Education Programs

Schools, community groups, and individuals can book programs at Toronto’s First Post Office Museum!

Click the button below (a form will open on a new page) to start a booking inquiry. You will be contacted shortly to confirm your program.

Click Here to Book a Program

Please Note: We kindly ask that teachers and organizers provide as much notice as possible when booking their field trip with us. To best accommodate your request, we suggest submitting your booking inquiry a month prior to your visit.

Click the program titles below to see descriptions and information for our educational programs. Your program can be adapted to your group’s requirements.

Full Day Program: A Visit to the Toronto Post Office in 1834 (Grades K-2)

This full day program invites young learners to hear a story written and illustrated for Toronto’s First Post Office. In it, Rebecca and her father travel to the new city of Toronto from their farm and find a surprise waiting for them at the Post Office! Students will learn about the role of the post office and the importance of writing and sending letters as a means to communicate. They will also learn about the differences in communication from past to present. This comprehensive program includes our in-museum presentation, our hands-on “With a Quill & Ink” workshop and a walking tour through Old Town filled with its own interactive activies including virtual escape rooms and draw your own wax seals via an IPAD. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and accessible for participants of all ages to explore the history of the town of York and Toronto’s First Post Office.

On-Site Museum Visit

  • Length: 3.5 – 4 hours (10am-2pm)
  • Cost: $12.00/participant
  • Maximum Capacity: 40 participants 

*NOTE: Minimum charge is $100. 

Ontario Curriculum Connections:

  • Kindergarten: 1.2; 1.4; 1.5; 6.1; 9.1; 10.1;10.3; 11.7 23.2; 23.4; 24.4;28.2; 31.3
  • Grade 1:
    • Social Studies: A3.1; A3.2; B1.1; B1.2
    • The Arts: D1.3; D1.4
    • Language: B1.1; B1.2; B2.8; B3.3; C2.5; C2.6; D1.1; D1.2; D2.1
  • Grade 2:
    • Social Studies: A3.1; A3.2; A3.5; A3.6; B2.3
    • The Arts: D1.4
    • Language: A3.1; A3.2; B1.1; B1.2; B3.3; D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D2.4
Full Day Program: On the Edge of a City: Toronto in 1833 (Grades 3-6)

This program will introduce visitors to the history of Toronto’s First Post Office during the time of Upper Canada. Participants will learn about the importance of the postal service in the early city of Toronto. They will also learn about the growth of Toronto from a provincial town to Canada’s largest city. Participants will then write a letter with quill and ink, just as in 1834. This comprehensive program includes our in-museum presentation, our hands-on “With a Quill & Ink” workshop and a walking tour through Old Town filled with its own interactive activities including virtual escape rooms accessed via an IPAD. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and accessible for participants of all ages to explore the history of the town of York and Toronto’s First Post Office.

On-Site Museum Visit

Length: 3.5 – 4 hours (10am-2pm)
Cost: $12.00/participant
Maximum Capacity: 40 participants

Ontario Curriculum Connections:

  • Grade 3:
    • Social Studies: A1.1; A1.3; A2.3; A2.4; A2.5; A2.6; A3.1; A3.2; A3.3; B1.1; B1.2; B1.3; B3.5
    • The Arts: A3.1; A3.2; D1.2; D1.4; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1
    • Language: B1.1; B1.4; B1.5; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C1.6; C2.1; C2.2; C2.3; C2.5; C3.2; C3.4; C3.5; C3.6; D1.2; D2.2; D2.3
  • Grade 4:
    • Social Studies: A1.1; A2.2; A2.6; A1.3; A3.1; A3.2; A3.6; A3.7; B1.1; B2.2
    • The Arts: A3.1; A3.2; D1.2; D1.4; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1
    • Language: B1.1; B1.4; B1.5; B2.2; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C1.1; C1.6; C2.1; C2.2; C2.3; C2.5; D1.1; D1.2; D2.2
  • Grade 5:
    • Social Studies: A1.1; A1.2; A1.3; A2.2; A2.3; A3.1; A3.2; A3.3; A3.4; B2.3; B2.4
    • The Arts: A3.1; D1.2; D1.4; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1; D3.2
    • Lanugage: B1.1; B1.4; B1.5; B2.2; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C2.1; C2.2; C2.3; C2.5; C3.2; D2.2
  • Grade 6:
    • Social Studies: A1.2; A2.2; A2.4; A2.5; A2.6; A3.3; A3.4; A3.9
    • The Arts: A3.1; D1.2; D1.4; D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1
    • Language: B1.1; B1.5; B2.1.; B2.2; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C2.1; C2.3; C2.5; C3.2; D2.2

Brownie Badge Links:
Literacy and Writing > Write On

    Full Day Program: A City is Born (Grades 7-8)

    This program will introduce visitors to the history of Toronto’s First Post Office during the time of Upper Canada. Participants will learn about the importance of the postal service in the early city of Toronto, the early history of our building, and the growth of Toronto from a provincial town to Canada’s largest city. They will also be provided additional activities that will teach them about cursive hand writing and the art of transcription. Participants will then write a letter with quill and ink, just as in 1834. This comprehensive program includes our in-museum presentation, our hands-on “With a Quill & Ink” workshop and a walking tour through Old Town filled with its own interactive activities. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and accessible for participants of all ages to explore the history of the town of York and Toronto’s First Post Office.

