Student Programs

The Valentine's hands-on programs and tours support history and social studies curricula while sparking curiosity and meeting your learning needs.

Programs That Build 21st Century Skills

A group of students and teachers are gathered in a circle in the museum. Young students are raising their hands while the adults point at them.

Valentine programs support critical thinking, collaboration, communication, media literacy and other 21st century skills that help students succeed in the Information Age. Impactful and fun experiences spark students’ curiosity with the flexibility to meet your curriculum needs. With a learning format for every classroom, Valentine programs are SOL-aligned and free for Title 1 Schools. Explore our program formats and featured topics below! 

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Museum Field Trips

Young students sit on the floor in a historic room with their backs to the camera. In front of them a Valentine Educator stands showing the students some historic objects.

The Valentine’s field experiences bring history to life. Students will discover Richmond stories in our exhibition galleries, explore life in the historic Wickham House, and visit our Education Center for hands-on history experiences. Make a day of it and add a walking tour to your visit or pack a lunch and eat in our beautiful garden. 

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In-School Programs

We offer multiple ways to bring Richmond history resources into your classroom, from outreach educator visits to learning trunks with hands-on materials delivered to your school and live virtual tours using classroom technology. Let’s explore how we can connect your students with our resources!

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Student City Tours

Use the City as your classroom!  Valentine walking and bus tours explore Richmond history and themes across the city landscape and can be customized to meet your instructional needs. 

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School Partnerships

We collaborate with a select number of schools each year to create project-based learning experiences. Using primary sources documents from museum’s collection, sharpen your students’ research and literacy skills during this multi-visit outreach program.

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Design in Time

Join a Valentine Educator to dive into pattern and color while exploring the clothes we wear and the jobs we do.

Ancients in the Neighborhood

Students identify Egyptian, Greek and Roman design elements in the historic Wickham House, Valentine galleries and throughout Richmond architecture, reinforcing concepts and culture through hands-on activities and fables.

Young students sit on the floor in a historic room with their backs to the camera. In front of them a Valentine Educator stands showing the students some historic objects.

History Makers in Richmond

Introduce your students to the stories that museums tell with a focus on Virginia history makers, including Pocahontas, Arthur Ashe, Maggie Walker, George Washington.

Fall Line and Freedom

Tour the Valentine galleries and explore how the Revolutionary War impacted three local citizens as we discuss what freedom meant in 1776, in 1865 and what it means today.

Era Explorations

These programs engage secondary students in analyzing primary sources from the Valentine's collection including images, artifacts, photographs and archival materials that illuminate local impact and experience of significant moments in American history.

A group of children and adults is shown gathered in a circle and conversing. Behind them is the monument of George Washington on horseback at the Virginia State Capitol.

Capitol Square Tour

On this guided walking tour students explore the Virginia State Capitol's history, architecture and monuments.