Education
Discover dynamic education programs and curriculum resources about the history of our city, state, and nation.
Education Mission
The New-York Historical Society Education Division provides dynamic programming and curriculum resources for students and teachers in New York and beyond. Historical study sparks curiosity and creativity, promotes cultural understanding, and fosters an empowered citizenry to strengthen our democracy. Our staff of passionate professionals draws on our world-renowned collections to engage learners of all ages in the study of our collective past.
Education programs are made possible through endowments established by
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Hearst Foundations
The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation
Public funds are provided by
Institute of Museum and Library Services
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
Education programs at New-York Historical receive generous support from
The Achelis and Bodman Foundation
The Edith and Frances Mulhall Achilles Memorial Fund
Acorn Hill Foundation
Altman Foundation
Amazon
Barker Welfare Foundation
AT&T
Best Buy
Maggie & Robert Boroujerdi
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Con Edison
Deutsche Bank
Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation
Mark and Lori Fife
Henry Nias Foundation
Alan Shuch and Leslie Himmel
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Keith Haring Foundation
IBM
Susan and Robert E. Klein
Caroline Lowndes Foundation
Ann Lozman
Dan W. Lufkin
Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
The Michael Tuch Foundation
Sandra and Lowell Mintz
Consulate General of the Netherlands
New York Community Trust
Onassis Foundation USA
Heidi and Richard Ong
Pine Tree Foundation of New York
The Pinkerton Foundation
Jean Reid
Denice Rein
Richard Reiss
Rice Family Foundation
Sara Lee Schupf
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
Robie Spector
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Gillian V. and Robert Steel
Thompson Family Foundation
Tiger Baron Foundation
The Waterfall Family Foundation
Rachael Wells
Winston Foundation
Marie and John Zimmermann Fund
SUPPORT THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Art of History (Elementary level only; Spring 2022)
These five lesson series combine history, art history, and art making to introduce students to historical ideas through different modalities. At the end of this project based learning experience students will have created their own work of art inspired by what they have learned. Available for elementary-level students only, starting in the spring of 2022.
Want to learn more? Complete our booking form and a New-York Historical representative will be in touch shortly to discuss program details and payment options.
- Families Then & Now (K-2): Students will learn how their families today are similar and different long ago by examining portraits and artifacts. They will then create an album featuring a self portrait and images of their family long ago and today made with watercolor pencils.
- Transportation Then & Now (K-5): Students track the evolution of transportation in NYC from the carriage to the omnibus, trolley, and subway. Referencing artifacts and images from the collection students will create a collage highlighting one of these modes of transportation to be combined into a class timeline.
- Mapping My New York (1-5): Students will study maps of Manhattan from the 17th-21st centuries to see how the ever expanding city has changed and review the fundamental components of mapmaking. Using this knowledge students will create their own map of Manhattan tracing the city’s history from pre colonization to the present day.
- Life in New Amsterdam (2-5): Students will examine artifacts to gain an understanding of the everyday lives of people in New Amsterdam. Then, in the tradition of Dutch still life painting, students will paint their own still lives referencing the artifacts with pen, ink, and watercolors.
- Picturing Black History (2-5): Students discover the life stories of luminaries from Black History including Ida B. Wells, Madam CJ Walker, and George Washington Carver by studying their portraits.They will then share their knowledge by creating a charcoal portrait of one of these figures and writing an accompanying label.
- Art as Activism (3-5): Students analyze activist posters from the American Revolution to present day to assess what makes an impactful work of activist art. They will then design, carve, and print their own activist poster supporting a cause they believe in.
- American Revolution Imprint (4-5): Students will consider the impact of printed material on the colonies' fight for independence. Students then design, carve, and print a revolutionary broadside supporting either the patriot or loyalist cause.
- Industrial Innovations (4-5): Students will learn about the innovations of the Industrial Revolution and their impact on New York City. They will then focus on one specific case study of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps to inspire their own mosaic style creations.
