Group Visit Offerings

To schedule a group visit, please call 213.830.5601 or use our online or printable (PDF) forms to make your reservation. Special arrangements can usually be made with advance notice. Normal visits last approximately 1 and 1/2 hours; this may include a tour and activity or 2-3 activities. Please plan on extra time to allow students to rotate activities if you have a group larger than 60. All tours and activities are included with the price of admission unless otherwise noted. Guided group visits must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance.

Common Ground: The Heart of Community

Recommended Age: 2nd - College
Program Length: 1 hour
Available Tuesday-Friday at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 AM Saturday 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM 60-student maximum per time slot

The Common Ground exhibition chronicles 150 years of Japanese American history, beginning with the Issei pioneers through the World War II incarceration to the present. This hour-long tour of the National Museum’s core exhibition is led by volunteer docents, many of whom share their World War II incarceration experiences. Please let the Education staff know at the time of your reservation what your students are studying, so that docents can adjust their tour to highlight specific areas.

California History-Social Sciences content standards: 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.3, 3.4, 4.4, 10.8, 11.7, 11.11, 12.10

Documentaries on the Japanese American Experience

Recommended Age: 6 - 12th grades
Program Length: 30 minutes
Available Available Tuesday–Friday upon request 60-student maximum per time slot

Remembering Manzanar Through the use of rare historic footage and photographs and personal recollections of former inmates and others, Remembering Manzanar explores the experiences of more than 10,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated in a remote desert facility during World War II. 9066 to 9/11: America’s Concentration Camps, Then… and now? 9066 to 9/11 explores the parallels between the post-September 11 treatment of Arab (and Muslim) Americans with treatment of Japanese Americans after the start of World War II. Revealing striking similarities, the video serves as a primer on the Japanese American camp experience and its relevance today.

California History-Social Sciences content standards: 10.8, 11.7, 11.11, 12.10

Origami Art

Recommended Age: 1st - 12th grades
Program Length: 1/2 hour
Available Tuesday-Saturday upon request 60-student maximum per time slot

The word origami is from the Japanese words for folding, ori, and paper, kami. While learning how to create their own works of origami art, students also learn about the origins of origami and how the art has grown into an international phenomenon. Younger students make a kori basket, representing the basket that Japanese immigrants used to carry their belongings, while older students make more complex pieces.

California Visual Arts content standards: 1.3.3, 1.5.2, 2.3.3 California History-Social Sciences content standards: 1.5, 2.1

Story Time

Recommended Age: 1st - 5th grades
Program Length: 1/2 hour
Available Tuesday-Friday upon request 60-student maximum per time slot

During Story Time, a storyteller regales students with an illustrated and interactive story. Students in 1st - 3rd grades hear Under the Cherry Blossom Tree, a traditional Japanese folktale written by Japanese American author Allen Say. Older students in grades 3 - 5 hear A Promise Kept, a special story developed by the Japanese American National Museum about two boys during World War II and a special promise made when one boy and his family are sent to a camp in Arkansas.

California History-Social Sciences content standards: 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 3.3, 4.4

Taiko Drumming

Recommended Age: K - 8th grades
Program Length: 1/2 hour
Available Tuesday & Thursday upon request 60-student maximum per time slot

Japanese immigrants first brought taiko (“big drum”) to the United States, but today’s taiko combines traditional Japanese drumming with world influences to create a uniquely Japanese American art form. In this interactive performance, students learn about taiko’s basic techniques and some students will try their hands at playing the drums in a call-and-answer session. Students learn about the rhythms used in taiko and how drummers create their complex music from simple beats.

California Music content standards: K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.3, K.4.2, 1.1.1, 1.3.1, 2.3.1, 2.3.3, 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 3.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.3.3 California History-Social Sciences content standards: K.6, 1.5, 2.1, 3.3

Special Programs

In addition to regular visit offerings, the National Museum presents special programs for school groups during temporary exhibitions. These programs are available only during the run of the exhibition and can be combined with normal visit activities. Due to time constraints, we suggest that schools do not attempt to do both the Common Ground tour and a special program on the same visit. Call (213) 830-5601 to make your reservations or for more details.

SELF-GUIDED GROUPS

Self-guided groups are welcome, although we encourage all groups to take advantage of our guided tours. If you are planning a self-guided visit to the National Museum, reservations are requested to ensure a better experience for your group and any other guests who may be in the galleries at the same time. Some temporary exhibitions may have age restrictions, additional chaperone requirements, and/or be off-limits to self-guided groups. Self-guided school groups do not qualify for the Free Admission Grant or school group discount rates.

Due to safety concerns and occupancy limits, the National Museum can only allow 60 students per self-guided group. If you have more than 60 students, additional time will be needed to rotate students through the Museum and other activities (What other things can I do or see with my students in Little Tokyo?). National Museum staff can help with logistics at the time of your reservation.

It is especially important that self-guided groups have the appropriate number of chaperons (one per 10 students). Unaccompanied school groups can become disruptive; therefore, self-guided school groups who arrive at the National Museum without the correct number of chaperons cannot be admitted.