K–12 Programs
All programs are 60 minutes unless noted.
Choose a Grade
Arctic Days
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Delve deeper into one geographic region and explore ways that Inuit, Yupik, and other arctic peoples in the U.S. and Canada responded to their challenging environment to engineer appropriate food, clothing, and shelter. Photographs and video clips can be used to show how native traditions continue today. Set in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- First peoples and Native peoples
- Human interaction with the environment and natural resources
- Basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Globetrotters
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Class capacity 24 students
Young anthropologists travel the world, comparing artifacts from Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, Australia and right here in North America. Students explore how different environments shape the clothes, toys, and tools that peoples of the world use to meet their basic needs. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion.
Integrates with studies of
- World geography, maps, and continents
- Peoples and cultures around the world
- Artifacts from around the world
Schedule this program or see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Day of the Dead (Grade-tailored)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
On the Day of the Dead, November 1 and 2, Mexicans celebrate death as a part of life. Visit an ofrenda or altar to explore the elements of this festival through artifacts. Download templates and instructions to make a take-home craft. Choose at the time of reservation either calacas (skull masks) or cempasúchils (paper flowers). This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries. (45 minutes)
Integrates with studies of
- Mexico and Mexican people today and in the past
- Customs from around the world
- Spanish language
- Visual arts interdisciplinary connections
Schedule this program or see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Photo © EJSP | Julieta Sarmiento
Read with Raven
Available in-person or virtually
Explore the elements of a folktale using close looking and object-based discussion. Through the powers of imagination, sound, and smell, students are transported to a cedar longhouse in the Pacific Northwest. The museum educator uses storytelling techniques to help students understand the tale’s central message, identify the characters and structure of the tale, and learn more about objects made by Alaska native Tlingit and other native peoples. The program takes place in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Fables and folktales from diverse cultures
Schedule this program or see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Self-Guided K–12 and Youth Group Visits
Orientation in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Groups may reserve admission at a discounted rate. See Fees for rates. Schedule this program and see details about the free Museum Mysteries Kit for ages 5–12.
Arctic Days
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Delve deeper into one geographic region and explore ways that Inuit, Yupik, and other arctic peoples in the U.S. and Canada responded to their challenging environment to engineer appropriate food, clothing, and shelter. Photographs and video clips can be used to show how native traditions continue today. Set in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- First peoples and Native peoples
- Human interaction with the environment and natural resources
- Basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Day of the Dead (Grade-tailored)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
On the Day of the Dead, November 1 and 2, Mexicans celebrate death as a part of life. Visit an ofrenda or altar to explore the elements of this festival through artifacts. Download templates and instructions to make a take-home craft. Choose at the time of reservation either calacas (skull masks) or cempasúchils (paper flowers). This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries. (45 minutes)
Integrates with studies of
- Mexico and Mexican people today and in the past
- Customs from around the world
- Spanish language
- Visual arts interdisciplinary connections
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Photo © EJSP | Julieta Sarmiento
Igloos to Adobe
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Explore cultural diversity and history among Native peoples in the Northeast, Southwest, and Arctic. Through guided discovery, students investigate food, clothing, and homes to understand how environment influences people and their culture. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- First peoples & Native peoples, including the Wampanoag
- Human interaction with the environment and natural resources
- Basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Magnificent Maya
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Investigate Classic Period Maya culture and people through the clues left behind in their tools, buildings, and writing. Learn how archaeologists and other scientists unravel the mysteries of past cultures and what they mean today. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Primary characteristics of a civilization
- The Maya
- Ancient civilizations
- Archaeology
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Virtual Aztec and Maya Leaders
Virtual program only. Not available as in-museum class.
5th grade (and up)
A virtual field trip through Zoom (or platform of choice) that highlights the monuments, buildings, and symbols associated with royal power in Maya and Aztec civilizations.
Students learn to read the built landscape to understand the responsibilities and benefits of leadership. A museum educator streams into your classroom live from the exhibit galleries to show examples of a codex, architectural models, rare stele, altars, and a obsidian sword as he asks and answers students’ questions. A companion PowerPoint slide show provides maps and photographic support to put the artifacts in context. The class is livestreamed to your classroom from the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Ancient civilizations
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Self-Guided K–12 and Youth Group Visits
Orientation in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Groups may reserve admission at a discounted rate. See Fees for rates. Schedule this program and see details about the free Museum Mysteries Kit for ages 5–12.
Amazing Aztecs
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Explore the Mexica and Aztec civilization through artifacts and primary documents. Use these primary sources to investigate the contact between Aztec and Spanish peoples and understand how bias can impact our understanding of evidence. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Ancient civilizations and characteristics of civilizations
- The Aztecs
- Contact between the Aztecs and the Spanish
- Primary sources, primary documents, and archaeology
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Day of the Dead (Grade-tailored)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
On the Day of the Dead, November 1 and 2, Mexicans celebrate death as a part of life. Visit an ofrenda or altar to explore the elements of this festival through artifacts. Download templates and instructions to make a take-home craft. Choose at the time of reservation either calacas (skull masks) or cempasúchils (paper flowers). This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries. (45 minutes)
Integrates with studies of
- Mexico and Mexican people today and in the past
- Customs from around the world
- Spanish language
- Visual arts interdisciplinary connections
Schedule this Program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Photo © EJSP | Julieta Sarmiento
Magnificent Maya
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Investigate Classic Period Maya culture and people through the clues left behind in their tools, buildings, and writing. Learn how archaeologists and other scientists unravel the mysteries of past cultures and what they mean today. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Primary characteristics of a civilization
- The Maya
- Ancient civilizations
- Archaeology
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Foragers to Farmers
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Maximum of 24 students per session. 80 min
The museum program is part of a larger four-lesson unit set during the Neolithic period that uses primary sources to compare nomadic hunting and gathering peoples to sedentary farming peoples. Classroom teachers use the chart and map worksheets provided to introduce the impact climate change had on food resources. Students then examine artifacts from a mock dig kit to determine whether foragers or farmers were in residence. The kit is picked up from the museum in advance of the class visit and is returned at the time of the field trip. The museum visit introduces displays of Shoshone, Ute and Salish peoples and those from South or Central American societies to identify common characteristics of both foraging and farming groups. Students experiment with stone tools, grinding utensils, and weaving to learn more about early Neolithic activities and understand what evidence remains after 10,000 years for historians to research. Students return to school with more information to fine tune their hypotheses about the people represented in the mock dig.
The class takes place in the Hall of the North American Indian gallery, the Encounters in the Americas gallery, and a hands-on workshop room.
Integrates with studies of
- Ancient civilizations
- Archaeology as a historical process
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Virtual Mesopotamian Monuments
Virtual program only. Not available as in-museum class
Mesopotamian Monuments is a live, virtual field trip for middle school students to investigate monuments from Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria on display in the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East.
Guided by a museum educator using a 3D model of the museum and embedded 360 degree images, the class analyzes sculptures as primary sources to understand characteristics of three ancient river civilizations. This lively program highlights the Sumerian ruler Gudea, Hammurabi of Babylon, and the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II.
This lively program includes a close look at the famous Hammurabi’s Code monument, those of Sumerian and Assyrian kings, and short practice recognizing a few cuneiform symbols.
Free “Field Notebooks” are available for download so that students may record details during the program and use for later reference. Free teacher resource with related links are available for download.
Integrates with studies of
- Ancient civilizations
- Archaeology as a historical process
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Virtual Aztec and Maya Leaders
Virtual program only. Not available as in-museum class.
5th grade (and up)
A virtual field trip through Zoom (or platform of choice) that highlights the monuments, buildings, and symbols associated with royal power in Maya and Aztec civilizations.
Students learn to read the built landscape to understand the responsibilities and benefits of leadership. A museum educator streams into your classroom live from the exhibit galleries to show examples of a codex, architectural models, rare stele, altars, and a obsidian sword as he asks and answers students’ questions. A companion PowerPoint slide show provides maps and photographic support to put the artifacts in context. The class is livestreamed to your classroom from the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Ancient civilizations
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Self-Guided K–12 and Youth Group Visits
Orientation in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Groups may reserve admission at a discounted rate. See Fees for rates. Schedule this program.
The following programs can be taught in either Spanish or primarily in English, with key terms reinforced in Spanish. Please indicate your preference on the program reservation request form.
Globetrotters (K–2)
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Class capacity 24 students
Young anthropologists travel the world, comparing artifacts from Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, Australia and right here in North America. Students explore how different environments shape the clothes, toys, and tools that peoples of the world use to meet their basic needs. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion.
Integrates with studies of
- World geography, maps, and continents
- Peoples and cultures around the world
- Artifacts from around the world
Schedule this program or see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Read with Raven (K–2)
Available in-person or virtually
Explore the elements of a folktale using close looking and object-based discussion. Through the powers of imagination, sound, and smell, students are transported to a cedar longhouse in the Pacific Northwest. The museum educator uses storytelling techniques to help students understand the tale’s central message, identify the characters and structure of the tale, and learn more about objects made by Alaska native Tlingit and other native peoples. The program takes place in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Fables and folktales from diverse cultures
Schedule this program or see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Arctic Days (Grades 2–5)
In-museum class. No virtual option available.
