School Programs
Chocolate Lab Interactives
Chocolate making is a sweet recipe for learning about art and science! The Chocolate Lab offers participatory classes such as molding, dipping and even making chocolate from scratch. Located on the main floor, it is inspired by Milton Hershey’s own candy-making apprenticeship and his flair for experimentation. The Chocolate Lab explores the unique qualities of chocolate through playful, hands-on experiences on a variety of subjects including geography, history, economics and science.
Time: Approximately 40 minutes
Cost: $8.50 per student, which includes Lab experience and museum admission.
Chaperones: The Lab can accommodate one chaperone for every five students; their admission is free.
Museum EduQuests
Students explore the exhibits and enjoy the many interactive experiences throughout the museum on a variety of curriculum-themed hunts.
Time: Approximately one hour
Cost: $6.00 per student
Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five children. $8.50 per additional adult.
Assembly Line Adventure
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Themes: Connections to the Larger World; Lessons from Chocolate; Change Over Time
Standards: Social Studies (6.1, 6.5); Approaches to Learning ( 2.1, 2.3, 2.5); Personal Social ( 3H ); Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening 1.6, 3.7)
Description: Students will thrive in this hands-on program as they are introduced to a variety of jobs in a chocolate factory. Students work together as a team to produce and package their own chocolate bars.
A-B-See Quest
Preschool - 1st Grade
Themes: Happiness for Life/Community; Change Over Time
Standards: Approaches to Learning (1.4, 2.1); Math (2.1); Personal/Social (3.2); Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening (1.1, 1.3, 1.6); Geography (7.1)
Description: A picture is worth a thousand words! Pre-readers use colors, numbers, letters and shapes to explore The Hershey Story in this fast and fun new program.
The Art of Chocolate
Kindergarten -2nd Grade
Themes: Connection to the Larger World; Lessons from Chocolate
Standards: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.1, 1.6); Mathematics (2.3); Science and Technology (3.4, 3.6); Geography (7.1); Family and Consumer Science (11.3)
Description: Students receive a rare look at a real cocoa pod, beans and nibs, and discuss the other ingredients of chocolate. After being introduced to the concept of liquids and solids, they will learn about the differences between milk, as well as dark and white chocolate. Students then create their own “abstract art” by using the melted chocolates to form a design.
Community Quest
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Themes: Happiness for Life/Community; Change over Time
Standards: History (8.1, 8.3); Geography (7.3); Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.2)
Description: Your students will set our interactive town map into motion as they travel between the past and present. They control the journey by using the touch screens to bring the landscape to life. Your class will explore the meaning of community and Mr. Hershey’s vision for his town.
Where in the World?
3rd – 5th Grade
Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Money/Economics/Entrepreneurship; Connection to the Larger World; Lessons from Chocolate
Standards: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening (1.1, 1.6); Mathematics (2.3); Economics (6.4); Geography (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4); Food Science (11.3)
Description: Using real cocoa beans from varying countries and continents, students can learn about the rich geography of cocoa and its connection to the larger world. Participants will taste samples of single-origin chocolates and be guided to distinguish the differences in taste.
Hershey Quest
3rd - 6th Grade
Themes: Happiness for Life/Community; Milton Hershey and Life Lessons
Standards: History (8.1, 8.2, 8.3); Geography (7.3); Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.2)
Description: Discover “Hershey” – the man, the town, the business. Travel with your students through five fascinating exhibits to uncover the many stories inside The Hershey Story. Your class may answer a phone to hear a turn-of-the-century conversation, challenge themselves on computer interactives or bring our town map to life!
Chocolate Coated History /
Central & South America
3rd – 6th Grade
Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Connection to the Larger World; Lessons from Chocolate; Change over Time
Standards: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening (1.1, 1.6); Mathematics (2.3); Geography (7.3, 7.4); History (8.1, 8.3, 8.4); Food Science (11.3)
Description: The lesson begins with a look at primary documents that indicate how chocolate was used in the Aztec and Mayan cultures. Students will grind nibs using a mortar and pestle, and then grate the chocolate and add chili pepper, cinnamon and other appropriate ingredients to create a South American style beverage. The lesson concludes with a sample, of course!
Geography Quest
3rd – 6th Grade
Themes: Connection to the Larger World, Change over Time
Standards: Geography (7.1, 7.2, 7.3); Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.2)
Description: Your class will travel through time from the farms of Pennsylvania to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the South American rain forests. Journey with them as they explore the town once called Derry Church, and discover its connection to the larger world. Soundscapes, computer interactives and creative theatres make the trip come alive.
Chocolate Coated History /
Colonial America
3rd – 6th Grade
Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Connection to the Larger World; Lessons from Chocolate; Change over Time
Standards: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening (1.1, 1.6); Mathematics (2.3); Geography (7.3, 7.4); History (8.1, 8.3, 8.4); Food Science (11.3)
Description: Students examine the raw ingredients of chocolate, and grind nibs with a mortar and pestle to produce chocolate liquor. They will grate chocolate liquor and mix the grated chocolate with water. Using a chocolate pot and frothing stick, students will create a chocolate beverage similar to those enjoyed in Colonial America and sample their creation.
Economics Quest
7th – 12th Grade
Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Money/Economics/Entrepreneurship
Description: How would you design the package of a candy of your own invention? Your students can do just that at our interactive stations, where they can explore and examine marketing materials, advertising techniques, and the power of packaging and design. Lessons in leadership and philanthropy are everywhere throughout our five exciting exhibit areas.
Choconomics
7th – 12th Grade
Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Money/Economics/Entrepreneurship; Lessons from Chocolate
Standards: Economics (6.5); History (8.2); Food Science and Nutrition (11.3); Career Education and Work (13.4)
Description: Participants will be challenged to follow in Milton Hershey’s footsteps by designing their own candy bars. Choosing from a group of possible ingredients, they will construct a bar and cover it in tempered chocolate. Students will be introduced to basic economic theory as they analyze appearance, health value, cost and taste factors in making their choices.
Temper, Temper
9th - 12th Grade
Themes: Chocolate
Standards: Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics (3.4); Food Science and Nutrition (11.3)
Description: After a visual demonstration of the hand tempering process, students will be shown examples of tempered vs. untempered chocolate. Students will take a turn at hand tempering and create their own chocolate bar with their tempered chocolate. Through this fun and interactive lesson, high school students will be exposed to the complex topics of crystal formation and physical chemistry.
