SCHOOL GROUP TOUR INFORMATION

Please call (773) 384 3352 ext 206 to arrange for a student tour.  Please allow at least 2 weeks notice prior to your group's visit.  Groups larger than fifty students require special arrangements and require at least 4 weeks advance notice.  We prefer to host student groups prior to our 11:00 a.m. opening.  If possible, please schedule your visit to start between 9 and 10 a.m.  Please provide an adequate number of chaperons to maintain discipline.

Cost per student grades 1 thru 5 is $3.00.  Cost per student grades 6 thru 12 is $4.00.  Teachers and chaperons are gratis.  The Museum Gift Shop is not open to large student groups for security reasons.

Age appropriate workbooks are provided to the students free of charge (courtesy of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.)  These workbooks have various questions and puzzles that relate to Poland and Museum exhibits.  A sample can be mailed for pre-visit class work.

A typical class visit consists of an introduction to the Museum followed by information on specific exhibits.  Both introduction and exhibit information vary by age group. 

For grades 1 thru 5, the introduction includes an explanation of how students can use a museum to learn.  A Polish folk costume is used interactively as an example of how we can learn by observation; the heavy wool trousers indicate a cool climate, the wool indicates sheep herding, the flower decorations about their nature, etc.  We then go to look at other folk costumes, a Polish szopka (manger scene), Polish pisanki (Easter eggs) and pierniki (gingerbread).  The students are then at liberty to go on a self-directed tour.  We finish by presenting some common Polish words; hello, goodbye, etc.  Museum Staff are available for questions.  The visit should not be scheduled to last more than 1 hour. 

For grades 6 thru 12, the museum usage is replaced by a brief history of the Museum and highlights are presented in a less interactive manner.  Material is presented on Casimir Pulaski, the first permanent Polish settlement in the US, our stained glass window and the large Kossak painting.  The students are then free for self-directed tours.  Museum Staff are available for questions.

The above can be modified at the request of the teacher to cover other topics such as Polish immigration history (for which a special workbook is available) or our art exhibits.  If requested, the teacher can be given a written summary of which Illinois teaching standards were met by the visit.

It is suggested that the day before the visit some preparatory material be covered;  Locate the country of Poland on a map,  Find out how big it is relative to the state of Illinois,  Find out how many people live there relative to the state of Illinois,  Find out how many Polish-American people live in the Chicago Metro area,  If it's 10:00 a.m. here, what time is it in Poland?  What does the flag of Poland look like?

It is also suggested that the students be given some questions that they need to get answers for from their visit.  For example, Name five famous people from Poland and explain why they are famous.  (Nikolas Copernicus, Casimir Pulaski, Pope John Paul II, Taddeus Kosciuszko, Marie Curie, Ignacy Paderewski, etc)