transportation Shaped the City for Grades 1-6
From horse drawn omnibuses to electric cars, transportation in New York City has undergone many changes over time. Students will learn about the progression of the changes in transportation from the 1800s to present day and use images to explore how these innovations impact the physical city as well as where people live and work.
New York is a city of islands connected by bridges that people traverse on a daily basis. Students will explore the many types of bridges in the city and discuss some examples, including such icons as the Brooklyn Bridge. Each student will take on the role of an engineer by designing and building a model bridge that responds to a particular set of geographic conditions.
Mannahatta:The Lenape and the Land for Grades 2-8
Students will learn about Lenape Native Americans who lived on the island of Mannahatta before the European encounters in the 1600s, using resources such as contemporary Native American artifacts made from natural materials. They will discuss The Mannahatta Project, a reconstruction of the island’s landscape in 1609, and what it teaches us about the relationship between Lenape settlements and their surrounding habitat.
NEW AMSTERDAM WALKING TOUR for Grades 4 through 8 (2 hours)
Discover what life was like for Manhattan’s early settlers as you take a walk back in time to Dutch New Amsterdam. While on this walking tour, students will trace the development of Lower Manhattan during the early 17th century using images, documents, and the street plan itself, which was created by the Dutch almost 400 years ago.
Planning Urban Places and Spaces for East Harlem Schools
This four session program uses the Museum’s neighborhood to introduce students to fundamental concepts in urban planning and design, such as designation of public and private space and the role of individuals in shaping the city. Students will explore East Harlem and use maps and plans to discuss zoning and land use, paying attention to the shape, size, and function of buildings and open spaces. As a culminating activity, students will create a three dimensional model of a block in the neighborhood.
GALLERY EXPERIENCES
The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of New York, 1811-2011 for Grades 4-8
Available through Apil 15
To celebrate the bicentennial of the 1811 Commissioners' Plan, students will learn about Manhattan's grid through rare documents, maps, photographs, and paintings. Students will discover how the street plan has been amended over 200 years to accommodate cars, subways, superblocks, and parks and then create a map to respond to New Yorker's needs today.
Educator Resource Guide: The Greatest Grid
From Wampum to Windmills for Grades 2-8
Journey back in time to the early 1600s to explore how lower Manhattan changed from a Lenape Native American campsite, to a Dutch East India Company trading post, to a diverse settlement where over 18 languages were spoken. Students will learn about the development of the Dutch colony and investigate objects, maps, images, and furnishings from 17th century Dutch New York homes to understand the daily lives of people living in New Amsterdam.
SELF-GUIDED VISITS
Self-guided groups may visit the Museum Tuesday through Sunday, from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Call 917-492-3334 to learn more about the exhibitions listed below.
Groups must register before visiting. Fees for students and chaperones are $3.00 each. A variety of self-guided materials are available for the Museum’s changing and permanent exhibitions. Teachers are required to bring worksheets, pencils, and clipboards for students.
JOIN THE MAILING LIST
CONNECT WITH THE MUSEUM
PLAN YOUR SCHOOL TRIP
LINDSAY ONLINE EXHIBITION
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
BRING YOUR GROUP
COLLECTIONS PORTAL GUIDE
