School Group Tours

Schedule a Tour

Please keep in mind that requests must be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance of the date of your desired visit.

School Museum Tour FAQs

What grade levels are able to tour the museum?
Due to the content of some exhibitions, tours are designed for students in grade 7 and above. For questions and resources regarding younger grade levels, please contact education@ojmche.org.

How many students can I bring for a tour?
The museum is able to accommodate groups up to 100 students per day/tour. Groups larger than 100 students will require a multi-day program or alternative learning opportunities. 

How many chaperones are required?
We require 1 chaperone for every 7 students for grades 7-8 and 1 chaperone for every 10 students in grades 9-12. 

What days and times can I schedule a tour?
Student tours take place Monday-Thursday, beginning no earlier than 9:00 AM and ending no later than 3:00 PM. The length of a tour will vary depending on the number of students, exhibitions toured, and workshop or speaker add-ons. When possible, we try to host larger groups on Mondays or Tuesdays when the museum is closed to the public.

• Groups with 50 students or less should expect between a 1.5 to 2 hour program. Adding on a workshop or Speakers’ Bureau presentation will extend your visit by one hour.
• Groups of 51 –  75 students should expect a 3 hour program which will include a workshop or Speakers’ Bureau presentation.
• Groups of 76 – 100 students should also expect a 3 hour program which will include a Speakers’ Bureau presentation.

Learn more about the Speakers’ Bureau

What does a program look like?
All tours include a brief welcome, a tour of two to three exhibitions, and time for lunch/snack. Please keep in mind that OJMCHE does not provide lunch, so be sure that all students bring lunch or are provided with lunch by your school or organization. As stated above, for groups of 50-100 students, the program will include a workshop or speaker presentation, and groups of less than 50 may add on a workshop or speaker presentation if desired.

How much does a tour cost?
OJMCHE has adopted a sliding scale admission model.
Please note: we waive admission fees for teachers and/or chaperones. 

• $10/student – Pay It Forward
• $5/student – Standard Group Rate
• $2/student – Partial Scholarship
• Full Scholarship for Title I schools (Schools will be asked to provide documentation of Title I status)

Bussing
OJMCHE offers bussing scholarships in the form of reimbursement for schools where travel to the museum would take more than 30 minutes and/or for local schools where public transportation would require more than one transfer.

Exhibitions

Depending on the size of your group and tour length, student groups can tour anywhere between 1 – 3 exhibitions.

Exhibitions available for student tours:

• The Holocaust, An Oregon Perspective
  Students learn about the causes and effects of the Holocaust through the experiences of Oregon’s survivors. This exhibition is an effective learning experience for students at any stage in their learning about the Holocaust.
• Oregon Jewish Stories
  Students explore the history of Oregon through the lens of the economic, religious, political, and cultural contributions of Oregon’s Jewish community. This exhibition provides an exceptional counterpoint to the Holocaust as it invites students to think about the vibrant and diverse Jewish identities thriving in our state.
• Discrimination and Resistance: An Oregon Primer
  Students learn about the history of marginalized identity groups in Oregon through a framework of twelve distinct tools of discrimination and resistance. This exhibition provides students opportunities to gain new insights into the multiple ways that discrimination occurs, and the empowering methods used by people to resist.
• Human Rights after the Holocaust
  Students examine different themes related to human rights: first, how the Holocaust shaped global dialogue about genocide prevention and protection of human rights; second, the ongoing global struggles with human rights abuses and genocide; and third, the role activism plays in promoting and advocating for human rights protections. Due to complex contemporary issues and events covered in this exhibition, tours are reserved for students in grade 9 and above.
• Temporary Exhibitions: None at this time

Workshops

Available for groups of 75 students or less.

Workshops available for student tours:

• Understanding Judaism through Artifacts
  This hands-on, highly interactive workshop gives students a chance to learn about the rich diversity of Jewish culture. Using small group work and discussion, students will learn about objects used to observe Jewish holidays and rituals. Recommended for students in grades 7 and above.
• Analyzing Antisemitic Stereotypes and Scapegoating
  Through whole-class and small group discussions, students learn about the origins and evolution of antisemitism, Students analyze specific examples of Nazi propaganda, and discuss how stereotypes and scapegoating operate within communities and escalate to acts of discrimination, prejudice, and violence. Recommended for students in grades 7 and above.
• Law and Order: Legalizing Discrimination During the Holocaust
  Students examine over 40 discriminatory and dehumanizing anti-Jewish laws implemented by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Students consider the impact of discriminatory laws during the Holocaust as well as how legal systems have the power to either perpetuate or prevent discrimination, persecution, and genocide. Recommended for students in grades 9 and above.
• Life in the Lodz Ghetto
  Henryk Ross, a Jewish photographer, took thousands of pictures during his imprisonment in the Lodz ghetto in Poland. His photographs provide extraordinary insight into ghetto-life and challenge popular narratives of Jews as victims. Through a gallery walk and whole-class discussions, students analyze Ross’s photographs to learn how photography can be used as an act of resistance against oppression. Recommended for students in grades 7 and above.
• Resistance and Rescue During the Holocaust
  This workshop begins with students learning about an example of resistance in small groups. Next, students return to a full-class discussion to share and build on their knowledge by analyzing different expressions of resistance during the Holocaust. Recommended for students in grades 7 and above.
• Interrupting Extremism
  Unfortunately, activity by anti-democratic hate groups in the United States is on the rise. Through a mix of small-group and whole-class discussions, students learn about the Nazi’s antisemitic and anti-democratic attitudes, examine contemporary examples of antisemitism, and strategize how to respond to contemporary low-level extremism. Recommended for students in grades 9 and above.

Speakers

Available for all groups, but required for groups of 76 – 100 students.

OJMCHE speakers share their personal or family experiences with genocide.

Learn more about the Speakers’ Bureau