Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center, Peterborough NH

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Theme Tours | Practicalities

Tour of Exhibits

Venture forth on an exciting “MARIPOSA TREASURES” tour of the collection for your school, community, or family group with our most expert guides, husband-and-wife Museum founders David Blair and Linda Marsella.

The pair know most every item in the collection intimately and tell exciting stories geared to the special interests of your class or group. Enjoy the “Guess What” glass case, bring a camera to photograph yourselves in our international dress-up collection, sit down to an intriguing folk tale, or tape your own symphony with our world instruments. We will take artifacts out of the cases for your close inspection and for you to sketch. A mini-trip around the world you will be talking about for days to your friends! Tours last from 1-2 hours, your choice!

THEME TOURS

While we have the flexibility to tailor a tour to your interests, some themes appeal to certain ages. Theme tours include pre and post-visit activity suggestions, bibliography, folktale and optional craft activity. Each is unique as we consult with the teacher or group leader. Schools, Elderhostel, family reunions, camps, clubs, birthday parties, senior centers, groups of 8 or more can book a theme tour!

The Museum can be booked or rented for special events, including dances, cabarets, weddings, blessings, workshops, performances, birthday parties and sleepovers. Please contact (603) 924-4555.

For more information, or to inquire about possible tour dates, click here.

CHILDREN'S LIVES ACROSS CULTURES:
Work, play, stories, study, costumes, festivals, crafts, folk toys and games. (K-4)

SCIENCE OF SOUND: WORLD INSTRUMENTS & DANCE
Explore making sounds with our world instrument collection to meet your state science requirement while enjoying dance & music, live and video! Take home your class's “New World Symphony” (Gr. 3-6)

MEXICO: OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOR
You will think Peterborough has moved south of the border! Bring to life your social studies or Spanish language class with our songs, fanciful folk toys, stories, irresistible music and special treasure hunt! Celebrate El dia de los Muertos or El Dia de los Reyes with us. All ages

TIBET: THEN AND NOW
A special topic for all agesdeveloped with assistance from CONVAL High School, Temple Elementary School, and Tibetan Monks in residence from Drepung Gomang Monastery October, 2002, at Mariposa Museum. Includes sandpainting, mandala healing tradition, and Tibetan dumplings!! All ages.

NIGERIA: CULTURE THROUGH ART
Experience storytelling, riddles, music, and drawing while we learn about Nigerian customs, mythology, and way of life through the eyes of Segun Olorunfemi, our summer artist in residence, whose artwork forms the basis of this special tour for any age.

VIETNAM: PUPPETS THAT WALK ON WATER
A world-class collection of lacquered Vietnamese water puppets with short video of the theatre in action highlight this tour of Vietnam today, including stitchery, silk, woodcarving, paintings, eggshell art, street toys from recycled soda cans & The Monkey King! All ages.

JAPAN: IN TRANSITION
Try chopsticks the proper way! Enjoy wearing our kimono and exploring artifacts lent by area residents. Learn about festivals & customs, drink green tea to the tune of shakuhachi bamboo flute. Tray a simple origami activity & hope for a special Japanese guest. All Ages.

LIFE PASSAGES ACROSS CULTURES
A special program for middle school to adults looks at how cultures recognize transformative life events: birth, coming of age, marriage, death. Includes time for sharing and reflective writing. Artifacts, video and storytelling provide the background for personal exploration.

The SACRED ACROSS CULTURES
A look at different belief systems and world views related to geography, culture, and artifacts. For high school and adults. A joint exploration with time to use our artifacts and resource library to pursue special interests and new questions as they arise.

PRACTICALITIES

Tours cost $5 per person with chaperones admitted free. Mariposa Museum is completely accessible via mini-elevator. We have a resource room for art projects where you also may eat your snack or lunch. Lots of bathrooms! And easy parking one block away. Our Museum store is available (or not) as you wish. We are a 501-C3 non-profit museum dedicated to cross-cultural education through the arts.

Please call (603) 924-4555 to discuss a tour date and more information about the various programs we have prepared for different age levels. These topics include pre and post tour activity suggestions and bibliography. We co-book tours with Peterborough Historical Society to make a full day in Peterborough for distant visitors. Please address educational questions to Linda Marsella, Director.

When children are raised with respect and curiosity towards
other cultures, the world will know more peace and less war.