Virtual Programs
Our virtual school programs enable museum educators to share galleries and collections digitally with your students. These programs help students dive into history through an interactive virtual tour of the museum and educator-led activities that incorporate object-based learning, archival materials, and historic images
Virtual programs can be offered via Zoom or Teams. Each program is designed to last 45 minutes but can be tailored to your group’s schedule.
Virtual Program Experiences
Underground Railroad in Western Pennsylvania
Learn the stories of freedom seekers who made use of the Underground Railroad in Western Pennsylvania in this live, virtual program. Students will trace one freedom seeker’s journey through Pittsburgh to the North in an interactive primary source activity, learn about local abolitionists, and take a virtual, interactive tour of the From Slavery to Freedom exhibition.
Grades: 5 – 8
Cost: $75 for a 45-minute session. Free for all Title I schools.
Beyond Adversity: Black History in Western Pennsylvania
In this live, virtual program, students will explore the stories of African Americans in Western Pennsylvania throughout 250 years of history. Learn about the African American experience through the experiences of Black families in early Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania’s role in the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad, Pittsburgh’s groundbreaking jazz scene, and local sports teams, including the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
This program includes a virtual, interactive tour that includes stories from many exhibits, including From Slavery to Freedom, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, Special Collections, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
Grades: 5 – 12
Cost: $75 for a 45-minute session. Free for all Title I schools.
Innovation and Invention
In this live, virtual history and STEAM program, students will learn about local innovators and inventors and their contributions to the world through an interactive, virtual tour of the Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation exhibit and an exploration of the “innovator mindset.”
The program culminates with a hands-on rapid prototyping activity that uses common household items and is inspired by the innovations and inventions featured in the museum.
Grades: 1 – 5
Cost:$75 for a 45-minute program. Free for all Title I schools.
American Democracy through Political Cartoons
Political cartoons can offer intriguing insights into the past and are a useful way to investigate public sentiment about historic events. The American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith exhibit uses political cartoons to explore key themes such as voting rights, citizenship, and American ideals. In this student program, we will virtually tour the exhibit, focusing these cartoons and analyzing works created by local political cartoonists to learn more about key events in the history of American democracy.
Grades: 5 – 8 (content adapted by grade level)
Cost: $75 for a 45-minute session. Free for all Title I schools.