Historic Huguenot Street Programs for School Groups
Youth Programs Historic
Huguenot Street is pleased to offer educational programs
for school-aged children. The programs are designed to
meet the New York State Standards for Social Studies.
The artifact activities are geared to a variety of learning
styles and many of the programs utilize DBQs (document-based
questions). A standard visit to the site lasts approximately
2 1/2 hours; however, the length of the program can be
adjusted to meet the particular needs and requirements
of the group. Do not hesitate to contact the Society with
any special concerns you may have.
- An Orientation (approximately
30 minutes)
The program begins with a visit to the reconstructed
French Church where the students are introduced to the
history of New Paltz.
- House Tour (approximately 60
minutes)
The students will visit two houses to learn about life
in the Colonial period. Guides will discuss topics such
as family life, farm work, and slavery. Students will
also investigate clues that help us understand the history
of the houses.
- Educational module (approximately
60 minutes)(descriptions following)
Modules meet New York State Standards and are designed
to be both instructive and entertaining. A variety of
instructional methods are utilized to meet differing
learning styles.
Education Modules
Select an artifact activity from the list below:
Be a Historical Detective
Your students
will become super-sleuths during this hands-on inspection
of early American artifacts that could have belonged to
a resident of Huguenot Street. Objects which will be used
as clues to help understand Colonial life on Huguenot
Street including a sausage stuffer, a crimping iron, a
chamber pot, flatware, and foot warmer just to name a
few. Working in small groups, children will first draw
a picture of their artifact that they can take home. Next,
each group will answer a series of written questions about
their artifact. Each group will then talk briefly to the
rest of the class, including a guess of what the object
is. After each group a brief discussion will be had, which
will connect the objects to the house tours as well as
explain cultural importance.
Standards
addressed: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Grades:
1st through 3rd
Time Requirement: 45 minutes
Hands-on
History
As
part of your visit to Huguenot Street, we offer a new
exciting hands-on historical activity for children to
participate in. The “Hands-on History” activity allows
children to recreate and experience some of the everyday
activities that were performed in the colonial period.
The
lesson breaks down into two distinct parts. The first
portion involves discussion and exploration of colonial
school activities. Children will have the opportunity
to write with quill pens and practice some of the popular
sayings and phrases from colonial times. There will also
be time for them to write or draw items of their choosing.
The
second part will focus on games and pastimes. Children
will learn how life for a colonial child was mostly about
work. The activity will also highlight children's toys
and how during the colonial period they were made from
items around the home and simply constructed. We will
also discuss how children entertained themselves without
the modern conveniences children today are accustomed
to. Children will then get to make a “buzz saw” which
is a colonial era toy.
The
purpose of this activity is to provide a hands-on learning
environment as well as to teach children about the difference
between present day and the colonial period in relation
to items and experiences they encounter in their everyday
lives.
Standards
addressed: 1.1,1.2
Grades:
4th through 8th
Time Requirement: 60 minutes
Please
note: an extra dollar will be charged for this program
to cover materials costs
Guess
Who?
Within
an agricultural community in Colonial New York, the residents
pursued a wide variety of occupations from teacher to
weaver, from merchant to laborer. In this activity, students
working in small groups will receive groups of objects
that represent members of the New Paltz community in the
18th century. Each group will identify the objects in
its collection and develop theories as to the age, gender,
race, economic position and occupation of the owner. The
students will then search for clues about the lives of
these townspeople in primary documents from the 18th century.
The entire class will then consider what these artifacts
tell us about life in a small town in Colonial New York.
Standards
addressed: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Grades: 4th through 8th
Time Requirement: 60 minutes
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