Educators

  • Whether you are planning an on-site visit for your group or getting ready to host a digital or traveling program, we are excited to bring our educational experiences to you and your students!

    Here are some steps that can be useful in preparing for a Glencairn Museum education program: Visit the Education Programs page and pick the program topic that you are interested in booking.

    Decide which format of the program best suits your group. Each program has an on-site version where you and your students will come to Glencairn, and a digital or traveling version where the program can come to you in your meeting space.

    Gather the relevant information for your booking.

    Fill out our Education Program Request Form or contact our Educational Programs Manager, Amy Glenn, to make your booking. You may do so by email or by phone call at amy.glenn@glencairnmuseum.org or 267-502- 2962.

    Once your trip is booked, the following information may be useful to review and share with your group:

    To best prepare yourself, your students, and your group chaperones for your upcoming trip, please read and share our Museum Manners document.

    Your confirmation letter will include specific parking information, but it may be useful to visit our Getting to the Museum page.

    If you will be on-site at the Museum, you can review our Know Before You Go guide to prepare your group. If you are hoping to take photos of your trip, please review our photography policy.

    Visit our Educational Resources page where you will find lots of fun and informative materials to help prepare your group for their visit.

    Please contact Amy Glenn, Educational Programs Manager, with any questions you may have at

    amy.glenn@glencairnmuseum.org or 267-502-2962.

  • How can I book a program for my students?

    You can use our Education Program Request Form to submit a booking request online, or you can contact Amy Glenn, Educational Programs Manager by phone at 267.502.2962 or by email at amy.glenn@glencairnmuseum.org.

    What if I don’t have a space for my group to meet in for a traveling program?

    Please contact Amy Glenn, Educational Programs Manager, directly as there are limited, off-site, space options available for groups who would like to meet for a traveling program.

    What video conferencing platform do you use for your digital programs?

    We primarily use Zoom, but we would be happy to use whichever platform your group is most familiar with!

    What happens if we have technical difficulties or get disconnected during a digital program?

    Our museum educators will do their best to fix the issue and reconnect with your group. If reconnection isn’t possible or the difficulties persist, we will work with the group coordinator to reschedule the program to another convenient time.

    Do I need more than one device for my group to participate in a digital program?

    Our Digital Stained-Glass and Digital Craftsmanship at Glencairn programs are able to be delivered if multiple devices are available for students to use individually or in small groups, or if just one device is available for the whole group.

    How do you accommodate accessibility needs in your programs?

    Glencairn Museum is committed to fostering an equitable, accessible, and inclusive culture. Prior to your program time, our Educational Programs Manager will have a detailed conversation with the teacher or group organizer to determine all accessibility needs, and work to accommodate them as best as possible whether in a traveling or digital program environment.

    What can I do to prepare my students for the program?

    We have several resources available on our Educational Resources page that provide materials for teachers and group coordinators to engage their students pre-program, and to follow-up after the program has happened.

    For specific details about each of our programs, please visit our Traveling and Digital Programs page. If you have additional questions that you have not found an answer to, please contact Amy Glenn, Educational Programs Manager.

FAQ

MUSEUMS AND EDUCATION

Why museums?

Museums are connectors—to the past, to our own inner beliefs and ideas, to other people in our lives, and to people we have not yet met. Museums offer a physical space in which we can reflect on and learn about humanity’s existence through time. Museums anchor the community, support the economy, serve the public, contribute to conservation, and “are committed to ensuring that people of all backgrounds have access to high-quality experiences.” [1] According to 2017 data from the American Alliance of Museums, 97% of Americans believe that museums are educational assets for their communities. Museums can ignite the excitement of learning, hone critical thinking, connect big ideas, and bring a child’s knowledge to life.

Why Glencairn?

Glencairn Museum is a museum of religion, art, and history, dedicated to using
art and artifacts—as inspirational expressions of human faith—to foster empathy

and help students and visitors better understand the history of religion. Our K–12 programs use object-based learning to build understanding, inspire self-reflection, and connect students to people, both past and present. Each of our K–12 programs have been carefully crafted to align with Pennsylvania State Education Standards. Our educators are passionate about providing immersive, interactive, and accessible educational experiences.

 
 

STAINED GLASS ON-SITE AT GLENCAIRN MUSEUM Grades K-12 | 2 hours

Explore one of Glencairn Museum’s most visually stunning features in this guided, interactive, stained-glass program. This program will:

Introduce students to medieval European Christian themed stained- glass windows in the Glencairn collection, and the ways in which these incredible works of art were part of people’s lives.

Provide students with the language and knowledge to decode religious symbolism and imagery in medieval stained-glass.

Encourage student-led inquiry and discovery, building on the knowledge students gain as the program unfolds to invite them to step into the role of a historian.

Include an interactive activity time in the Glencairn Studio where students will be invited to explore the craft of stained glass and the role of stained-glass as a medium for storytelling. Students will be invited to reflect on their own story and identity, and to create a piece of art that captures symbols and ideas that are meaningful to them.