We welcome students and youth groups of all ages to join us for engaging, hands-on learning activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre welcomes school visits for grades 5 and up, with a range of guided tours, learning activities, and neighbourhood walks as available options.
We are currently offering four school programs that can be adapted to suit your students’ interests and needs.
The programs can also be paired with a visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Please see below for program descriptions and how to sign up.
In this guided school program, students will learn about the history and cultural life of Vancouver’s Chinatown through our interactive exhibits and touchable teaching collection. Delving into the lived experiences and mementos of Chinatown’s diverse residents, students will gain an appreciation for the community’s resilient spirit and rich cultural heritage.
Total length
1 - 2 hours
Grade levels
5-12
Cost per student
$8.00
How did Chinese immigrant communities maintain a sense of identity and overcome the challenges of discrimination to settle in Vancouver’s Chinatown? How did they strive to create a sense of home and belonging?
Students will explore these questions by engaging with our interactive exhibits and touchable teaching collection. By investigating replicas of historic photos, head tax certificates, and personal belongings, students will be introduced to discriminatory policies that defined the Chinese Canadian experience as well the community’s diligent efforts to overcome them.
Connections to the BC Social Studies Big Ideas
Grade 5
- Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies.
- Immigration and multiculturalism continue to shape Canadian society and identity.
Grade 6
- Systems of government vary in their respect for human rights and freedoms.
- Media sources can both positively and negatively affect our understanding of important events and issues.
Total length
1 - 2 hours
Grade levels
5-6
Cost per student
$8.00
As a distinctive neighbourhood filled with cultural monuments and historic sites, Chinatown’s public places are a precious and integral part of the city. Yet the neighbourhood is evolving quickly and many heritage sites are starting to disappear. How might we imagine a future Chinatown that honours and protects its heritage while welcoming new ideas and communities?
We’ll survey Chinatown’s past and present sites of cultural significance and invite students to imagine the neighbourhood’s next phase of growth and revitalization with a creative “vision board” activity.
Connections to the BC Social Studies Big Ideas
Grade 9
- Collective identity is constructed and can change over time.
- Emerging ideas and ideologies profoundly influence societies and events.
- The physical environment influences the nature of political, social, and economic change.
Grade 10
- Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society.
Grade 11
- Decision making in urban and regional planning requires balancing political, economic, social, and environmental factors.
Grade 12
- Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems.
Total length
1 - 2 hours
Grade levels
9-12
Cost per student
$8.00
In this lively interactive theatre workshop, students will get moving on their feet to investigate key events in Chinatown's past and present. How did the community overcome social barriers through advocacy and community building? What are the challenges facing the community today? Through real world examples, storytelling, and game play, students are invited to think critically and ask themselves, why does history matter?
Designed to complement the BC Social Studies curriculum with an inquiry-based learning experience, this workshop is adapted from the award-winning Foreign Radical show and co-created by Gavan Cheema, Tim Carlson and David Mesiha from Theatre Conspiracy.
Connections to the BC Social Studies Big Ideas
Grade 9
- Disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and between societies.
- Collective identity is constructed and can change over time.
Grade 10
- Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society.
- Worldviews lead to different perspectives and ideas about developments in Canadian society
Grade 11
- Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems
- A society’s laws and legal framework affect many aspects of people’s daily lives
Grade 12
- The historical development of cities has been shaped by geographic, economic, political, and social factors.
Total length
1 - 1.5 hours
Grade levels
9-12
Cost per student
$8.00
For a limited time only, from January 15 – March 15, 2024, we are excited to offer
lunar year school programs for grades
5 to 12.
Through hands-on activities and an exploration of our collection, these programs will deepen students’ understanding of the Lunar New Year and its significant role within Chinatown’s cultural heritage.
We look forward to celebrating the Year of the Dragon with your group! Please book early as our calendar fills up quickly.
Come learn about the most beloved and iconic performances seen around Chinatown during the Lunar New Year season: dragon and lion dancing! Through stories, archival footage and artefacts, your students will explore the performances’ cultural significance and fascinating evolution in the history of Chinatown. We’ll practice some dance steps and get everyone moving!
Total length
60 - 75 minutes
Grade levels
9-12
Cost per student
$8.00
Dragons can be found throughout the streets of Chinatown, but what’s their story? Let’s delve into the popular folk tales, artifacts, and a bit of Chinatown history to trace the dragon’s significance in the neighbourhood. We’ll reveal the special connection between the koi fish and the dragon, a revered image of power, prosperity, and growth. Students will get a chance to create some beautiful koi and dragon art to take home or a collaborative art piece for your classroom!
Total length
60 - 75 minutes
Grade levels
5-12
Cost per student
$10.00
We can help arrange a longer (2-3 hours) guided visit to Chinatown that includes a visit to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, a short walking tour, and a visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Classical Garden.
The itinerary is adaptable to fit your schedule and class size.
For more information on pricing and booking, please contact Kate Cowell (she/her), Programs and Education Assistant at kate.cowell@chinatownfoundation.org.
A 30 - 60 minute guided walking tour may be added to your visit, highlighting Chinatown’s unique heritage and cultural sites along Pender Street. Additional cost: $8 per student, adult chaperones join for free.
To book your next visit, please write to Kate Cowell (she/her)
Programs and Education Assistant, kate.cowell@chinatownfoundation.org.
Thank you for observing these guidelines to ensure a wonderful experience for all visitors. We look forward to your visit!
While the Chinatown Storytelling Centre does not offer on-site parking, there is an EasyPark parking complex located three-minutes away in Chinatown Plaza at 106 Keefer Street. There is also metered street parking.
School bus parking: Please proceed to the free 2 hr bus parking on Keefer Street between Carrall St. and Columbia St., just behind the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Classical Garden.
Bus: The 19, 22, 50, 3, and 8 buses stop at the intersection of Pender and Main Street.
SkyTrain: The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is a ten-minute walk from Stadium-Chinatown Station and Main Street-Science World Station.
Upon arrival, please proceed to the Ticketing Desk to check in.
Please let us know by calling the On-site Facilitator listed on the booking form or our main line: 604-225-0055.
If a visit is happening on a Tuesday or Wednesday: backpacks and jackets can be left in the CSC’s lobby as we will be closed to the public. If a visit is happening on Thursday - Monday, all personal items must remain with the students as we will not have any storage areas available.
Please note that the CSC is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.
Yes, we are accessible on one ground floor with wheelchair accessible washrooms.
Like most museums, our exhibit has a strict no food or drink policy for all visitors inside the exhibit areas. Chinatown is home to many delicious restaurants and cafes and we are happy to provide suggestions if your group is interested in eating in a nearby establishment.
If you have any other questions not covered here, please contact April Liu, Manager of Public Programs and Education april.liu@chinatownfoundation.org.
