Educator Programs
Powerful Content. Engaging Instructional Strategies.
From civic learning to core curriculum, we’ve got you covered. Our professional development programs provide rich and unique experiences with history. Connect with the Museum’s exhibitions and resources. Engage with staff and experts.
Educator Seminar | Facing Freedom
Saturdays, October 3 and 17, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Free, earn up to 6 PD hours. Registration required.
Explore the newly reimagined Facing Freedom exhibition, which examines how people in the United States have shaped freedom through civic action, service, innovation, and advocacy. This two-part seminar includes facilitated activities, time in the exhibition, scholarly talks, and field trip planning. We will examine the four themes of the exhibition—Unite: workers’ rights, Speak Out: public protest, Defend: protecting community, and Struggle: race and citizenship—and the case studies within these themes.
Each session covers distinctly different themes and stories. Sessions can stand alone, but they build on one another, so we encourage attending both. Leave with FREE classroom resources.
Recommended for middle and high school educators.
Register for Oct. 3 Register for Oct. 17Educator Workshop | Threads of a Nation: Preserving Presidential Clothing
Saturday, November 7, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Free; 3 PD hours. Registration required.
See clothing worn by John Adams, George Washington, and the Lincolns through the lens of museum preservation and discover how staff care for collections both in storage and during exhibitions. Explore how you can incorporate objects, their stories, and the science of their care into your classroom instruction. Hear from Threads of a Nation curator Olivia Mahoney, make STEAM connections to museum work, and receive FREE classroom resources.
Recommended for elementary through high school educators.
Reserve Your SpotSave the Date! Virtual Teacher Book Club
January 30–February 27, 2027, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
$50; earn up to 18 PD hours.
October Book Announcement and Registration Coming Soon! Back by popular demand, be sure to mark your calendar for this year’s book club. Must attend both sessions and participate in asynchronous engagement. Copy of book included with registration.
Registration Opens in October!
Customized Planning with CHM Education Staff
Our educators are here to match Chicago History Museum resources to your needs, answer questions, and help brainstorm ideas. Simply email school programs staff and let us know what you’re working on. We’ll set up a FREE, one-hour Zoom meeting with you to share materials and answer questions. We look forward to meeting you and learning about all the amazing work you are doing! 1 PD hour per session.
Please email both Heidi Moisan [email protected] and Megan Clark [email protected] to make an appointment.
In-Service Programs
Are you interested in a custom in-service experience?
We’re happy to plan with you. To get started, email Heidi Moisan, senior school programs manager, at [email protected].
Teacher E-news
The Museum publishes a regular e-newsletter for educators. Subscribe today to receive timely information about new classroom resources and professional development opportunities.