Educational Programs

Museum Africa not only will provide a wide range of education activities for schools and students of all ages at our campuses, but we encourage visitors and patrons to support Chicago's other fine museums, such as the Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum DuSable Museum, and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Museum Africa invites students and educators to subscribe to MAteachers for free entry to all Museum Africa venues.

Education Programming includes:

The African Aesthetic | Explore a variety of African art forms, from art to dance, from music to writing, and learn how they are unique and vibrant.

The African Cuisine | Learn how to prepare delicious meals using ingredients commonly found in Africa.

Tailored Professional Development | Sessions can include Africa's diverse histories and/or topical issues, current learning theory and its application to museum experiences, as well as the deconstruction of exhibitions and practical activities for use in the classroom. Please contact the Humanities Program Coordinator at (773) 572 4632 or education@museumafrica.org to discuss your Professional Development requirements.

Ambassador Program Essay-Writing Contest | Teachers play an essential role in this contest. A teacher must nominate each student participant, and provide support and advice during the research and writing process. Nominating teachers must also proofread students' essays, make suggestions for improvement, and ensure that the essays meet the Contest Requirements. The first-place winner and her/his nominating teacher will receive awards at Museum Africa in Chicago.

Many teachers use the contest as a class project and submit the essays of an entire class. We invite you to use the four lessons in Curriculum Ideas for the Study of History to introduce your students to ancient African history. We hope these materials will help you guide your students in the research and writing of their essays. Several of the following activities meet National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) Standards and The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standards for the English Language Arts.

By registering for the Mailing List you will receive information and updates about the contest. We encourage you to submit feedback to help us improve the program and find ways to best serve your needs.

You can access archival film footage about ancient Africa, listen to reflections on African cultures by Ambassador Program Award recipients, and hear excerpts from past winning essays by viewing a video on the Ambassador Program Essay-Writing Contest. If you are interested in obtaining a classroom copy (higher resolution) of this DVD, please send your request with your name, school, and school address to contest@museumafrica.us.