The Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) is one of Krakow’s most recognisable landmarks: historic trade in the heart of the Main Market Square now combines with a top-level museum function. On the upper floor is the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, which houses a rich collection of painting and sculpture and is an excellent source of material for history, art and Polish language lessons.
A visit to the Sukiennice is more than looking at paintings — it is an opportunity to work with original artworks, talk about the historical and social context of the 19th century and practise interpreting iconography. For younger pupils the museum offers introductory sessions and hands-on activities; for older students there are topics at the intersection of art history, memory and identity.
A well-planned museum lesson at the Sukiennice can be the starting point for longer school projects: analysing paintings, creating original illustrations, writing short essays or preparing a school exhibition.
Book the museum lesson in advance through the National Museum in Krakow’s information and reservation centre. In practice it is sensible to plan the reservation at least a few days before the visit and confirm it a few days prior to departure.
Check the opening hours of the specific gallery and the admission policy for school groups. Museums often have special rates for pupils and free admission for some chaperones, so when booking ask about the number of complimentary chaperones allowed and the possibility of entering early.
Before departure inform chaperones and pupils about visiting rules: large backpacks stored in the cloakroom, no touching the exhibits, the need for quiet and punctuality. A short reminder of the rules improves the educator’s work and helps protect the collection.
General goals: understanding the historical and cultural context of the era, the ability to describe and interpret a work of art, developing aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking skills.
For grades 1–3: getting acquainted with the museum as a place, learning basic terms (painting, sculpture, artist), developing attention through simple observation tasks and creative activities.
For grades 4–6: practising description skills, identifying narrative elements in a painting, working with a worksheet, a mini art workshop inspired by a chosen motif.
For grades 7–8 and upper secondary schools: iconographic analysis, discussion of the function of historical painting, interpretation of symbols and stereotypes, comparisons between works and research tasks with elements of source study.
Gathering and a short briefing at the Sukiennice cloakroom (10–15 min) - hand out worksheets, remind about rules, divide into teams.
Introduction on the Main Market Square - a short story about the history of the Sukiennice and the role of the Main Market Square (10–15 min) - architectural and commercial context as a background for working with the paintings.
Lesson in the gallery led by a National Museum educator or the teacher (60–90 min) - discussion of 3–5 key works, interpretive activities and practical tasks tailored to age.
Workshop activity or museum game (20–30 min) - detective tasks, creating an original illustration, making a short story based on a painting.
Summary and evaluation (10–15 min) - short team presentations, students’ reflections, distribution of follow-up materials or homework.
Art detective: students receive cards with three clues about a specific painting (composition elements, a detail, a figure) and must find the work in the gallery and write a short description.
Story from the painting: in groups invent a short story that might have happened before or after the scene shown in the painting; present it as a comic or a short dialogue.
Compare and contrast: choose two paintings with a similar theme and compare how figures, light and emotion are depicted. What does the style tell us about the era and the artist?
Fashion and symbolism: by analysing clothing in paintings, students point out elements that emphasise social position, function or affiliation. This can be combined with a short presentation on the history of dress.
Mini art workshop: inspired by a detail from a painting, students create their own fragment using watercolours, pastels or collage.
Worksheets and short instructions for groups, checklists with tasks, pencils, crayons, clipboards or writing boards - these make work in the museum space easier.
Name tags for students and chaperones, a small first aid kit, water bottles and snacks for a break outside the exhibition rooms, a camera or phone for documentation (in line with museum rules).
If you plan art workshops at school after the visit - prepare materials for continuation: paper, paints, scissors, glue, reproduction images to copy.
Cloakroom: most groups use the cloakroom and leave large backpacks; remind pupils not to wear backpacks on their backs while visiting. This improves the safety of the exhibits and the freedom of movement.
Punctuality and timing: allow extra time for arrival and expect the possibility of waiting to start activities. The museum usually allows a limited grace period for late groups, so it is worth arriving early.
Chaperones: plan the role of chaperones - it is better if each adult is assigned a specific student group. For larger classes consider dividing into smaller groups to maintain order and ensure active participation for everyone.
Not booking or leaving the reservation to the last minute - this causes stress and limited choice of dates. Book early enough to ensure the programme can be carried out.
A too-long or too-detailed lecture - it is better to split the lesson into shorter interactive blocks; children and young people engage more easily in practical tasks than in long monologues.
Not adapting tasks to pupils’ ages - prepare different difficulty levels and alternative activities for students with diverse educational needs.
Do we have to pay for a museum educator? - Museums offer different forms of activities: guided tours with an educator, museum lessons and museum games; each may have a different price or be included in the group ticket. Check the offer and booking rules when making a reservation.
What about food and toilets? - Plan meals outside the exhibition rooms; the museum usually indicates suitable places for breaks and informs about available toilets. Before the visit ask about the possibility of a short break for the group.
Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities? - Many branches strive to ensure accessibility; when booking it is worth asking about details and any available accommodations.
After the lesson it is worth planning a short meal in well-known places around the Main Market Square - historic restaurants and cafés are popular with tourists and teachers. Recommended options include classic restaurants with traditional cuisine and charming cafés that can accommodate groups.
If you plan to stay overnight, choose hotels and guesthouses within the Old Town to shorten transfer times and make the most of the next day of sightseeing. When choosing accommodation, consider recommendations from other schools and online reviews.
Group project: organise a school exhibition with reproductions and descriptions of selected works, add posters with historical information and short biographies of the artists.
Creative workshop: based on observations made at the museum, students create their own paintings or collages to present later to parents.
The Sukiennice building has a very long trading tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, but its museum function developed from the 19th century, when Polish painting collections began to be gathered and exhibited.
On the upper floor of the Sukiennice is one of the most important collections of 19th-century Polish painting, which makes the site a place that combines the living history of the city with the role of guardian of national artistic heritage.
The Sukiennice terraces and façade are a great spot for a short introduction to Krakow’s architecture and urban development - a brief story about changes in the city space often sparks students’ curiosity.
A well-prepared museum lesson at the Sukiennice is a combination of logistical planning, clear educational goals and engaging tasks that activate students. A short briefing before entry, cooperation with a museum educator and flexible use of the visit time will ensure a successful encounter with culture.
If this lesson plan was helpful, share the article with other teachers or on social media. For support in planning a school trip or to book a guided lesson, contact Małgorzata Kasprowicz - details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
Good luck with preparations and enjoy your visit to the Sukiennice!
