Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Active, hands-on learning is at the center of the school programs at The Hershey Story.

Your students will love the fun way they’ll learn — and you’ll welcome our unique offerings that can’t be taught in a classroom.

For more information about the programs, please call Elizabeth Lindsay at 717.520.5588 or email elalindsay@hersheystory.org

Pennsylvania Historical Museum CommissionEducation programs are supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.


Special Exhibit Programs     |     Museum EduQuests     |     Gifted Programs
Chocolate Lab Interactives     |     Early Childhood Programs

 


 

Reservations: Make your reservations today; spaces fill quickly!

The Hershey Story school programs require a reservation for a minimum of 15 students, and can accommodate up to 100 students on the same day. Please note: student group rates are only available when a program is booked through the school.

Please make your reservation request here.

 

Museum EduQuests

Students explore the exhibits and enjoy the many interactive experiences throughout the museum on a variety of curriculum-themed hunts.

Time: Approximately 45 minutes

Cost: $11 per student, which includes museum admission
Add a Chocolate Lab class for $5 per student more!

Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five students. A teacher must be present in the Museum Experience while students are participating in an EduQuest.
$13 per additional adult (EduQuest only; Chocolate Lab is restricted to students and chaperones only.)

A-B-See Quest

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 program.

Grades: Preschool – 1st

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)

Community Quest

Your class will explore the meaning of community and Mr. Hershey’s vision for his town through interactive technology and engaging stories.

Grades: Kindergarten – 2nd

Themes: Happiness for Life/Community; Change over Time

Standards: History (8.1, 8.3); Geography (7.3); Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.2)

Hershey Quest

Discover “Hershey” – the man, the town, and the business – through authentic artifacts and interactive technology. Travel with your students through five fascinating exhibits to uncover the many stories inside The Hershey Story.

Grades: 3rd – 6th

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)

Geography Quest

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.

Grades: 3rd – 6th

Themes: Connection to the Larger World, Change over Time

Standards: Geography (7.1, 7.2, 7.3); Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (1.2)

Economics Quest

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.

Grades: 7th – 12th

Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Money/Economics/Entrepreneurship


Gifted Program

Developed with gifted classes in mind, this program will challenge students by leveraging their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Sweet Strategies: The Business of Selling Chocolate

Students will become immersed in the sweet business of selling chocolate in this hands-on, team-building class. First, teams will use real ingredients to create a new chocolate product. Next, they’ll design the packaging and then strategize a marketing campaign to sell their product. Instruction for the program will take place in the Chocolate Lab, Museum Experience and our classroom.

Themes: A program for gifted students grades 4-12

Standards: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking 1.1(F), 1.2(B), 1.6(C, E, F); Economics 6.2 (B, F), 6.5 (F, I); Career Education and Work 13.4(B, C)

Time: Approximately 2½ hours

Cost: $15 per student

Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five students. A teacher must be one of the chaperones in the Chocolate Lab. Additional adults are not permitted in the Lab. They may purchase Museum Experience admission for $13 per adult.


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 45 minutes

Cost: $11 per student (unless otherwise noted)
Add a Museum EduQuest for $5 more per student

Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five students. A teacher must be one of the chaperones in the Chocolate Lab.
Additional adults are not permitted in the Lab.  They may purchase Museum Experience admission for $13 per adult.

Assembly Line Adventure

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.

Grades: Kindergarten – 2nd

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)

The Art of Chocolate

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.

Grades: Kindergarten – 2nd

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)

Where in the World?

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.

Grades: 3rd – 5th

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)

Chocolate in Central & South America

The Maya and Aztec cultures utilized cocoa beans in several unique ways long before people began making and consuming solid chocolate. Learn how cocoa beans were grown and processed to make a ceremonial chocolate drink and how they were even used as money. Students will try a chocolate drink similar to one the Mayans drank and make their own chocolate bar to take home.

Grades: 3rd – 6th

Themes: People, Places and Environment; Culture

Standards: History (8.1, 8.4); Geography (7.3, 7.4)

Chocolate in Colonial America

Step back in time and learn how chocolate was made in Colonial America and the unique ingredients that were used. Students try their hand at grinding cocoa beans and look at original recipes while discovering the important role chocolate played in the founding of America. Every student will make their own colonial inspired chocolate medallions that can be eaten or made into a special drink.

Grades: 3rd – 8th

Themes: Time, Continuity and Change; People, Places and Environments

Standards: History (8.1, 8.2, 8.3); Geography (7.3, 7.4)

Choconomics

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.

Grades: 7th – 12th

Themes: Milton Hershey and Life Lessons; Money/Economics/Entrepreneurship; Lessons from Chocolate

Time: 1 hour

Standards: Economics (6.5); History (8.2); Food Science and Nutrition (11.3); Career Education and Work (13.4)

Flavor of Chocolate

Students will learn the steps to chocolate making, and sample both single origin and blended chocolates to learn how chocolate makers develop their delicious products.

Grades: 7th – 12th

Themes: Chocolate

Time: 45 minutes

Standards: Speaking and Listening (1.5); Reading Informational Text (3.5); Basic Geographic Literacy (7.1); Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions (7.2); Food Science and Nutrition (11.3)

Temper, Temper

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.

Ages: 9th – 12th Grade

Theme: Chocolate

Time: 1 1/2 – 2 Hours

Standards: Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics (3.4); Food Science and Nutrition (11.3)

Cost: $15 per student, which includes Lab experience OR
$20 per student, which includes Lab experience and Museum Experience admission

Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five students. A teacher must be one of the chaperones in the Chocolate Lab.
Additional adults are not permitted in the Lab.  They may purchase Museum Experience admission for $13 per adult.


Early Childhood Programs

Early childhood programs are perfect for younger students, as they are introduced to visiting a museum and experiencing its educational resources.

Cost: $11 per student, which includes museum admission
Add a Chocolate Lab class for $5 per student more!

Chaperones: One adult admitted free for every five children.
$13 per additional adult (EduQuest only; Chocolate Lab is restricted to students and chaperones only.)

C is For Chocolate

Students become factory workers as they sort chocolate bars on a real conveyor belt and experiment with real factory chocolate molds. They’ll learn about the ingredients in the dark, milk and white chocolate and create their own delicious take-home snack.

Time: Approximately 1 hour

Grades: Preschool (Ages 3-5)

Museum EduQuest: A-B-See Quest

A picture is worth a thousand words! Pre-readers use colors, numbers, letters and shapes to explore the museum in this fast and fun program.

Time: Approximately 1 hour

Grades: Preschool (Ages 3-5)

Assembly Line Adventure

Students will thrive in this hands-on program in the Chocolate Lab, as they are introduced to a variety of jobs in the chocolate factory.

Time: Approximately 45 minutes

Grades: Preschool (Ages 4-5)

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