Educational Tours at
The Printing Museum
The dynamics of the Printing Museum’s interaction with the general public center around the Museum’s educational and interactive tours for young and old alike. Hundreds of visitors daily explore history on tours that invite interaction and discovery.
The Museum is currently offering three educational programs:
PAGES OF INVENTION:
THE COMMUNICATION TOUR
A
two hour tour combining the a detailed presentation in the Museum’s
gallery followed by the Inventive Dr. Franklin Show in the Museum’s
Heritage Theatre. Appropriate for all ages; fee is $175 for the first
25 people, then $7 per person (up to 80)
The Communications Tour is a fascinating review of the ingenious inventions that have shaped mankind's communications and, in turn, history. The tour traces the development of the technologies mankind has used to transmit ideas, including writing, papermaking, printing and newspapers. The Museum's magnificent collection of 18th and 19th century machinery is used as a springboard to introduce the students to American and world history and to many great inventions.
Visitors also meet one of greatest Americans in history, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, in the Museum's Heritage Theatre. With the goal to stimulate and challenge, Dr. Franklin talks about his life and many accomplishments, interacting with the guests and fielding their questions.
PAGES OF FREEDOM: THE CONSTITUTION TOUR
Students
will enter into Independence Hall to become delegates of the original
13 colonies; with the help of Dr. Benjamin Franklin they will begin to
debate the ideas that might, or might not, go into the Constitution.
Following the signing of that great document, students will enjoy a
tour of the Museum’s gallery with an emphasis on how printing has
shaped and formed our freedoms. Appropriate for grades 5 and above; fee is $175 for the first 25 people, then $7 per person (up to 80)
Pages of Freedom: The Constitutional Tour is a reenactment of the Constitutional Convention of 1789 with Dr. Franklin and James Madison.
After being broken into delegations representing the original thirteen states, the visitors begin to debate the ideas that might go into the Constitution. Delegates wrestle with issues such as election of the president, representation, taxation and even slavery. Who better to arbitrate the debates of these great issues than Dr. Franklin, whose role was that of a maker of compromise?
Following the convention, the visitors are taken on a special tour of the Museum's gallery, focusing on the Colonial period and how books and printing shaped Ben Franklin's life as a Founding Father. The Pages of Freedom Tour puts freedom into the context of history, detailing the documents that have led to and help to secure our freedoms, and what our rights and responsibilities are as citizens of a free country.
A MUSEUM ON WHEELS: FRANKLIN’S COLONIAL ASSEMBLY
A
Museum on Wheels brings the dynamic quality of the Printing Museum’s
programs to your school or organization. The 12-foot trailer exhibit
features a fully functioning Colonial printing shop and colorful
graphics that depict the history of books and printing.
Following the
hands-on activities at the trailer including printing and book binding,
students will meet the inventive Dr. Franklin in the school auditorium.
There Franklin will bring to life his amazing world of inventions and
science; students will even have the opportunity to recreate many of
his famous experiments with Franklin’s Electrical Generator.
Franklin’s Colonial Assembly is a two hour visit, and is appropriate for 3rd grade and above, with a strong emphasis on the 5th grade curriculum. Fee is $550 and the program can accommodate approximately 150 students.
A Museum on Wheels: Franklin's Colonial Assembly was developed in 1997 to bring the Printing Museum educational resources to schools throughout Southern California and beyond. The two hour assembly features a 12 foot trailer, covered in graphics depicting the 5,000 year history of books. Panel doors open up to reveal Franklin's colonial printing shop. With historical artifacts and props, the guide explores the history of books and printing. Students help set the type and print Franklin's most famous book, Poor Richard's Almanac on the wooden press.
In the school auditorium Dr. Franklin himself presents the story of his life and many inventions, from swim fins to bifocals and the harmonica. With the help of his electrical generator, Franklin ignites the young minds with the wonders of science and electricity.
Franklin’s Colonial Assembly travels to schools throughout California and Arizona. Please call for scheduling information.