Teacher Resources and Student Materials

Grades 3–12

These resources will help you prepare for all aspects of your Catholic Chicago field trip. The materials are flexible, can be used with students of all ages, and may be modified to fit your classroom needs.

> Learn more about Catholic Chicago

Field Trip Permission Letter

This permission letter will make it easier for you to plan a field trip. We recommend that you print it on your school letterhead.

> Download the field trip permission letter (32KB)

Pre-Visit Activities

This timeline and the accompanying pre-visit activities will introduce your students to the themes and content of the Catholic Chicago exhibition.

> Download the timeline and pre-visit activities (712KB)

During Your Field Trip

At the Museum, each teacher and chaperone will receive a set of gallery conversation cards and a map of the Catholic Chicago exhibition. The gallery conversation cards will help you frame your exploration of the Museum. The cards highlight seven themes related to life in Chicago—people, place, work, community, education, reform, and celebration—and can be used in the exhibitions Catholic Chicago and Chicago: Crossroads of America. The exhibition map highlights key artifacts within Catholic Chicago and helps orient students and chaperones to the sections of the exhibition.

To help prepare your colleagues and chaperones for your field trip, you can download samples of these materials in advance of your visit. (Please note: The map looks best when printed on 11x17-sized paper.) There is no need to bring copies with you. You will receive a supply of cards and maps when you arrive at the Museum.

> Download the sample gallery conversation cards (92KB)

> Download the sample exhibition map (1.5MB)

Post-Visit Activities

Build on your visit to the Museum with these back in the classroom activities. The activities are designed around universal themes about life in Chicago and use quotations from oral history interviews to illustrate those themes.

> Download the back in the classroom activities (92KB)

Photo of St. Anselm School courtesy of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament