Elementary Students
Don’t just walk through history. Do history.
Make your visit memorable with these field trip options. Take advantage of our free in-gallery experiences, enhanced field trip experiences, or virtual opportunities.
IDEA Stations
Grades 3 to 12
Deepen your gallery experience at our IDEA stations, which complement the themes and sections of the Chicago: Crossroads of America exhibition.
At the stations, students actively analyze and interpret the past. Facilitated by trained staff and volunteers, these 20-minute hands-on experiences work best with a group size of about ten students at a time.
Recommended Exhibitions
Visit these engaging exhibitions recommended for elementary school students during your field trip!
Student Worksheets
Engage and empower your students with these field trip options. Take advantage of our free in-gallery activities and on-site student worksheets, such as our Take a Closer Look (PDF) chaperone guide or Artifact Analysis (PDF) student activity designed for use in any gallery!
Find more On-Site Student Worksheets!
The Great Chicago Adventure
Grades 3 to 5
This 25-minute film runs throughout the day in the Robert R. McCormick Theater. Recommended for age seven and up.
Join Roger and his babysitter Jean on an adventure through major events in the city’s history. Feel the intensity of the Great Chicago Fire and enjoy the splendor of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Explore the hustle and bustle of Maxwell Street in the 1950s and peer down from the top of the Sears Tower during its construction. Relive Chicago sports victories and cheer on President Obama during his Grant Park victory speech.
