Learn
Learn with MCNY
Welcome to the Museum’s Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center's educational offerings, online resources and information. Here you can find information about field trips, lesson plans and videos, stay informed about our current offerings, and easily access resources for educators, students, and learners of all ages.
For visitors with Sensory Needs, we have a Sensory Guide available to view, download or print.
Programs for Educators and Students
Educator Events
From webinars to virtual workshops, learn more about our upcoming programs for educators. These events offer CTLE credit, are geared towards educators, and open to all with interest in the topic.
Field Trips
The museum is now offering guided in-person and virtual field trip programs.
Hidden Voices of New York City
Discover the individual and collective experiences of a diverse swath of New Yorkers through an exploration of the stories of 6 New Yorkers who advocated for the rights of all New Yorkers.
P Credit Courses
Join us for virtual courses for educators featuring leading historians and Museum artifacts, facilitated by our expert educators.
Resources and Lesson Plans
Hidden Voices: Untold Stories of New York City History
A resource guide from the Museum and the NYCDOE to help students learn about and honor the innumerable people who have shaped and continue to shape our history and identity.
Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History
A resource guide from the NYCDOE, multiple institutions, and scholars to allow students to find their own voice as they examine individuals who questioned and broke the normed expectations of gender and/or sexuality.
Examining Equity in NYC
Join the Museum in examining the historical roots of today's movements for change, from the fight for equal education and affordable healthcare to the legacy of housing discrimination and the impact of trans activism.
Kids' Guides
View our Kid's Guides for families and students to use in our exhibitions!
The Movement for Black Lives
View the Museum’s online exhibition and lesson plans and watch an interview with an historian on the sustained and organized activism of the long fight for racial equality.
Black Activists of 19th Century NYC
Explore the lives of David Ruggles, the Lyons family, Elizabeth Jennings Graham, and Sarah Garnet to learn about the actions they took to fight for abolition and full emancipation for Black Americans in 19th century New York City.
Lesson Plans
Explore a growing collection of lesson plans examining New York City’s past, present, and future.
Activist New York Lesson Plans
Browse lesson plans and educational resources that examine activism and social change in NYC from the 1600s to today. Be sure to explore the virtual exhibition for more in-depth case studies on these topics.
The Greatest Grid Online
Delve into primary resources and find lesson plans that explore the history of Manhattan’s famous grid—the largest feat of urban planning in the city's history.
Virtual Teaching Blog
On Our Blog: Tips for Virtual Teaching
Five ideas for turning an MCNY lesson plan into a remote learning tool.
On Our Blog: #COVIDStoriesNYC
How students can be curators and photojournalists to capture this moment in time.
On Our Blog: Creating Oral Histories
Encourage students to harness the hours at home to connect with and listen to their fellow New Yorkers, all the while creating the primary sources of tomorrow.