Groups & Educational Programs

Markham Museum Educational Programs

Take your classroom learning to the next level.

Markham Museum examines the on-going settlement of Canada’s most diverse municipality. The Museum is situated on 25 acres of parkland and houses over 20 heritage structures and modern exhibition spaces providing an ideal learning environment outside of the classroom. The Museums overall program direction is anchored in sustainability and awareness of our interaction with the world around us. Markham Museum is not interpreted as a village, but as a series of exhibitions that link our common experiences and technologies.

Markham Museum offers a wide range of educational programs designed to meet the Ontario’s Ministry of Education curriculum expectations and enhance classroom learning. We strive to provide cross-curricular experiences in all our programs while also ensuring that all participants’ needs are met through hands on learning and exploration.

We offer both half-day and full-day programs 7 days a week and can accommodate various group sizes depending on the program. Each program is lead by a trained Program Instructor to ensure you get the most out of your visit. All programs consist of indoor and outdoor components year-round.

Pricing:

Our programs are flexible and you can choose one 2 hour program ($9.50 per child) for a half day experience or combine any 2 programs ($19 per child) for a full day trip experience. Full day trips will also include a 30 min lunch space in our outdoor covered pavilion area, for 4.5 hours in length.

Early Learning (Preschool - Grade 1) Programs

A is for Apple - April to November

Preschool - Grade 1

Program Description: Discover the wonderful world of apples, from how they grow to the many ways that apples are used now and in our past. Children will visit the Museum’s heritage apple orchard where they will learn about the seasons in the orchard and how apple trees grow. Each group will also participate in their very own ‘Apple Schnitzing Bee’ peeling apples and discovering how important bees are to apple trees and visit a historic home where the children will learn about food preservation of the past. Each child will also create their own apple magnet craft to take home.

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon (includes approximately 15 minutes for a snack and bathroom break, snack not provided by Museum)
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 80 (4 rotations x 20 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 5 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program, $9.50.

Markham Moves – Things That Go (Available until December 31st, 2024)

Preschool - Grade 1

Program Description: Planes, trains and cars, oh my! Discover the world of transportation with your class at the Markham Museum through our Markham Moves exhibition. This hands-on exhibition celebrates and explores different modes of transportation, while providing students with the basic principles of physics, engineering and motion, through a number of hands-on and interactive displays, modules and play-spaces. Through this two hours program classes will explore transportation, physics and motion with hands-on activities and challenges. Groups will spend one hour exploring Markham Moves and up to 1 hour of guided hands-on transportation themed activities and craft.

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon (includes approximately 15 minutes for a snack and bathroom break, snack not provided by Museum)
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 5 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program, $9.50.

Please contact museumeducation@markham.ca for further information on our Preschool - Grade 1 Programs.

Elementary School Programs

STEAM – Little Makers

Grades 1-2

Program Description:

Design – Build – Play! Celebrate the creativity and possibilities of Maker Culture at Markham Museum by exploring the Markham Community Makers exhibition. Students will use their imaginations to complete curriculum based hands-on team challenges and build structures from the local community or international landmarks with identical construction KEVA planks. Students will further put their STEAM knowledge, skills, and creativity to the test by discovering how everyday objects and structures are made from different materials and participating in a take home innovative building challenge using an array of materials including 3D pens.

Check out the official KEVA website to get a better idea of some of the amazing projects that your students can create as part of this program https://www.kevaplanks.com/

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 5 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program, $9.50.

Snowshoeing

Ages 6 and up

Program Description: Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to keep active during the winter months and has provided an important method of transportation and recreation throughout Canada’s history. Participants will learn the history of snowshoeing, how to care for snowshoes, the importance of dressing for winter weather and basic snowshoeing skills through a variety of activities and games. At the end of the program participants will warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Length: 2 hours
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: *please contact the Museum as participant’s weight, height and shoe size influences this number

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program of $9.50.

NOTE: A Snowshoeing outreach program is available at an additional cost. Please contact museumeducation@markham.ca for more details on how to bring the snowshoeing experience to your school! Hot chocolate is not available as part of the outreach.

STEAM — Maker Challenge

Grades 3 - 6

Program Description: Design – Build – Play! Celebrate the creativity and possibilities of Maker Culture at the Markham Museum. Participants will discover the evolution of how things are made by exploring a variety of artifacts and by visiting our Markham Community Makers exhibition. Using imagination, students will complete curriculum based hands-on team challenges and build structures using identical construction KEVA planks. Students will further put their STEAM knowledge, skills, and creativity to the test by participating in a take home innovative building challenge using an array of materials including 3D pens.

Check out the official KEVA website to get a better idea of some of the amazing projects that your students can create as part of this program https://www.kevaplanks.com/

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program of $9.50.

Transportation Exploration featuring Markham Moves

Grade 2 to 6

Program Description: Discover transportation with your class at the Markham Museum through our Markham Moves exhibition. This hands-on exhibition celebrates and explores different modes of transportation and the impact they have on our community. The exhibit provides students with the opportunity to gain an understanding of how the objects and infrastructure we use for transportation have changed and developed over time, and how those changes affect how people in Markham live and organize their lives. Students will gain an understanding of the basic principles of physics, engineering and motion, through a number of hands-on and interactive displays, modules and play-spaces. Through this two hours program classes will explore transportation, physics and motion with hands-on activities and challenges. Groups will spend one hour exploring Markham Moves guided by our staff, and one hour getting hands-on with your choice of activity (see below).

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Planes: Soar into the world of planes and air travel with your students. Through hands-on demonstrations, students will discover the forces of motion and how they help airplanes fly. With their new knowledge of forces and Newton’s Three Laws of Motion students will design, create, and test paper airplanes.

Rocket Ships: Blast off with your class as we discover what it really takes to go to the moon! Students will get hands-on as they learn about the parts of a space shuttle and why they are unique to space travel. Using Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, students will design, create and test their own stomp rocket creations.

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the $9.50 participant fee for this program.

Please contact museumeducation@markham.ca for further information on our Elementary School Programs.

Summer Fun Programs

2025 programs coming soon!

Outreach Programs

Snowshoeing

Ages 6 and up

Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to keep active during the winter months and has provided an important method of transportation and recreation throughout Canada’s history. Participants will learn the history of snowshoeing, how to care for snowshoes, the importance of dressing for winter weather and basic snowshoeing skills through a variety of activities and games.

Length: 2 hours
Cost: $9.50 per participant*
Minimum Number of Participants:18
Maximum Number of Participants: Please contact the Museum as participant’s weight, height and shoe size influences this number

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program of $9.50.

* NOTE: If located outside of Markham, mileage will also be charged on top of per participant fee.

Please contact museumeducation@markham.ca for further information on our Outreach Programs.

STEAM – Little Makers

Grades 1-2

Program Description: Design – Build – Play! Celebrate the creativity and possibilities of Maker Culture at Markham Museum by exploring the Markham Community Makers exhibition. Students will use their imaginations to complete curriculum based hands-on team challenges and build structures from the local community or international landmarks with identical construction KEVA planks. Students will further put their STEAM knowledge, skills, and creativity to the test by discovering how everyday objects and structures are made from different materials and participating in a take home innovative building challenge using an array of materials including 3D pens.

Check out the official KEVA website to get a better idea of some of the amazing projects that your students can create as part of this program https://www.kevaplanks.com/

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 5 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program, $9.50.

STEAM — Maker Challenge

Grades 3 - 6

Check out the official KEVA website to get a better idea of some of the amazing projects that your students can create as part of this program https://www.kevaplanks.com/

Length: 2 hours, morning or afternoon
Cost: $9.50 per participant
Minimum Number of Participants: 18
Maximum Number of Participants: 60 (2 rotations x 30 participants)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for this program of $9.50.

Girl Guide and Scout Programs

All education programming can be adapted and customized to suit the needs of your group. We can accommodate most group sizes and offer flexible dates and times.

How to Book a Program

How to Book a Program

Please contact the Education and Volunteer Administrator at 905-477-7000 extension 3174 to book a Program. Programs should be booked at least two weeks in advance to ensure availability.
At time of booking you will be asked the following questions:

Preferred dates and times for programs
Contact person's full name
Group name
Full address including postal code
Email address
Estimated number, age and/or grade of participants
Estimated number of adults that will be attending the program (please refer to adult to child ratios for each program as they differ based on the age of the participants).
Accessibility

Upon receiving this information, you will receive written confirmation via email that your program is booked, along with your invoice, confirmation letter and information package. You will be told the price of the booking at the time based on the estimated number of participants and adult supervisors. If your booking is for more than 80 people you will be asked to provide the Museum with a 20% deposit for the program within the next two weeks.
Full payment for the program is required on the day of the program.
Please contact the Education Administrator at 905-477-7000 extension 3174 or museumeducation@markham.ca to confirm any changes in the number of participants. Adjustments/changes in the number of participants must be made NO LATER THAN 3 business days prior to your visit. Refunds will not be granted for groups with fewer participants than booked. Additional participants will be invoiced on the day of the visit.

Participant Numbers and Adult Supervision

The Museum requires a minimum payment of 18 participants for education programs. Adult to child ratios for each program differ based on the age of children.

Early Learning (Preschool & Kindergarten Programs)

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 5 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for the program.

Elementary School Programs

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 8 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for the program.

Secondary School Programs

Adult Supervision – 1 free adult for every 10 children. All adults/leaders over this ratio will be charged at the participant fee for the program.

Support Staff

EAs and support staff are excluded from the chaperone ratio and not charged for the program.

Cancellations

The Museum reserves the right to cancel a Program at any time to ensure the safety of participants and the site.