Archaeology for Children

Ancient Civilizations: a Treasure Hunt

Come with us to dig up the past! This interactive visit to the National Archaeological Museum is designed to encourage children to ask questions about daily life in different cultures, and to relate their everyday life to the experience of other people in the past. Children will learn about artifacts used by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians or the Iberians, and together we will discuss childhood experiences across the millennia. ...Description continued below

TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours.
Maximum group size: 6 people.
There is no minimum number of participants, so single parents with a child are as welcome as larger family units. We do not work with large groups, and all our tours are private for each family unit, i.e. we do not mix different families. This is to provide the best learning experience and the most comfortable environment for children to feel confident to express their thoughts and emotions. Please note that at least one adult must be taking part in the activity. This is a private family workshop.

PRICES
1 adult and 1 child: €130
Family unit of 2 adults and up to 4 children: €160
Extra adult in the family group: add €20 per adult (maximum 6 participants)
For a group of 2 different family units with a maximum of 7 people, including 2 or more children: €250 flat fee. (€125 per family)
Children under 4 free of charge.
If you have more than 4 children, please write to us and we will try to accommodate your request.
If you are 2 families with children traveling together, and the total number of participants is 6, the price would be €250 (€125 per family)

National Archaeological Museum admission ticket: €3 per adult NOT included in the price.Teachers, professors, or journalists with accreditation, as well as children under 18 and students aged under 26, qualify for free entrance.

Bring a photograph of your passport to qualify for a free or reduced entrance fee to the museum (over 65 years old, children under 18, or students under 26 with a valid College or University ID).

AVAILABLE DAYS AND STARTING TIMES:
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 or 14:00.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: 14:00

Due to the Museo Arqueológico Nacional’s opening times: this visit does not run on Mondays, Sundays or holidays in the afternoons.

To ensure availability advance booking is required. As a very small company, we can rarely accommodate last-minute bookings, particularly during the high season.

TOUR DESCRIPTION CONTINUED:
We will walk by some stunning mosaics and dug-up treasures as we watch out for mythical creatures such as griffons, sirens, and sphinxes. Children will learn about different religious practices and fantastic stories that have been passed on for hundreds of years.

A truly engaging learning experience for young children, this tour of the National Archaeological Museum is an overview of the collection, designed by Dr. Almudena Cros together with our consultant the archaeologist Saúl Martín González. We have selected the most telling, original and important pieces in the collection that children can relate to. This treasure hunt will be led by Almudena Cros, an Art History professor specialised in the Middle Ages (BA, MA, PhD Warwick University, UK) with over 10-years' experience working with children, creating and leading family tours in Italy and Spain. Almudena lived in Italy for 4 years (Venice, Rome, Vicenza, Bologna) and has led educational trips across the city of Rome and the archaeological sites of Ostia Antica and Pompeii.

Almudena has ample experience teaching children and introducing them to Art and History.  Dr. Cros has worked as a primary school teacher assistant at the American Elementary School in Benjamin Franklin Village (Mannheim), where she taught Spanish and History of Art through visual media, and also as a family art workshop docent at CaixaForum Madrid, where her position involved introducing Art History concepts to young children and stimulating their artistic creativity.  As a parent herself, she knows how to keep children engaged and focused throughout this treasure hunt.

Although this Museum visit is child-focused and is particularly appropriate for children up to 10 years of age, adults will find it equally fascinating.