    On-Site Museum Visit

    Length: 3.5 – 4 hours (10am-2pm)
    Cost: $12.00/participant
    Maximum Capacity: 40 participants

    Ontario Curriculum Connections:

    • Grade 7:
      • History: A1.2; A1.3; A2.3; A3.1; A3.2; A3.8; B1.1; B1.2; B1.3; B2.3; B2.4
      • The Arts: A2.1; A3.2; D1.1; D1.4; D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D3.2
      • Langauge: B1.1; B1.2; B1.5; B2.1; B2.2; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C2.1; C2.2; C2.3; C2.5; C3.2; D2.2
    • Grade 8:
      • History: A1.2; A1.4; A2.2; A2.3; A2.4; A2.6; A2.7; A3.2; A3.3; A3.7
      • The Arts: A3.1; A3.2; D1.1; D1.4; D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1; D3.2
      • Language: B1.1; B1.5; B2.2; B3.1; B3.2; B3.3; C2.1; C2.3; C2.5; C3.2; C3.5; C3.6; D2.2

    Guide Badge Links:
    Exploring and Neighbourhood > Heritage
    Citizenship > Discover Your Community
    History and Folklore > Heritage, Provincial Heritage
    Literacy and Writing > Writing, Postal

      Half Day Program: With a Quill & Ink (All Ages)

      This program will introduce visitors to the history of Toronto’s First Post Office during the time of Upper Canada. Participants will learn about the importance of the postal service in the early city of Toronto. They will also learn about the growth of Toronto from a provincial town to Canada’s largest city. Participants will then write a letter with quill and ink, just as in 1834. This comprehensive program includes our in-museum presentation and our hands-on “Writing with a Quill & Ink” workshop. Due to size constraints of our space, this workshop is for groups of 15 people or less if completed on site at the Museum. 

      On-Site Museum Visit

      Length: 1 – 1.5 hrs
      Cost: $8.00/student participant; $10/adult participant
      Maximum Capacity: 15 participants or less

      Postmistress in the Classroom

      If visiting the museum is too far for your class  or group to travel, we can have one of our experienced educators come to you and deliver this workshop! Please Note: School or organization must be no further than 50km from the museum’s location.

      Length: 1 – 1.5 hrs
      Cost: $8.00/student participant; $10/adult participant

        Half Day Walking Tours (All Ages)

        Explore the Town of York on foot with one of our expert historians. Tours start at St. James Cathedral and finish at Toronto’s First Post Office.

        Chose from one of the following tours:

        > On the Edge of a City: Toronto in 1833

        > Death, Violence & Scandal in York

        > 1813: Terror in the Town of York

        > Ghostly Walk through Old Town

        >Uprisings & Upsets: Early Toronto Riots

        On-Site Museum Visit

        • Length: 1.5 to 2 hours
        • Cost: Students: $8/person; Adults: $10/per person
        • Maximum Capacity: 30 people

         

        Education Programs To-Go

        Get an education kit and deliver the “With a Quill and Ink” program in your classroom at your own pace! Teachers now have the option of renting a Portable Teaching Kit or purchasing a Digital Teaching Kit. Each kit offers a hands-on component to classroom learning that is memorable, engaging and fun!

        DIGITAL TEACHING KIT 

        COST: $40

        Our Digital Teaching Kits offer students a unique learning experience from the setting of your choice. These kits provide teachers in the physical and digital classrooms with curriculum-based lesson material, including printable worksheets, activities and images to share with students.

        The Digital Teaching Kit includes:

        Educator Resource Guide (PDF)
        “Welcome to Toronto’s First Post Office” YouTube Video
        Vocabulary Lesson (PPT)
        Program Lesson (PPT)
        Program Lesson Script (PDF)
        Printable Handouts, Activities and Worksheets (PDFs)
        Online Trivia Game

        PORTABLE TEACHING KIT 

        Cost: One-week rental, $55

        Borrow one of our Portable Teaching Kits and bring the museum to you. These Kits are sturdy cases packed with objects, activities and curriculum-based lesson material that offer a hands-on component to classroom learning that is memorable, engaging and fun.

        The Portable Teaching Kit includes:

        Digital Teaching Kit
        Educator Resource Guide
        “Welcome to Toronto’s First Post Office” YouTube Video
        Vocabulary Lesson
        Program Lesson
        Program Lesson Script
        Handouts, Activities and Worksheets
        Quill and Ink Writing Sets
        Online Trivia Game
        Wax Seal Stickers

        Education Kits are available for pick up at Toronto’s First Post Office Museum.

        History Squared

        Toronto’s First Post Office Museum has partnered with nearby Enoch Turner Schoolhouse to offer a full day of programming at two historic sites. Booking needs to be completed seperately through each site. Please contact rebecca@tos1stpo.com for more information.