High School Programs
The National Museum of Play® offers a wide range of educational programs for high school students amid dynamic, hands-on exhibits and world-renowned collections.
All lessons utilize the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and adhere to the New York State Learning Standards indicated under each lesson description.
Make reservations by calling 585-263-2700, then plan your visit!
Annual Advanced Placement American History Conference:
Hot Topics on the Cold War
The National Museum of Play’s annual Advanced Placement United States History Conference focuses on social, cultural, and political history, and illuminates the historical processes of change and continuity in American life. Topics are derived annually from the AP history exam and addressed by local college professors who engage students through dynamic seminars. Students are exposed to primary documents and in-depth discussions that foster critical thinking skills. Each full day of college-level presentations includes a provocative panel discussion and a chance to meet students from other local high schools.
March 26–30, 2012
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $7 per person
Registration begins December 9, 2011
NEW! Learning through Play
Play supports all areas of a child’s development—cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. This experience includes an introduction to child development, discussion about learning through play, and opportunities for students to explore, “kid-watch,” and play in the museum exhibits. Students use a graphic organizer to document findings. Observations can be used back in the classroom in a variety of ways depending on the nature of the coursework being studied.
1 1/2 hours
MST: 4, Career Standards: 2
Cost: $4.50 per student ($7.50 to stay all day)
NEW! eGame LOL
Electronic games are a rapidly evolving form of play and they profoundly affect how Americans play, learn, and connect with each other. In this experience, students select one of several provocative electronic game-related questions such as “Does violence in video games cause violent behavior or prevent it?” and “Do electronic games isolate people or bring them together?” They then explore the eGameRevolution exhibit to gather facts to help develop their own answers to these questions. Students learn and develop public speaking skills as they present findings to their peers. Game tokens provided for free play!
1 1/2 hours
LA: 1, 3 MST: 7 SS: 1
Cost: $4.50 per student ($7.50 to stay all day)NEW! Independent Study!
High school teachers collaborate with museum educators to develop a customized learning experience that best meets students’ needs and interests, be it in math, science, technology, literature, or social and cultural studies.
Cost: $9 per student
NEW! Debate FUN-damentals
Have changes in technology changed the way children play? Do fairy tales teach values that are important to today’s youth? Does Barbie symbolize what it means to be an American woman? While researching and debating questions like these, students develop important skills, including listening, public speaking, and critical thinking. Following a brief orientation, students use primary-source documents and hands-on experiences to develop arguments either for or against selected propositions. Students work in teams to gather and present information that supports their case.
4 hours (9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
LA: 1, 3, 4 SS: 5
Cost: $8.50 per student, 100 student maximum
