Penn Museum Unveils New Program For Teaching 7th Graders Interactively
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Penn Museum (the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology) today announced a new partnership with the School District of Philadelphia that will give seventh graders the rare opportunity to experience ancient culture.
"Unpacking the Past" gives seventh-graders in the school district, along with those in KIPP and Mastery charter schools, a chance to dive into the culture of ancient Egypt with a hands-on look at mummification and an up-close look at materials from the ancient world.
"Children sometimes recall facts, sometimes not; but they will always recall an experience," noted Philadelphia schools superintendent Williams Hite today. He says the free program allows children who may never get to experience museums an opportunity to engage with the past.
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Julian Siggers, director of the Penn Museum, says the experience has four parts, starting with a visit to the school from the "Mummy Mobile."
"We then bring the kids here for an interactive tour and workshops," he explains. "We then have a series of online workshops for when they return to their schools."
There are also student projects, and each child gets a free family membership to the museum.
To get involved, teachers must sign up. Details at www.penn.museum/educators-k-12.html.