School Visits: Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.

School Visits

During the exhibition, ROM is offering enhanced learning about the Holocaust through unique, curriculum-aligned school visit tours and experiences.

School visits are free to students, Grade 6 to 12, participating in organized school visits from Ontario based schools.

Learn More About the Exhibition

Auschwitz prisoner uniform. Uniform worn by Marian Kostuch, held as a Polish political prisoner. Image ©Musealia.

The exhibition offers a profound educational opportunity for students. Aligning closely with the Ontario curriculum, visiting Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. deepens students’ understanding of World War II, the Holocaust, and the dangers of prejudice, racism, and discrimination.

Education plays a vital role in identifying bias in all forms and fostering greater social cohesion. By engaging with original objects and survivor testimonies, students connect history to human experiences, gaining more contextual impact to content than that achieved by textbook learning alone. This immersive approach fosters critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to social justice – key values emphasized in the Ontario curriculum's focus on historical inquiry, ethical citizenship, and global awareness.

The robust slate of curriculum-supporting education programming has been developed in partnership with the Toronto Holocaust Museum, ROM’s Education Partner for the exhibition.

In collaboration with our educational advisors and partners, we are redesigning the learning experience related to Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. to link more closely to the elementary curriculum. This new program will draw from the objects and narratives presented in the exhibition and explore Jewish life pre and post WWll, including Jewish immigration to Canada and the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish communities in Canada. The program will be led by expert educators and involve interaction with real objects from ROM’s extensive collection but will not include a tour of the exhibition.

Curriculum Links

Grade 6 – Social Studies Heritage and Identity

Visit Information

Free admission for Ontario schools. Advance booking is required.
February 4, 2025 to June 27, 2025
Tuesdays to Fridays, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, President’s Choice School Entrance
Bookings applicable to Ontario-based groups only. Groups may include schools or educational groups with children/youth ages 11 to 18 years.
All groups of children and youth must be accompanied by their teachers/adult chaperones at all times.

Book Your Visit

Tuesdays to Fridays, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM: Includes access to Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. plus self-guided General Admission.
Facilitated experience includes: a 10-minute briefing, a 30-minute audio-guided exhibition tour , and a 15-minute debriefing.
Post-visit resources
Minimum group size: 15 | Maximum group size: 35

Book Your Visit

Engage with the topic in the familiar environment of your own classroom. Book a 60-minute virtual visit with a ROM Educator, who will provide curriculum-aligned content, context, support through challenging conversations, activities for elementary and secondary classes, and follow-up activities.

A more customizable and independent experience, this virtual option walks you through preparatory activities, exhibition content, and follow-up activities at a pace you control from the comfort of your own classroom. Virtual Exhibition Experiences can also be combined with an Onsite or Live Virtual Visit.

Book Your Virtual Visit

All school visits to Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. must be booked online in advance.

For more information, please contact School Programs
schoolv@rom.on.ca | 416 586 5801

Cancellation

We understand that last-minute changes can happen and ask that you please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel your booking. If you are cancelling multiple visits, please cancel them individually by responding to each reservation email or send a separate email listing all the invoice/reservation numbers affected.

ROM is committed to accessibility for all visitors. We offer a variety of programs and services to ensure the accessibility of the Museum and its collections. To request communication supports and/or accommodations for your onsite or virtual field trip, please email schoolv@rom.on.ca or call 416.586.5801 x1 (voicemail only). Please note that some services may need at least three weeks advance notice.
In keeping with standard practices at major attractions, ROM has implemented metal detectors and mandatory bag checks at all entrances to the Museum. To ensure quick entry, we recommend that visitors bring a minimum of belongings for their visit. More information on prohibited items can be found here.
School groups are encouraged to bring as many teachers/supervisors (adults) as needed to ensure that kids are safe and well supervised. Please check your board/organization’s supervision requirements or aim for our recommended minimum supervision ratios:
Grade 6 to Grade 8 (Ages 10 to 13): 1 adult per 10 children
Grade 9 to Grade 12 (Age 14 and older): 1 adult per 15 youth
All groups of children and youth must be accompanied by their teachers/adult chaperones at all times.
Please review our Visitor Guide for additional information on supervision and ROM’s code of conduct
ROM's Lunch Room (Level 1B East): 30-minute lunch slots are assigned upon arrival (if requested). Druxy’s ROM Café (Level 1B West) is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that outside food is not allowed in Druxy's, and food purchased there must be consumed there. We recommend large groups contact Druxy's directly at 416.586.7936 in advance. Please allocate supervision adequately in cases where the group is split between ROM's Lunch Room and Druxy's
Useful Links

Please note that our team is working hard to bring these planned resources online. Check back often to see which new resources are available in the coming weeks.