Delve deeper into one geographic region and explore ways that Inuit, Yupik, and other arctic peoples in the U.S. and Canada responded to their challenging environment to engineer appropriate food, clothing, and shelter. Photographs and video clips can be used to show how native traditions continue today. Set in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- First peoples and Native peoples
- Human interaction with the environment and natural resources
- Basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Day of the Dead (Grades K–12, Grade-tailored)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
On the Day of the Dead, November 1 and 2, Mexicans celebrate death as a part of life. Visit an ofrenda or altar to explore the elements of this festival through artifacts. Download templates and instructions to make a take-home craft. Choose at the time of reservation either calacas (skull masks) or cempasúchils (paper flowers). This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries. (45 minutes)
Integrates with studies of
- Mexico and Mexican people today and in the past
- Customs from around the world
- Spanish language
- Visual arts interdisciplinary connections
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Photo © EJSP | Julieta Sarmiento
Igloos to Adobe (Grades 3–5)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Explore cultural diversity and history among Native peoples in the Northeast, Southwest, and Arctic. Through guided discovery, students investigate food, clothing, and homes to understand how environment influences people and their culture. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Hall of the North American Indian galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- First peoples & Native peoples, including the Wampanoag
- Human interaction with the environment and natural resources
- Basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Magnificent Maya (Grades 4–6)
Available in-person or virtually
Taught in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Investigate Classic Period Maya culture and people through the clues left behind in their tools, buildings, and writing. Learn how archaeologists and other scientists unravel the mysteries of past cultures and what they mean today. This presentation encourages student participation, including discussion. The class takes place in the Encounters in the Americas galleries.
Integrates with studies of
- Primary characteristics of a civilization
- The Maya
- Ancient civilizations
- Archaeology
Schedule this program and see details about supported standards and any available Teacher Resources
Self-Guided K–12 and Youth Group Visits
Orientation in either English or Spanish by a bilingual educator
Groups may reserve admission at a discounted rate. See Fees for rates. Schedule this program and see details about the free Museum Mysteries Kit for ages 5–12.
Why choose a Peabody Museum Program?
- Peabody Museum programs are delivered by a museum educator from the galleries
- Selected programs are offered both in-person and virtually
- Virtual Peabody Museum programs are offered via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other platforms
- All programs are curriculum-based
- We care for the largest collection of cultural materials in the United States
- Museum programs align with Massachusetts social sciences frameworks
- Students are encouraged to use observation and inquiry skills to form new perspectives on cultures
Reservations are required for programs and visits. As availability is limited, we recommend that programs be reserved as far in advance as possible.
The reservations desk may be contacted by phone at (617) 495-3216 or emailed at PMAEreserve@hmsc.harvard.edu.
Following a confirmed reservation, a pricing estimate for the visit and online materials will be emailed. Please review the information carefully, and be sure to call us if anything is incorrect.
Policies
All policies are subject to change based on university guidance.
- Food and drinks may be consumed in the museum's Education Classroom only. Lunches or snacks may be stored in the classroom.
- Any changes to these policies will be sent within two weeks of a confirmed visit.
Fees
See fee and fee reduction information.
Payment Methods
Payment is due on the day of the scheduled program, although payment in advance is recommended (and speeds entry into the museum).
We request payment by credit card, which supports our environmental sustainability goals and reduces administrative costs. Please reach out if this is not possible for your group.
Cancellations
Cancellation due to weather or school shut down/schedule change due to pandemic issues will not be penalized. We will make every attempt to reschedule. Notify the Education Department immediately by email at PMAEreserve@hmsc.harvard.edu. Groups canceling within two weeks prior to a scheduled program will be charged the full program fee.
Free Benefits
Teachers receive special benefits at the Peabody Museum, including:
- An opportunity to preview the museum when it is open to the public without your students. Enjoy one free admission per AFT or MTA member card or school ID for K–12 teachers working in Massachusetts schools. This offer does not apply to scheduled group visits
- Resources for teachers for selected programs
- Access to multimedia, videos, and lectures related to featured educational programs and current exhibitions of interest to teachers and students
- Collections Online is a library of the museum’s collections, including what is on view and what is behind-the-scenes
- Watch the Peabody Museum Pre-Visit Video
- Many free lectures and programs. For details see the calendar of events