Book a school trip by submitting an inquiry by email or calling the museum directly at 416-338-8807.

Scarborough Museum, located in the heart of Thomson Memorial Park at 1007 Brimley Rd. (Brimley/Lawrence), is made up of four heritage buildings: Cornell House, McCowan Log House, Kennedy Gallery and Hough Carriage Works. Through hands-on, minds-on, inquiry-based learning, students develop an awareness of the lands we reside on, how it has been used since time immemorial and the ways in which the use of the landscape has changed. History and daily life come together in an engaging community space that has become the heart of the park. Extend your visit with adjacent park amenities: picnic tables, play structure, splash pad and washrooms.

Explore the school trips below.

Footprints provides a deeper look at land acknowledgements and why they are important. During the visit, students engage with public art installations throughout the museum’s exterior, listen to and discuss a short story related to the environment (current choice: “If Instead of a Person” by Coast Salish/European author Courtney Defriend) and create a plant system to learn about the ecosystem. All activities are adapted to meet the curriculum requirements for each grade level ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 8.

In this program, students will:

  • Discuss the role and importance of Land Acknowledgements
  • View public art installations throughout the museum’s exterior and discuss the role of public art in our lives
  • Investigate local flora in Thomson Park and what it means to be in good relations with the ecosystems that surround us
  • Learn about the effects that green spaces have on our mental and physical health and well-being
  • Deepen their connection to the spaces in which they live, learn and play.

This program has outdoor components with alternations for relocation indoors as necessary.

Duration

1 hour for Junior and Senior Kindergarten

2 hours for Grades 1 to 8

Group Size

15 to 60 students

Cost

$4.42 plus HST per student

One supervisor free per 15 students or part thereof. $4.42 plus HST per additional supervisor.

Accessibility

Please advise of accessibility needs when contacting the museum.

Ontario Curriculum Connections

The Kindergarten Program: Thinking about Belonging and Contributing, 2.1, 5, 26, 28, 29 

Grade 1 Social Studies: Strand A-B

Grade 1 Science & Technology: Life Systems, B 

Grade 1 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 2 Social Studies: People and Environments: Global Communities, B

Grade 2 Science & Technology: Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Animals, B 

Grade 2 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 3 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, 1780–1850, A

Grade 3 Science & Technology: Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants, B

Grade 3 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 4 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Early Societies to 1500 CE, A

Grade 4 Science & Technology: Life Systems: Habitats and Communities, B

Grade 4 Art: Visual Arts. D

Grade 5 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Early Societies to 1500 CE, A

Grade 5 Science & Technology: Earth and Space Systems: Conservation of Energy and Resources, E 

Grade 5 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 6 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present, A 

Grade 6 Science & Technology: Life Systems: Biodiversity, B

Grade 6 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 7 History: Canada, 1800–1850: Conflict and Challenges, B

Grade 7 Science & Technology: Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment, B

Grade 7 Art: Visual Arts, D

Grade 8 History: Creating Canada, 1850–1890, A

Grade 8 History: Canada, 1890–1914: A Changing Society, B

Grade 8 Science & Technology: Structures and Mechanisms, D

Grade 8 Art: Visual Arts, D

 

 

 

There are two versions of this program: on-site and in-classroom.

On-Site Version

Students explore the roles of light, food and traditions in celebrations through interactive activities and engaging discussions. As students engage with various artifacts, they explore how celebrations connect us not only to our past, but also to each other and our communities, local and global. Students discover how celebrations offer a unique opportunity to learn about diverse cultures and share their own identities and experiences.

In-Classroom Version

Students explore the roles of light, food and traditions in celebrations through interactive activities and engaging discussions. This program adapts museum programming into an in-classroom experience to create a place for students to share their own identities and experiences to discover how celebrations offer a unique opportunity to learn about diverse cultures. By engaging hands on with museum artifacts, activities and visual supports through an easy-to-follow presentation, students explore how celebrations connect us not only to our past, but to each other and our local and global communities.

This program creates access for communities unable to access the museum. Students with neurodiverse needs and/or who are unable to safely travel to the museum are able to engage in adaptive museum programming within their classroom.

Duration

1 hour for Junior and Senior Kindergarten

2 hours for Grades 1 to 3

1.5 hours for in-classroom, including set-up

Group Size

15 to 60 students

Cost

$4.42 plus HST per student

One supervisor free per 15 students or part thereof. $4.42 plus HST per additional supervisor.

Accessibility

Please advise of accessibility needs when contacting the museum.

Ontario Curriculum Connections

Kindergarten Curriculum

Grade 1 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities, A 

Grade 2 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Changing Family and Community Traditions, A

Grade 3 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, 1780–1850, A

Date modified: June 25, 2026