The
mission of The Barnum Museum's Education Department is to assist children of all
ages in understanding the life and times of the world's greatest showman, P. T.
Barnum! This goal is accomplished through museum tours, hands-on programs,
slide show presentations, lectures and museum exhibitions.
The Barnum Museum's
School Programs offer students a wide variety of educational activities.
Children will study the art of clowning, explore P. T. Barnum's amazing advertising
skills, or work on an assembly line building old-time toys and learning about
the lives of 19th Century factory workers.
All programs at
The Barnum Museum are curriculum-based and help teachers fulfill many of the guidelines
of the State of Connecticut's Social Studies Curriculum.
Developed
following the Curriculum Standards
for CT 
All programs
are 1.25 hours long.
 Step
Right Up!_________________________________$40
K-3rd grades
Elephants! Acrobats! Clowns! Step right up and learn about
the circus! Students will explore our famous miniature circus. They will learn
about clowns, circus performers, and the circus as a community. The children will
dress up in clown costumes, put on a skit, and make a clown mask.
Museum
Search________________________________$40
3rd-8th grades
Students will explore the museum looking for information on
the fascinating life of P. T. Barnum. They will discover historical facts about
Barnum and his adopted home Bridgeport, Connecticut; the circus, and life in 19th
century America. This program encourages students to use critical thinking skills
as they make discoveries throughout the Museum.
 People,
Places, Products: Industry in Bridgeport_____$55 3rd-8th
grades
During
the 19th century, Bridgeport grew from a farming town into an industrial city.
Immigrants flooded into Bridgeport seeking jobs in the new factories. During a
guided tour of exhibits on these industries, the students will learn how immigration
and industrialization impacted daily life and helped shape the city. Students
will assemble a 19th Century reproduction toy that they will take home. Admission
$3 per child ages 3 to 17 years old
$6 for each additional adult over the
required number of chaperones ($4 for Seniors)
Program Fees
Program fees are per group of 30 or less,
except Step Right Up, which is for groups of up to 25 children.
-
Programs are available Tuesday through
Friday. -
One chaperone for every seven students
is required & is admitted free. -
Reservations are required.
For Reservations and/or
Information:
Contact Jaime
Knoedler , Director of Education, 203-331-1104 x106 or
JKnoedler@barnum-museum.org | 
