The Oriental Institute education experience can last far beyond a visit with your students. We have many free resources that can supplement your field trip experience both before and after your visit, and help foster a deeper engagement in your students.
Field Trip Planning
Field Trip Planning & Exhibition Guide
Use this guide to learn more about The Oriental Institute Museum and plan a successful focused field trip.
Catherine J. Dueñas Bus Scholarship
Open to eligible schools.
Free Lesson Plans
Download free STEAM-based lesson plans written by classroom teachers in our Teacher Cohort Academy that integrate Oriental Institute's collections and research.
Communication and Innovative Technology in Ancient Mesopotamia
Cylinder Seals — "What Symbolizes You?"
Interactives
Teaching the Middle East – A Resource for Educators
This resource was written by many of the best scholars in the field of Middle Eastern studies and created in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities and three University of Chicago units: The Oriental Institute, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and the eCUIP Digital Library Project.
Ancient Mesopotamia: This History, Our History
Ancient Mesopotamia: This History, Our History was developed in collaboration with a team of Chicago Public School teachers. They selected key artifacts from the Oriental Institute Museum’s Mesopotamian collection to create a Learning Collection for this project. These artifacts shed light on many aspects of the everyday lives of the people who lived long ago in the area now called Iraq.
Free Downloadable Activities
Explore our themed activity books, full of creative projects, scavenger hunts, and fun games for at home or in the classroom.
- Archeology
- Art
- Astronomy
- Childhood
- Demons
- Epics
- Fashion
- Food
- Games
- Home
- Jobs
- Landscape Archaeology
- Language
- Magic
- Medicine
- Monsters
- Mummies
- Music
- Myths
- Pets
- Power (Part 1)
- Power (Part 2)
- Royalty
- Shopping
- Tiny Artifacts
- Tombs
- Travel
- Zoos and Gardens
