University of Pennsylvania (Penn Museum)

The Penn Museum is partnering with the School District of Philadelphia to present an engaging series of programs to bring its archaeological and anthropological collections to life for seventh grade students and teachers. The museum will offer in-school presentations, interactive gallery tours, STEM-rich workshops, and professional development days for teachers, to every seventh grade public classroom in the district (8,000 - 10,000 students annually), as well as to some classrooms from Mastery and KIPP Charter Schools. The program will introduce teachers to object-based learning, impact academic outcomes for students in social studies, math, and science, and provide students and their families with a meaningful first introduction to their community museum. Teachers will gain familiarity with the museum's collections, staff, and educational resources, while students will gain a multidimensional understanding of the ancient world, develop critical thinking skills, and be motivated to return to the Penn Museum.