Educator Programs
Professional development programs provide rich and unique experiences with history. Support your curriculum, network with other teachers, and earn CPDUs.
The Field Trip Objective
Tuesday, February 7, 4:30–7:30 p.m.
Recommended for pre–K to 12th grade teachers
Use this workshop to plan the perfect field trip. Meet staff, explore exhibitions, participate in gallery activities, and get tips from teachers who regularly visit the Museum. This session promises to answer all of your questions, from logistics to content! Plus, enter a raffle to win bus transportation for your class.
Cost: $15
Seminars
Each seminar contains two sessions, pairing Museum exploration with a bus or boat tour showcasing the places in Chicago where history happened. Earn up to 7 CPDUs. Recommended for 3rd–12th grade teachers
Registration fees: Session 1: $20; earn 3 CPDUs. Session 2: $35; earn 4 CPDUs. Both sessions only $50!
Great Chicago Stories: Railroad City
Discover the impact of railroads on the development and growth of Chicago. In the first session, explore our exhibitions, enjoy a hands-on workshop, and attend a talk featuring the latest scholarship on the subject. During the second session, a bus tour features railroad landmarks including Union Station, the Pullman neighborhood, and other historic sites.
Session I (museum focus): Saturday, March 10, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Session II (bus tour): Saturday, March 24, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Early Chicago
The 200th anniversary of the Fort Dearborn massacre provides an opportunity to consider the development of early Chicago and the complex relationships between the people, geography, and politics of the era. During the first session, enjoy a talk by Ann Durkin Keating, professor of history at North Central College, and gallery activities in Chicago: Crossroads of America. Then it’s all aboard for the second session, where a boat tour will take us onto the river.
Session I (museum focus): Saturday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
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Workshop
Facing Freedom
Tuesday, April 24, 4:30–7:30 p.m.
Explore the themes and essential questions posed in the Facing Freedom exhibition, which examines eight moments in U.S. history when Americans struggled over the meaning of freedom. Enjoy visiting the gallery, participating in activities, and a talk by curator Joy Bivins. Discover the Facing Freedom website and its interactive student features. Recommended for 5th–12th grade teachers.
Cost: $15; earn 3 CPDUs.