K–12 Group Visits
Groups may reserve admission at a discounted rate. As availability is limited, we recommend reserving programs as far in advance as possible.
School and Youth Group Visit Admission Fees
$10.00 per student
One chaperone per five students admitted free
$10.00 per additional adult chaperone
- Length: most group visits are two to three hours or less.
- Your school may also qualify for free group visits; contact Reservations to find out.
How to Schedule a Visit
The reservations desk may be contacted by phone at (617) 495-3216 or by email 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 call us if anything is incorrect.
Museum Policies
All policies are subject to change based on university guidance.
- Walking, no running or active play in all museum spaces, including the education classroom, to protect visitors and museum objects from harm.
- Low voices. This is an active school with active classrooms, so no yelling or loud voices from chaperones or students.
- Gently touch only if there is a sign indicating you can touch. If there is no sign, please do not touch. Especially, do not touch the Maya and Aztec plaster casts on the third floor.
- Food and drinks may be consumed in the museum's Education Classroom only. Lunches or snacks may be stored in the classroom.
- No flash photography to protect the colors of objects.
- Youth need to stay within sight of chaperones at all times.
- Chaperones are expected to be actively engaged in maintaining these guidelines.
Payment and Attendance Policy
We request payment by credit card, if possible, which supports our environmental sustainability goals and reduces administrative costs.
Payment is due by the day of the scheduled visit. Payment in advance is welcome. Please reach out if this is not possible for your group.
- Accepted Payment Methods: Credit Card (preferred), Cash, or Check (payable to Harvard University). Purchase Orders (PO) must be arranged with our office in advance.
- Refunds: No refunds will be issued if your group arrives with fewer people than booked.
- Headcount Changes: You may adjust your participant numbers up to three business days before your trip.
- Day-of Additions: If you bring more than three (3) unexpected students or adults, they will be charged regular walk-in rates ($15 per student / $20 per adult).
Financial Aid
Fee reductions are available for schools with financial need. Please note if this may apply to your school in the comments/questions section of the Reservation Request Form.
Delays and Cancellations
- Delays: If your group is running late, call (617) 495-2341 (weekdays) or (617) 495-3045 (weekends).
- Cancellations: Notify the Education Department immediately by email pmaereserve@hmsc.harvard.edu. Groups canceling within two weeks prior to a scheduled program will be charged the full fee.
- Snow Emergencies: Groups forced to cancel the morning of their visit due to a snow emergency will not be charged and are welcome to reschedule.
Reserve a Museum Mysteries Kit (ages 5–12)
The Museum Mysteries Kit is a briefcase-sized box with artifacts to touch and talk about linked to the North American Indian exhibits. It is for use during a self-guiding trip to the museum. It was made with scouts, summer camps, and home school groups in mind.
The kit comes with set of activity cards that an adult reads aloud to the group. The playful prompts on the cards help kids observe details, think creatively, or get up and moving to search for treasures on display. The kit can be reserved for your group and is picked up and returned to the Peabody Admission Desk. It is free with a group reservation. Remember to ask for the kit at the time of reservation so it will be ready for you.
The artifacts are from the Northeast, Subarctic and Southeast regions of North America.
Artifacts
- Quills from an eastern porcupine
- A necklace made with porcupine quills
- A hand tool for working hide made from a clam shell with a bone handle
- Wooden design paddle for use with clay
- Stone arrowheads
- Birchbark
- A working pump drill
Teacher Resources for Group Visits
- Teach with Online Resources: exhibitions, exhibit videos, 3D scans, and more
- Download coloring pages
- Day of the Dead/El Día de los Muertos Information Handout (PDF)
- Day of the Dead/El Día de los Muertos Information Sheet [text version]
- Day of the Dead Interactive Altar
- Day of the Dead Worksheet (PDF)
- Day of the Dead Worksheet (Spanish) (PDF)
- Day of the Dead Make a Skull Mask Activity (PDF)
- Day of the Dead Papel Picado (Cut Paper Banner) Activity (PDF)
- Day of the Dead Cempsúchil Flower Activity (PDF)
- Day of the Dead Color a Candelabra (PDF)
- Foragers to Farmers Teacher Resources
- Igloos to Adobe Digital Resources
- Igloos to Adobe Exhibit Extras (PDF)
- Mesopotamian Monuments Teacher Resources (from our partner museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East)
- Mesopotamian Monuments Field Notes (from our partner museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East) (PDF)
- Peabody Museum and Harvard Museum of Natural History Floor Plan (PDF)
- Read with Raven Digital Resources
- Read with Raven Worksheet (PDF)
- Read with Raven Worksheet Teacher Key (PDF)
Additional Information
Educators are invited to visit the museum for free in advance to develop assignments for their students’ visits. Please contact pmaereserve@hmsc.harvard.edu to arrange your free visit.