The American Swedish Historical Museum's mission is to preserve and share the history and culture of Swedish, Swedish-American, and other Scandinavian and Scandinavian-American people. The Museum invites you to bring your class or camp or day care group to participate in our educational programs designed to relate to local curriculum requirements. Tours can be tailored with the following themes to meet your curriculum needs. Please see information below to find out more.
Generally programs are 90 minutes in length and cost $3 per student. For additional information, or to schedule a program or field trip, please call the Education Director at (215) 389-1776 or email education@americanswedish.org. All group programs must be reserved in advance. Brown bag lunch facilities are available.
Multi-age Camp and Day-Care groups
Just in time for summer, the amazing adventures of Sweden's favorite storybook heroine Pippi Longstocking, come to the the American Swedish Historical Museum. Groups of children ages 4-10 will hear about the crazy things Pippi does, travel on a fun trip through the museum galleries, including the stuga, a pioneer farmhouse. The program also includes a craft, "thing finding"ala Pippi, and a taste of Pippi's famous pepparkakor.
Grades: K-4
This program focuses on the life of the 17th-century Swedish colonists living among the native people in the Delaware Valley. Students tour the Museum and discover what life was like by participating in activities such as butter making, carding, weaving, candle making, and trying on traditional Swedish costumes.
Grades: 4-8
Swedish people were the first Europeans to settle in the Delaware Valley, arriving in 1638. They named their colony New Sweden. This program examines the history of this 17th-century adventure. Students participate in a variety of activities designed to help them understand this aspect of early Pennsylvania history, and, using archaeological artifacts, primary documents, and maps, they will learn some of the techniques that historians use to study the past.
Grades: 3-8
The "Viking Age" is the period from the end of the 8th century to the middle of the 11th century. What kind of people were the Vikings? Did they really sack and plunder Rome? Did Leif Ericsson discover America 500 years before Columbus? Students use sagas and archaeological artifacts to study and learn the answers to these and other questions. They also make picturestone rubbings, decode runes and calculate the length of a Viking ship.
Grades: K-6
According to the ancient Julian calendar, December 13 was the longest night of the year. Today in Sweden, December 13 is celebrated with a Lucia Festival. Students learn the history of Lucia and other Swedish Christmas traditions. They take part in activities traditionally performed by Swedish families during the holidays, participate in the Lucia procession, and make an ornament to take home.
Grades: K-6
This program allows students to participate in traditions that are celebrated throughout the year in Sweden. They will take part in dressing up as Easter witches, learn about the Lucia festival on December 13th, find their names on a name day calendar, and much more. They will also make a holiday craft, which they can take home, and sample traditional holiday food.
Grades: 4-12
This popular Swedish sport and environmental education activity will teach students how to use a compass, and how to make a map. They will also participate in scavenger hunts and many other activities.
Note: This is an outdoor program that takes place in FDR Park.