Educational Tours at The Printing Museum
The dynamics of the Printing Museum’s interaction with the general public center around the Museum’s educational and interactive tours for young and old alike. Hundreds of visitors daily explore history on tours that invite interaction and discovery.
The Museum is currently offering five educational programs, described in more detail below:
TRAVELING PROGRAMS:
Franklin's Colonial Assembly: A Museum on Wheels
The Inventive Benjamin Franklin Assembly
ON-SITE TOURS AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRINTING MUSEUM:
The Ben Franklin Gallery Tour
Constitutional Convention Tour
The Book Arts Tour: Discover Paper, Print & the Art of the Book
Call us at 310-515-7166 to schedule
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The Inventive Benajmin Franklin Assembly
Imagine being wafted back across time for a chat with Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor, printer and statesman. The Inventive Benjamin Franklin School Assembly brings colonial America to life for your students in your school auditorium. Franklin will introduce you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution. Students are introduced to the world of electricity and science as Dr. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery. Throughout the one-hour presentation, Franklin aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention!
Fee: $400 for one-hour show; $200 for additional shows scheduled same day
Audience Size: Up to 120
Age Level: 3rd Gr. & Up
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Franklin's Colonial Assembly: A Museum on Wheels & Ben Franklin Show
A Museum on Wheels brings the best of the Printing Museum’s educational programs to your school. Beginning at our 12’ traveling colonial printing shop, your guide slips on an apron and steps up to Franklin’s press. With the help of students, metal type is hand set to help create his famous Poor Richard’s Almanack. With historical artifacts and quality graphics, the presentation covers the long history of books, from papyrus scrolls and manuscripts to the books and newspapers of today. Students will see a page of Gutenberg’s Bible, rare Chinese printing blocks, early colonial books and demonstrations of printing and bookbinding.
During the second half of the presentation, the Inventive Dr. Franklin is presenting the story of his life to students in the school auditorium, introducing you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution. Students are introduced to the world of electricity and science as Dr. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery. Franklin aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention.
Franklin’s Colonial Assembly travels to schools throughout California and Arizona. Please call 310-515-7166 for scheduling information.
Tour Length: 1-3/4 hours
Age Level: 3rd Gr.& up
Fee: $600 for up to 150 students
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The Ben Franklin Gallery Tour
Beginning with a tour through the Printing Museum’s extensive collection of working machinery, you will experience the development of the arts and technologies used to transmit ideas, including writing, papermaking, printing and bookbinding. From printing a bible page on Gutenberg’s Press, to visiting Franklin’s printing shop, even watching the marvelous newspaper machines of the Industrial Revolution. Following your gallery tour, you will step into the Heritage Theatre to meet the Inventive Dr. Franklin. Franklin will introduce you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery, as he aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention!
Tour Length: 2 hours
Age: 3rd Gr & Up
Program Fee: $175 for groups up to 25; $7 per additional guests
Audience Size: up to 70
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The Constitutional Convention Tour
Who better to arbitrate between students debating one of the great issues at America’s Constitutional Convention than Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Divided into 13 state delegations, students debate the issues that faced the Founding Fathers: representation, taxation, election and the vexing question of slavery. Reading from cards, students participate in the difficult task of resolving the issues that faced our Founding Fathers, ending with their signing of the Constitution. Following the Convention, students enjoy a tour through the Museum, highlighting the great documents of history and freedom.
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Age Level: 5th Grade & Up
Fee: $175/groups up to 25; $7 per additional guest
Audience Size: Up to 70
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Book Arts Tour: Discover Paper, Print & the Art of the Book
Experience firsthand the colorful and graphic world of Books and Printing, from Gutenberg to the marvelous Linotype of 1886. The Museum’s Book Arts Tour is a visual journey through the graphic world of printing, paper, books and images using the world renowned collections of the Printing Museum. Your two-hour tour begins with the ancient world of the Babylonian clay tablets and Egyptian papyrus scrolls to the Chinese invention of paper and printing. After printing their own page of the Gutenberg Bible, students will help to set metal type and print the pages for a book. They will learn to sew and bind their first book using historical models as inspiration. Dipping their hands into the cold water of a papermaker’s vat, students will form their first sheet of paper. With wood type and engraved images of the 19th century, they will assemble and print a broadside, learning about theories of color and design. From lithography to typography, each tour can be customized to meet your curriculum objectives.
Duration of Tour: 2 hours
Age Level: all ages
Fee: $225 for groups up to 25; $9 per additional guest
Audience Size: Up to 50
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