THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Turn a museum visit into an urban design lab with Big City Builders—an energetic, one-hour program where elementary students sketch, build, and defend their own miniature New York City. Perfect for school groups and curious families.
Turn a museum visit into an urban design lab with Big City Builders—an energetic, one-hour program where elementary students sketch, build, and defend their own miniature New York City. Perfect for school groups and curious families.
Book with Museum of the City of New York
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Museum of the City of New York · New York, New York
Big City Builders brings city design to life in New York, New York, United States. In a focused, one-hour workshop for elementary students, learners plan and build a miniature metropolis inspired by landmark models of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. The program pairs close observation of historic scale models with hands-on construction, letting kids test ideas about streets, skyline, parks, and transit in a condensed urban lab. Designed for Grades K–2 and 3–5, Big City Builders accommodates groups up to 35 students and runs as an instructor-led session that emphasizes collaboration, spatial reasoning, and basic civic design. Participants study proportional models and then sketch, plan, and assemble small structures and public spaces from simple materials. The key features of the experience are the recreated miniature NYC environment, the museum-quality models used as reference, and the focus on real urban elements: blocks, avenues, waterfront edges, and iconic towers. While this is an indoor program, it teaches observational skills useful for exploring the city’s architecture, parks, and streets after the session. What makes this offering stand out locally is its blend of museum-grade artifacts and active learning. Rather than passively viewing exhibits, students build functioning mock neighborhoods and debate choices like where to place green space or how to route traffic. That practical, design-forward approach gives families and school groups a different way to understand New York’s layered history and built environment—starting from its most recognizable pieces, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, and moving toward neighborhood-scale thinking. Expect a brisk one-hour rhythm: introduction, model study, design sketch, collaborative build, and a short presentation where small teams explain their urban choices. Educators will find curriculum-friendly hooks in geometry, social studies, and environmental design. The activity can spark follow-up explorations in the surrounding city—observing building facades, measuring block lengths, or mapping nearby parks. Practical notes: the program is best for elementary-age students and school groups but welcoming to families who book as a group. Bring a notebook and a willingness to cut, fold, and prototype; comfortable shoes and layered clothing are sensible for a day out in New York. The session also models low-waste approaches by encouraging reuse of materials and teaching children about sustainable urban features like trees, stormwater management, and public transit. Big City Builders is a compact, high-impact way to turn a museum visit into an urban design laboratory, giving young participants both the vocabulary and the tools to see a city as a system they can shape. Book early for school-year slots and check group limits; educators often integrate the workshop with classroom units on communities, architecture, or civics to extend learning. Sessions can inspire ongoing projects back in the classroom regularly.
This program is designed for Grades K–2 and 3–5 and is tailored to elementary-age learning levels.
The workshop runs approximately 1 Hour and follows a structured rhythm of introduction, model study, design, build, and presentations.
The program accommodates a maximum of 35 students per group.
Families are welcome if they book as a group; school groups commonly reserve slots during the academic year.
Bring a sketchbook and pencils if possible; the session provides basic construction materials for the build phase.
Yes—the program emphasizes reuse of materials and introduces sustainable urban ideas like trees, stormwater management, and public transit.
Museum of the City of New York interprets and preserves the history, culture, and diversity of New York City. Located in New York, NY, the museum presents rotating exhibitions, permanent collections, and public programs that explore the city’s past and present. Visitors encounter artifacts, photographs, maps, costumes, and oral histories that illuminate neighborhoods, immigration, urban planning, activism, and Indigenous histories. The museum offers educational experiences designed for school groups and general audiences, including curriculum-linked field trips that engage students through hands-on activities, primary sources, and guided inquiry. Sample programs listed include Lenape Legacies and Futures, The Greatest Grid, Exploring New York through Artifacts, Revolutionary New York, Immigration and Communities, and Raise Your Voice. These programs combine object-based learning, storytelling, and participatory exercises to connect learners with New York’s complex stories. As an institution focused on city history and public education, the museum collaborates with educators, community organizations, and cultural partners to ensure programs reflect diverse perspectives and contemporary scholarship. Public programs and interpretive materials aim to be accessible and relevant to classroom learning objectives and community interests. The museum’s collections and exhibitions serve as primary resources for research, classroom exploration, and community engagement. By centering local stories and tangible artifacts, the institution supports critical thinking about urban change, identity, and civic life. Visitors and educators can rely on its staff and programs for informed, curriculum-aligned learning experiences about New York City. The museum also documents contemporary issues and provides resources for lifelong learners, researchers, and community members across the city daily.
Book with Museum of the City of New York