The American Swedish Historical Museum offers a variety of educational programs for all audiences. From school programs, to Swedish language classes to Swedish genealogy, the Museum has something for learners of all ages.
Programs for School Children
School Groups (at ASHM)
Plan a field trip with your class to the museum. We provide pre-visit and post-visit materials for you to use in the classroom.
Cost: Onsite programs are $5 per student, with a minimum charge of $60. One adult per children is required, additional adults are $5 per person.
Payment is due the day of your visit. Scholarships are available to qualifying groups thanks to the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual sponsors. Please contact the Education Department for eligibility and availability information.
Education program scholarships are generously funded by the Swedish Council of America.
School Groups (at ASHM)
Plan a field trip with your class to the museum. We provide pre-visit and post-visit materials for you to use in the classroom.
Cost: Onsite programs are $5 per student, with a minimum charge of $60. One adult per children is required, additional adults are $5 per person.
Payment is due the day of your visit. Scholarships are available to qualifying groups thanks to the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual sponsors. Please contact the Education Department for eligibility and availability information.
Education program scholarships are generously funded by the Swedish Council of America.
The adventures of Sweden’s favorite storybook hero, Pippi Longstocking, come alive at the Museum. Enjoy tales from this beloved children’s series while traveling through the Museum galleries as a “thing-finder”, creating a Dala horse craft, and tasting Pippi’s favorite cookies – pepparkakor.
Did you know that the Swedes were the first Europeans to settle the Delaware Valley? This program focuses on the founding and legacy of the New Sweden Colony, established in 1638 along the Delaware River. Using Museum collections and hands-on artifacts, children will explore how and why the settlement began, learn more about Swedish relations with local Native Americans, and experience elements of colonial daily life, like making real butter! Discover what traces of the New Sweden Colony remain today in Philadelphia and the surrounding area - perfect for children studying Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware History.
Click here to explore the New Sweden Gallery and map!
Pre-Activity New Sweden Colony194.44 KBPost-Activity New Sweden Colony392.65 KB
Philadelphia: The Great Experiment Teacher Resources Full Episode- A Lost World (1600-1680) 167.95 KB
Participate in a Swedish holiday tradition – the Lucia festival. Lucia, the saint of light, has long been honored on December 13th, the longest night of the year. Children will learn the legend of Lucia, explore Swedish Christmas traditions, and experience the magic of a traditional Lucia procession. Don’t forget your camera!
Celebrate holidays the Swedish way! Even though we may celebrate some of the same holidays in the United States, Swedes have many unique traditions. From Midsommarfest, to Easter, to the Lucia festival before Christmas, children will participate in and discover how Swedish holidays differ from our own.
Art connects cultures around the world and the American Swedish Historical Museum is the perfect place to introduce students to the world of art. The museum was built in 1926 and features 12 galleries highlighting traditional and modern artistic Scandinavian styles. Our Art at the Museum program introduces children to the foundational concepts of art and then leads them through each gallery to find unique examples. At the conclusion of the program children will get to make their own traditional Swedish folk art to take home! ASHM is the perfect introduction field trip experience due to its intimate setting. Your group will have exclusive access to the galleries and view one of a kind artworks that link culture and history. From towering ceiling murals to sculpture, glass works, and paintings, ASHM has it all!
Take a journey back in time to the age of the Vikings (800-1100 AD). Children will examine a 1,000 year-old sword, dress up in Viking armor, and use hands-on artifacts to discover more about this often misunderstood culture, and how we are still impacted by it today. Highlights include making rune stones and playing Viking chess (hnefatafl).
Pre-Activity Viking Lesson167.11 KBPost-Activity Viking Lesson196.2 KB
Challenge your navigational skills as you get to know this popular Swedish sport. Participate in an environmental education activity that teaches children how to use a compass and map. Children will take part in a scavenger hunt and record findings in a field journal.
This is an indoor/outdoor program that takes place in the museum and the surrounding Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park.
Pre-Activity Orienteering259.51 KBPost-Activity Orienteering242.08 KB
My 1st Museum for Preschools (at ASHM)
It’s never too early to introduce world culture to preschoolers! The American Swedish Historical Museum is excited to offer specially designed programs for Pre-K students that build and reinforce early learning skills. The My 1st Museum program engages children through interactive stories, music, games, art, and museum exploration. Children will get a personal introduction to museum culture. Each program conforms to specific Pennsylvania pre-kindergarten learning standards with preprogram materials available to assist teachers get students ready for their experience.
Cost: $5.00 per child, minimum and maximum attendance rules apply, call for details.
My 1st Museum for Preschools (at ASHM)
It’s never too early to introduce world culture to preschoolers! The American Swedish Historical Museum is excited to offer specially designed programs for Pre-K students that build and reinforce early learning skills. The My 1st Museum program engages children through interactive stories, music, games, art, and museum exploration. Children will get a personal introduction to museum culture. Each program conforms to specific Pennsylvania pre-kindergarten learning standards with preprogram materials available to assist teachers get students ready for their experience.
Cost: $5.00 per child, minimum and maximum attendance rules apply, call for details.
Children will learn about adaptations of animals native to the cold climate of Sweden.
Children will reinforce their knowledge of the five senses through interactive stories and music movement. Toddlers will visit five rooms in the museum and test each of their senses.
Enter the unique world of Swedish born author Astrid Lindgren and her famous character Pippi Longstocking. Children will be introduced to Pippi through hands on exploration of our interactive exhibit.
This art inspired program will reinforce knowledge of shapes and color through interactive songs and stories. Children will discover that art isn’t just on paper during this interactive lesson introducing sculpture.