Minnesota History Center Museum Lessons

Prepare for Your Minnesota History Center Field Trip

Tips to prepare yourself, your students, and your chaperones for your field trip.

Before your visit

  • Consider your group’s accessibility needs and communicate these to our team at fieldtrips@mnhs.org.
  • Discuss museum manners with your students and share the two minute introduction video.
  • Assign students to specific chaperones. A ratio of one chaperone to every ten students is required and a ratio of one chaperone for every five students is recommended.
  • Review your confirmation for details on your visit, including schedule of events.

Directions and parking

Share copies of directions and parking information for bus drivers and chaperones.

Bus Directions & Parking

Chaperone Parking Information (PDF)

When you arrive at the History Center

  • Buses should drop-off students at the John Ireland Boulevard entrance to check in at the 2nd floor MacMillan Education Center front desk.
  • Be prepared to give an accurate count of the number of students, school staff, and chaperones.
  • Your group will be assigned a coat room or rack in the Education Center to drop off coats, bags, and lunches.
  • Students will participate in a brief orientation before starting their exploration.

Accessibility

The Minnesota History Center welcomes all visitors and strives to make everyone’s visit a positive experience. Please let us know if your group has anyone with special accommodation needs. Call 651-259-3400 to discuss your group’s access needs.

  • All restrooms are accessible, including several All Gender Family Bathrooms.
  • Sign language interpreters are available with two week’s notice.
  • Wheelchairs are available on-site for use during your visit. First come, first serve.
  • Quiet rooms are available for students in need of privacy.

Review the Minnesota History Center Field Trip Social Narrative or Accessibility Map to prepare your group.

Learn more about accessibility at the Minnesota History Center.

Chaperone tips

  1. Ensure chaperones know their schedule, which exhibits students should visit, and the plans for lunch and lessons.
  2. Preview : Send them the link to the Chaperone Guide (PDF) to get them excited about their day and familiar with the building.
  3. Assign students to specific chaperones.

Chaperones are responsible for the conduct of the students they are accompanying. The Minnesota History Center requires that students remain with their chaperones at all times.

Minnesota History Center museum manners

  • Use indoor voices.
  • Walk in the museum.
  • Respect the museum exhibits.
  • Students must stay with chaperones at all times.
  • Food and drink must stay in designated areas.
  • Use only pencils in the exhibits.
  • Respect those in your group and other visitors.
  • Please turn cell phone ringers to vibrate during lessons and museum programs.

Field trip preview

Watch this short video to get a preview of what you’ll experience at the History Center.

Watch video Minnesota History Center Field Trip on Vimeo

Lunch

Lunch space is available at no additional charge. Reservations required.

  • Lunch periods (25 minutes) are scheduled on the half hour from 11 am - 1:30 pm (weekdays only).
  • There are no vending machines, refrigerators or microwaves for school group use.
  • Groups from multiple schools may share lunchroom space.

Weather permitting, outdoor lunch space is available beginning mid-April. In the case of inclement weather, indoor lunch accommodations will not be made for groups without a prior reservation.

Help Minnesota History Center reduce, reuse, and recycle!

On average, a school of 200 students generates 75 pounds of compostable waste each week. Minnesota History Center has around 32,000 school visitors each year which can result in almost 2,500 pounds of compostable waste! You can do your part! Talk with students about composting and how to properly dispose of their lunches before you visit with these helpful resources.

TPT Recycling and Composting Worksheet and Lesson Plan

Visual Composting Guide (PDF)

Questions?

Please contact our staff at fieldtrips@mnhs.org or schedule an appointment. All booking requests must be submitted through our Request Form.