Educational Programming
Take on our building challenges and learn about water stewardship, explore simple machines, or explore our seasonal exhibition at the unique site of Kingston's first waterworks.
Booking a Program
We are now accepting booking requests for programs in May - November 2020 at our museum!
To request a program, there are two options:
1) Check our availability calendar and fill out our online booking form here: https://www.kingstonpumphouse.ca/learn-explore/for-educators/booking-calendar
2) Please complete the PumpHouse Booking Request Form 2020. Print, scan and email it to us at education@cityofkingston.ca
A member of our team will email you to confirm your booking.
Please submit your program request at least 2 weeks in advance of your requested date.
Program Fees
| Program | 2020 Fee | Description |
| Children (75-90 minute) |
$4.25 | A 75-90 minute hands-on program |
| Children (Half Day) |
$7.70 | A 2-hour hands-on program |
| Children (Full Day) |
$15.20 |
Two programs (75-90 minutes each) plus a 1-hour lunch break**. |
| Youth | $6.42* | Program for 13-24 years |
| Adult | $6.42* | Adult education program |
| Senior | $6.42* | Program for 65+ years |
*Prices are subject to HST.
Free admission for chaperones.
**Lunch can take place in the Discovery Centre or backyard (weather permitting) with teacher supervision.
The Museum has the following educational programming options available for booking requests Tuesdays through Fridays beginning May 2020. Please contact us at education@cityofkingston.ca if you have questions or are interested in booking.
Program Descriptions
Grades K - 3
Kindergarten: 75 minutes; Grade 1-3: 90 minutes
What goes into an archaeological excavation? What can we learn about our past when we look at artifacts? Tour the 2020 exhibit "Collecting Histories" and see actual artifacts, artworks and archives collected in our City. Then, put on your archaeologist hat and join us for a simulated excavation to see what we can uncover!
Curriculum Connections
Grade 1
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms 2.1, 3.4
Social Studies
Heritage and Identity: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities A2.2, A2.4
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense, Data Management and Probability
Visual Art
Creating and Presenting D1.2, D1.3
Grade 2
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms 2.1, 3.4
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Visual Art
Creating and Presenting D1.2, D1.3
Grade 3
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms 2.1, 3.4
Understanding Matter and Energy: Forces Causing Movement 1.1
Social Studies
People and Environments: Living and Working in Ontario B1.1
Mathematics
Measurement
Visual Art
Creating and Presenting D1.2, D1.3
It takes a village to maintain a museum! Learn about the roles that are responsible for the City's Civic Collection and how the professionals use knowledge of history, art, science, and even math to maintain the collection through an interactive tour. After, analyze a real painting using real conservation techniques. You might even get the chance to clean the painting... with your spit!
Curriculum Connections
Grade 3
Social Studies
Strand A: Communities in Canada 1780-1850
Strand B: Living and Working in Ontario
The Arts
Visual Art - D2: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 4
Science & Technology
Understanding Matter & Energy: Light and Sount
The Arts
Visual Art - D2: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 5
Social Studies
Strand B: The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship
Science & Technology
Understanding Life Systems: Human Organ Systems
The Arts
Visual Art - D2: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 6
Social Studies
Communities in Canada, Past and Present
The Arts
Visual Art - D2: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 7 & 8
The Arts
Visual Art - D2: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Mathematics
Measurement, Geometry and Spatial Sense
Level 1 for Grades JK-3
Kindergarten: 75 minutes; Grade 1-3: 90 minutes
Don’t take water for granted! Learn about the technology that brings clean water into your home and how we can be good stewards of this important resource. Learn about the technology behind the old Kingston waterworks, discuss responsible water use and build a water filter using earth and other common-place materials.
Curriculum Connections
Grade 1
Science & Technology
Understanding Matter and Energy
Energy in Our Lives
1.1, 2.4, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5
Social Studies
People and Environments
The Local Community
B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B3.1, B3.3, B3.7
Grade 2
Science & Technology
Understanding Matter and Energy
Properties of Liquids and Solids
1.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 3.5
Understanding Earth and Space Systems
Air and Water in the Environment
1.1, 1.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
Social Studies
People and Environments
Global Communities
B1.1, B1.3, B2.1, B3.6
Grade 3
Science and Technology
Understanding Earth and Space Systems
Soils in the Environment
1.1, 2.5, 3.1
Social Studies
Heritage and Identity
Communities in Canada, 1780–1850
A1.2, A2.1, A2.2, A2.5, A3.3, A3.4
Level 2 for Grades 4-6
90 minutes
Don’t take water for granted! Learn about the technology that brings clean water into your home and how we can be good stewards of this important resource. Learn about the technology behind the old Kingston waterworks, discuss responsible water use and build a water filter using earth and other common-place materials.
Curriculum Connections
Grade 4
Social Studies
People and Environments
Political and Physical Regions of Canada
B1.1,B1.3, B2.1, B2.2, B2.6, B3.1, B3.5,
Science & Technology
Understanding Life Systems
Habitats and Communities
1.1, 3.3, 3.9, 3.10
Grade 5
Social Studies
People and Environments
The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship
B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B3.2, B3.6, B3.7
Science and Technology
Understanding Earth and Space Systems
Conservation of Energy and Resources
1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5
Understanding Matter and Energy
Properties of and Changes in Matter
2.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
Grade 6
Social Studies
Heritage and Identity
Communities in Canada, Past and Present
A1.1, A3.2, A3.7
People and Environments
Canada’s Interactions with the Global Community
B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2, B2.4, B2.5, B2.6, B3.1, B3.3, B3.5, B3.8, B3.9
Level 1 for Grades K-1
Kindergarten: 75 minutes; Grade 1: 90 minutes
We challenge you! Move a load from point A to point B by constructing and operating your own simple machines. Learn about how simple machines work to make our lives easier, and the many different forms they take through this new interactive museum program.
Curriculum Connections
Grade 1
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms
Materials, Objects, and Everyday Structures
2.2, 2.4 2.6, 3.4, 3.7
Grade 2
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms
Movement
1.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.3, 3.4
Level 2 for Grades 2-4
90 minutes
Collect all the materials you need to build your own contraptions by identifying all the museum’s simple machines! Learn about how machines work and how they make our lives easier, and the many different forms they take, through this new interactive museum program.
Curriculum Connections
Grade 3
Science and Technology
Understanding Matter and Energy
Forces Causing Movement
2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 3.1, 3.4
Grade 4
Science and Technology
Understanding Structures and Mechanisms
Pulleys and Gears
1.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3, 3.6
All Ages
Explore our Museum through a guided tour for any age, making it perfect for schools, seniors, church groups, bus trips, or small groups. Inform the museum if your group has any special needs or special accommodations prior to your visit.
For groups over 10 participants, please contact education@cityofkingston.ca to book your tour.
