Programming for Schools and Community Groups

Onsite field trips:

Through our onsite field trips, we engage students and community members in activities at our sites in downtown San Diego.

All field trips will start with a tour of our permanent exhibition. We work with teachers and group leaders to design a field trip that's responsive to the needs and interests of your group, and can provide Classroom Exhibit Presentations or hands-on workshops.

If you are a teacher or group leader and would like to request a field trip, please fill out our online form.

Field trip FAQ:

We offer tours of our current exhibitions, as well as tours of the Asian Pacific Historic District. We can provide activities, like a scavenger hunt or dig to discovery, to compliment our tours.
All field trips require at least one teacher or chaperone per ten students present at the museum with their group.
Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance. We can accept up to 30 students per visit, and, when you book your field trip, you will need to provide information about the number of participants, so that we may prepare.
For museum tours, all students under 12 years of age will be admitted free of charge. For students that are over 12 years of age, we will need to charge an $8 per student fee. For groups that are larger than 10 people, we can provided discounted rates.

Hands-on Workshops

Whether as part of a field trip program or at your site, we are able to provide the following hands-on workshops to classrooms and community groups:

Calligraphy: Students learn about the concept of language and how writing developed as a universal communication tool‭. They will learn to count to 10 in Chinese and try to write the symbols for numbers through demonstration and practice‭.‬ Participants will be able to try writing calligraphy on our reusable Chinese calligraphy mats using water.
Fan making: In China, fans were carried by both men and women for diverse purposes, from simple cooling fans to exquisitely decorated special occasion fans. Through this workshop, you’ll have the chance to make and decorate your own fan.
Paper cutting: This workshop introduces students to this Chinese folk art. Students will also get to try their hand at making their own paper cut-outs!
Zhezhi (traditional Chinese paper folding): Recreational paper folding was practiced in China and Japan‭ after paper was first exported by Buddhist monks in the 6th century‭. ‬Through our workshop‭, participants will have the opportunity to learn several paper folding‭ designs.
Chinese Zodiac crafts: Referring to the legend of the Chinese New Year‭, ‬students will have the opportunity to engage in a craft activity‭, ‬using paper to create a representation of the animal of the current lunar cycle.

If you are a teacher or group leader and wish to request a hands-on workshop, please fill out our online form.

Classroom Exhibit Presentations

We also offer educator-led programs for school and community groups. Our Classroom Exhibit Presentations (CEP's) engage learners through slideshows and guided discussions. We offer CEP's on five different topics, including:

The Rise and Fall of the First Chinese Emperor
Pre-20th Century Chinese contributions to science and technology
The art of Chinese Calligraphy
Traditions of the Chinese Lunar New Year
Early San Diego Chinese American History

For more information about CEP's, please review our brochure. Each CEP topic can be tailored for delivery to a range of age groups (from elementary school to retirement age).

If you are a teacher or group leader and would like to request a CEP, please fill out our online form.

Classroom Exhibit Presentation (CEP) FAQ: