
Explore Bushnell’s ideas and experiences using primary documents, reproduction objects and lab experiments. Students work in teams to read and analyze primary documents, comparing their findings to the Museum’s Turtle. They conduct experiments to understand Bushnell’s experiences and challenges in building the Turtle submarine. This program is a good connection if you are reading Attack of the Turtle; an additional component comparing and contrasting historical fiction with historical fact can be included.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269
jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Who were the first settlers of New Haven? Why did they come here? What was life like in early New Haven? Students will investigate objects, study maps and explore galleries to piece together the past.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Themes
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students explore the founding of New Haven through the colonial period by looking at objects in the New Haven Illustrated gallery. What was life like for people in the 1700s? What kinds of businesses and house made up the New Haven Colony? Using maps and artifacts student will be better able to compare and contrast New Haven’s change over time.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

In this workshop, students work in teams to design an exhibit using historical objects selected especially for their class. Students develop their historical thinking skills as they make decisions about what objects to include in the exhibit and what stories they tell. Each team presents their exhibit at the end of the program.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
70 Denison Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-5322
rebecca.shea@mysticseaport.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Visit Mystic Seaport without leaving your classroom! Using straightforward skyping technology and state-of-the-art equipment in our production studio, a Museum educator will showcase artifacts in our collections and discuss what it means to be a curator. The program offers a glimpse of “behind-the-scenes” activities of our curators as they catalog and care for our more than one million artifacts.
Type:
Virtual Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
70 Denison Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-5322
rebecca.shea@mysticseaport.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What was it like to live in the 1700s?
Students explore our historic house to learn about colonial clothing, foods, and medicines, while also trying their hand at 18th-century “women’s” and “men’s” work. Enhance the program with an add on, such as the Colonial Schoolhouse Program let by costumed museum teachers.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
227 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 521-5362
sweeneyb@noahwebsterhouse.org
http://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/programs/school/
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes

Students will rotate through four different stations utilizing primary sources to analyze how Connecticut contributed to the Revolutionary War and the formation of the United States. They will visit: the hands-on Strong-Howard House; the Hezekiah Chaffee House to discuss how wealthy citizens provisioned the war effort; construct a replica Rev War tent and learn marching techniques; delve into the primary sources documenting George Washington’s cadre of spies.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
96 Palisado Avenue
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 688-3813
cvida@windsorhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes

Students rotate through four different stations discussing the impact of access to water on Native Peoples and English colonists in Connecticut. They will visit the Farmington River, the hands-on Strong-Howard House, the Chaffee House, the museum galleries, and make a their own version of a town seal based on geographic attributes that mean the most to them.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Influence of Geography on the Social, Political, and Economic Development of CT Towns and the State
Contact Information
96 Palisado Avenue
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 688-3813
cvida@windsorhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

A Day in 1762 is an engaging, living-history field trip where students will explore what life was like during the 18th century, meet our New England heros, and discuss our nation’s heritage while meeting Common Core Standards.
Type:
Day in the Life Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
37 Elm Street
Ansonia, CT 06401
(203) 735-1908
info@derbyhistorical.org
http://www.derbyhistorical.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
We can provide programs to support the use of archival materials for History Day projects or special Social Studies projects. We encourage field trips to come to the archives for individually crafted classes using our primary sources.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
405 Babbidge Road
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2516
laura.katz.smith@uconn.edu
http://doddcenter.uconn.edu/asc/
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Using reproduction objects and hands-on activities, students are introduced to daily life in colonial Connecticut. They compare their own lives to those of colonial children as they learn about both work and play. Students examine differences in clothing, learn about daily chores, try out some colonial toys, and make a reproduction “hornbook.”
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Students investigate how Connecticut citizens participated in the American Revolution, looking at issues from both the Patriot and Loyalist perspectives. Through a variety of student activities, the dramatic sequence of events from 1763-1783 that led to American independence is brought to life. Students examine reproduction artifacts and analyze a primary document to explore life in Connecticut during this time. Using quill pens, students join the cause by signing an “oath of allegiance.”
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Explore the dramatic 1839 story of 53 Africans, kidnapped from their homeland into slavery, who managed to win a legal battle in the U.S. and return home. Students re-enact parts of the story and use a range of physical activities to bring the Africans’ ordeal to life. Students work together to solve problems just as the Africans on the Amistad did. Reproduction artifacts, primary source documents, props, and illustrations are used to dramatize the story.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Based on our popular museum tour of the same name, this program introduces students to a variety of 20th-century stories about moving to Connecticut. An introductory game of chance looks at the difficult choices and conditions faced by immigrants throughout history. Students then work in teams to examine artifacts from “immigration trunks” and uncover many different family stories about moving to Connecticut.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Environmental Changes
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

This program emphasizes research and inquiry skills development, close reading and observation, and analysis. Students learn the process of researching a topic by examining pre-selected primary and secondary sources including books, manuscripts, historic photographs, and artifacts from the CHS collection to investigate a series of related research questions. Throughout the process students develop an understanding of how to gather information from different types of sources.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Using a variety of primary sources and local history materials, students look at the Civil War through the experiences of people from Connecticut. Using letters, photographs, broadsides, and government documents, as well as reproduction clothing and equipment, students explore four areas of impact on Connecticut’s citizens: recruitment, the soldier’s experience, roles played by women, and reporting the war. This program requires a projection screen or surface.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

After a short introduction, students work in teams of 4-5 to learn about one character from colonial Connecticut, such as a tinsmith, tavern keeper, Patriot soldier, enslaved domestic servant, or Native American trader. Each group explores one “identity box,” handling reproduction artifacts, practicing close observation skills, and completing a series of activities related to their character’s life.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Students explore Connecticut’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government and discover who makes the rules in Connecticut. To better understand the role of each branch, students elect a governor from among their classmates, debate a bill, and hold a mock trial (some student reading required). . Through movement, improvisation, role-playing, and active participation, students learn the purpose of rules and laws, explore the separation of powers, and discover the rights and responsibilities of individuals.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

A 20 foot map, research, hands-on activities and a timeline presentation help students discover how the Connecticut River Valley developed, how communities were established and how the human relationship with the River evolved.
Program Options:
1. Program at your school. Max. 4 classes/day.
2. Program at Museum.
3. River Dwellers & River Connections Gallery Program. Students use artifacts & art to build a stronger context for each group that they have learned about.
Type:
Museum Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Contact Information
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269
jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

In this hands-on program, students become the historians to investigate the lifestyle of Native American people in Connecticut before European contact. They learn about different kinds of historical resources, discover the importance of oral tradition, and play a traditional Native American game. Students practice their observation skills by examining, describing, and analyzing reproduction artifacts.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

This program introduces students to the life and culture of Native Americans in southern New England. Students examine reproduction artifacts made from materials such as stone, wood, bone, and animal skins and learn about Native American cultural values from a traditional story. Each student makes a bear claw necklace to take home.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Students use props, costumes, physical activities, games, and their imaginations to create their own circus, from the parade of animals and performers to the acts in the center ring. They enjoy a circus storybook and each student makes a circus poster to take home.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org

Students discover the history of slavery in our state from the enslavement of Native Americans and Africans in the early colonial period through the beginnings of the abolitionist movement and the Civil War. Using historic documents and hands-on activities, students compare conditions of enslavement in the North and South, examine multiple perspectives of people living in Connecticut and how they felt about slavery, and explore ways people resisted and fought against slavery.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students investigate how Connecticut citizens participated in the American Revolution, looking at issues from the Patriot and Loyalist perspectives. The dramatic sequence of events from 1763-1783 that led to American independence is brought to life in the Making Connecticut exhibition and other hands-on museum spaces. Students examine reproduction artifacts and analyze a primary document to explore life in Connecticut during this time. Using quill pens, students join the cause by signing an “oath of allegiance.”
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This program emphasizes research and inquiry skills development, close reading and observation, and analysis. Students learn the process of researching a topic by examining pre-selected primary and secondary sources including books, manuscripts, historic photographs, and artifacts from the CHS collection to investigate a series of related research questions. Throughout the process students develop an understanding of how to gather information from different types of sources.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This two-part program uses hands-on activities to introduce students to stories of moving to Connecticut. In the Making Connecticut exhibit, students try out the kinds of jobs done by different immigrant groups who arrived in Connecticut in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the workshop, students work in teams to examine artifacts and documents from “immigration trunks” and uncover many different family stories about moving to Connecticut
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students explore Connecticut’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government and discover who makes the rules in Connecticut. To better understand the role of each branch, students elect a governor from among their classmates, debate a bill, and hold a mock trial (some student reading required). Through movement, improvisation, role-playing, and active participation, students learn the purpose of rules and laws, explore the separation of powers, and discover the rights and responsibilities of individuals.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students explore the colonial period in Connecticut by looking at the lives and experiences of both Native American and English colonial children. They examine artifacts and learn about children’s daily routines, contrasting Native American and European traditions, including village life, clothing, education, and chores. Choose one of the following hands-on activities:
•Comparison Object Study: Examine Native American and colonial artifacts.
•School & Games: Make a hornbook and try colonial toys.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes

Why is the white oak a symbol of Connecticut’s strength and independence? During this program, students bring the people and events from the legend of the Charter Oak to life using a variety of dramatic techniques, period costumes, and specially-designed props. Students evaluate sources, including historic maps, to draw their own conclusions about the famous legend
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

What makes our state so special? During this thematic tour students will learn about famous Connecticut people, places, events, and products. From the mighty white oak to the tiny nutmeg, “Constitution State” to famous (and not-so-famous) Connecticut people, students will explore the unique stories behind our state history and symbols.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students use a large floor map and “building” blocks to strengthen map skills and vocabulary while creating and analyzing a new town, then tour the Making Connecticut exhibit to learn about how work, transportation, and home life were different in the past. The third part of the program focuses on ways to contribute to your community and be a good citizen, as well as how decisions are made in communities.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 2: Democratic Principles and Values
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Our program is designed for K-12 based on the Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Framework. Our goal is to engage and educate students in the history, art and culture of people of African descent, with a meaningful and exciting experience. We also offer professional development workshops for teachers and administrators.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
600 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
860-838-4068
squeen@amistadcenter.org
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

This tour introduces students to the lives of Native Americans in early Connecticut and emphasizes their use of natural resources. Focus is placed on multi-sensory learning, a varied pace of activities, and handling reproduction objects. Students hear a Native American story and make a bear claw necklace to take home.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Contact Information
One
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

In this introductory museum tour for our youngest visitors, students explore the museum, trying out a variety of hands-on activities to compare work done by men, women, and children in the past. After their “work” is done, students play with historic toys and games.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Contact Information
One Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 236-5621
education_assistant@chs.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Can inventions impact more than intended? What was Eli Whitney’s goal when he invented the cotton gin? Students will have the opportunity to explore the cotton gin’s effects on slavery in America. This program also provides the opportunity for student to better understand the role New Haven had in the slave industry.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

How do we know what we know about New Haven? This program introduces students to the world of archaeology! Using the materials, student will have to think about where, why and how objects are discovered. Can you dig it?
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

What was school like in the 1800s? Did the students have computers and colorful pens? Access to as many books as they could read? This program allows for students to compare and contrast what life was like for students during the 19th century with hands on activities to ensure better understanding.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Using objects and images, students will be better able to understand who inhabited the land before the Puritans. The students will have the opportunity to view objects and artifacts depicting life for the Quinnipiacs.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Choose to focus on a specific time period or study change over time by exploring the lives of New Haven residents from three centuries. Students use letters, diaries, town records and other documents as well as historic artifacts to research men and women from New Haven’s past.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This program reflects the many issues facing free and enslaved African-Americans in the early 1800s. Using primary sources, students will be better able to understand and discuss issues of historical importance.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Delve into the world of inventions, gadgets and businesses by exploring documents and objects showing New Haven’s history of commerce. Find out who made carriage hinges and how many residents were employed by the New Haven Clock Company. What was it like to make and sell things in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Explore the architectural, manufacturing and cultural history of the Wooster Square neighborhood through primary sources. How did businesses advertise their products? why did people of Italy immigrate to New Haven?
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

This program allows students to step back in time and discover the history of immigration and the role of the railroad. Who lived there? How did they arrive? What was life like?
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

After a tour of the Amistad gallery, students are given the opportunity to debate the issues by holding a mock trial, portraying key individuals. Time will be allowed for students to study the material and ask questions, working together to better understand the purpose, process and outcome of one of the most famous incidents in the United States.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
Themes
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Discover what it was like to live in New Haven during the American Revolution and the raid on New Haven by the British. Learn about Roger Sherman, Benedict Arnold and other American Revolutionaries from New Haven and Connecticut.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

The heroes of New Haven are numerous: Roger Sherman, David Wooster, Joseph Cinque, Eli Whitney and many others! The program can combine a visit to the Museum and (weather permitting) a trip to Grove Street Cemetery. The program will allow for students to discover what makes a hero, how a hero has shaped history and to think about their own future role in society.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Explore the history of the Brass City, discover Waterbury’s transformation from an agricultural life in the 1600s to an industrial leader during the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will discover new perspectives on the innovations of the waterwheel, immigrants, child labor, factory life and machines, and brass materials produced in Waterbury.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
144 West Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 753-0381
education@mattatuckmuseum.org
http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What was it like to set-sail from New Haven and travel the world? Take a trip through history with a visit to the Maritime New Haven gallery to learn about the China Trade, the oyster industry, the voyage of the Neptune and what life was like sailing the high seas. Students will be able to handle objects and learn through discovery.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Globalization and Economic Interdependence
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Students will explore the New Haven Green through maps, artifacts and a scavenger hunt! This program provides students with an opportunity to understand the “heart” of the city of New Haven from the founding of a Puritan village to a colonial cosmopolitan city through the industrial revolution and the present-day city.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
114 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-4183
education@newhavenmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This program begins with a brief visit to the Waterbury Green, located across the street from the Museum. Students will study Waterbury architecture and monuments and discus the purposes they serve. Afterwards students will visit the Museum’s History exhibit to learn how and why cities have grown and changed over time.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Patterns and Causes of Population Development in CT Towns and Cities
Contact Information
144 West Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 753-0381
mmalcolm@mattatuckmuseum.org
http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Students will have the opportunity to:
-Discover why coastal communities developed and flourished
-Learn how 19th-century families lived
-Investigate a working craftsman’s shop to examine traditional tools and compare them to their modern counterparts
-Visit the General Store to learn about the local economy and discover what types of goods were available in a seaport town
-Explore the important skill of ropemaking by actually making rope, or participate in a 19th-century school lesson.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
75 Greenmanville Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-5322
rebecca.shea@mysticseaport.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Ship to Shore offers your students the opportunity to immerse themselves in history through exploration of Mystic Seaport’s 19th-century village by day and by staying on board the 1882 square-rigged ship Joseph Conrad by night.
Teachers can choose from multiple themes, and we can even design a program around a custom topic. Activities include hands-on workshops, Planetarium shows, role players, and the opportunity to climb the rigging onboard the Joseph Conrad (weather permitting)
Type:
Overnight Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
75 Greenmanville Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-5322
rebecca.shea@mysticseaport.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
No
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Build a barrel right in your classroom! Set type and print on a portable 19th-century printing press in your classroom! Or forge metal like a shipsmith using our portable forge! Educators can choose from three different skills and trades: cooper, printer, and shipsmith. Students work directly with the cooper, printer, or shipsmith as they participate in hands-on activities that bring these trades to life.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Influence of Geography on the Social, Political, and Economic Development of CT Towns and the State
Contact Information
75 Greenmanville Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-5322
rebecca.shea@mysticseaport.org

Visitors to the Florence Griswold Museum investigate the past by visiting the Griswold House, a historic 1817 house interpreted as a Boardinghouse for Artists, circa 1910, when it was the gathering place for the artists affiliated with the Lyme Artists Colony. Artists, primarily from New York City, met up in Old Lyme to paint “en plain air” (outside) and developed a style known as American Impressionism. They left the city for the rural retreat to capture romanticized views of the New England past. Visitors also tour the current exhibition of art /history on view in the Museum state-of-the-art gallery space for a learning-to-look activity. All school visitors also experience a hands-on, minds-on component, often creating a work of art, a landscape, in paint out-of-doors by the river or in the gardens to recreate the experience that the artists had over 100 years ago.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Influence of Geography on the Social, Political, and Economic Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
96 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06371
(860) 434-5542
julie@flogris.org
http://FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

How did colonial families live, work and play? A day in the life of a colonial character! Students research and play the roles of families who lived in Noah Webster’s neighborhood in 1774. Led by our costumed museum teachers, students move through our house while doing chores, attending school, dancing, playing games, and cooking their own lunch on an open hearth!
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
227 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 521-5362
Sweeneyb@noahwebsterhouse.org
https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/programs/school/
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
One (1) Hour Walking Tour of Notable Persons –
Noah Webster – Dictionary
Roger Sherman – Founding Father
Eli Whitney – Inventor
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
227 Grove Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 389-5403
p.b.i.newhaven@att.net
http://www.grovestreetcemetery.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum School has existed for over 50 years providing hands-on history lessons for pre-school through collage-age students. It is at the heart of the Museum’s mission to educate and teach American history through the creative use of its historic houses and collections. The trained teachers and guides on staff are always eager to share their love and knowledge of the past with others.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
211 Main Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109
(860) 529-0612
criccio@webb-deane-stevens.org
http://www.webb-deane-stevens.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
Using artifacts, maps,and genealogy, students can see evidence of the past. Migration from Europe, its role in colonial government, agriculture, tourism and other industry gave Colchester its sense of place. Changes in society, its people, transportation and the economy can be experienced through our exhibits. Economic forces closed mills in the 19th Century; the population declined but because of its geographic location, as a commutable crossroads, migration continued through the 20th Century.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
Linwood Avenue
Colchester, CT 06415
(860) 537-5596
mail@colchesterhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

The Middlesex County Historical Society is headquartered in the General Joseph Mansfield House, the home of a Civil War general killed at the Battle of Antietam. The tour consists of a talk about Middletown’s early history which includes its role as a major maritime center, its participation in the Revolutionary War, and its transition to an industrial center through the inventiveness of its citizens. Changing exhibits which illustrate this history are also highlighted.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Contact Information
151 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-0746
mchs@wesleyan.edu
http://www.middlesexhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

“Meet” the people who have lived along the Connecticut River, from the White Mountains to Long Island Sound, farmers to fishermen, city to small town. How does the River affect people’s lives? Through hands-on activities, stories and gallery explorations, students will find evidence of different jobs, communities and experiences. This program takes place at the Museum.
Type:
Interactive Museum Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Contact Information
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269
jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No
Students will explore the events of the April, 1814 raid on the privateer fleet in Essex. Using art and artifacts, historic documents and team based research and analysis activities, they will find out what led up to the attack, how the British attacked and separate the myths from the historic record. They will have the opportunity to use recently discovered documents and artifacts to examine this historic event.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269
jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes

Connecticut River communities were driven by shipbuilding and maritime trade for almost 300 years. Students make rope, carve trunnels, use an auger and caulk a hull, to see first-hand the simple machines used in the shipyard and the steps involved with building a sailing ship.
Combine Shipyard with a Schooner sail – navigate, raise sail, steer and learn about sailor life.
Program Options:
1. Shipyard workshop at CRM.
2. Shipyard workshop and schooner sail.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Contact Information
67 Main Street
Essex, CT 06426
(860) 767-8269
jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What was it like to be a student 200 years ago? Who went to school and what jobs were available? What did they learn? We will discover what education was like for students at the Litchfield Law School and Litchfield Female Academy and how it changed over time. Explore the ways education after the Revolution reflected the values of the period. Program includes a tour of the Tapping Reeve House and Law School.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: Gender Roles in Economic, Political, and Social Life
Contact Information
7 South St.
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-4501
education@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This three-part program utilizes the town of Fairfield to explore colonial and American Revolution history. The day includes a Town Green Walking Tour, Living History, and Old Burying Ground Adventure. Please call for more information or check our website.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Introduce your group to the world of museum collections. View original and reproduction artifacts up close and discover the stories that give objects different meaning. See how collections can transport us to a different time by piecing together a story utilizing a painting, a letter, photographs and objects. These pieces can tell fascinating stories as well as prompt additional questions about how people lived in the past.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes

View original objects that demonstrate how changes in technology have made an impact on our culture and society. Investigate how a simple box camera from the early 1900s influenced communication and how we document our lives including people, places and historical events. Discover patterns of change with the advent of portable devices and how this may influence the future.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

This kit includes laminated primary sources (such as slave sale receipts, many with transcriptions) from the 17th and early 18th century that give clues for students to analyze Connecticut’s role in slavery and how African Americans became a part of America’s national identity. Also included are teacher resources, a timeline, vocabulary, and how to connect this topic with the new CT Social Studies Frameworks.
Type:
Classroom Kit
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org

The Fairfield Museum’s classroom kits contain reproduction primary sources from the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and the Library of Congress that explore local and national arts, history, and cultural themes. Introduce students to authentic historical sources and promote valuable research, critical thinking, and analysis skills. In this kit, students analyze a variety of World War II posters created by the U.S. government in order to enhance their understanding of propaganda and its influence on society.
Type:
Classroom Kit
Target audiences:
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
What was slavery like in Connecticut? Find out about the lives of slaves with historical clues including a petition for freedom by two slaves in 1779, slave sale receipts and other primary source documents. Learn about and debate the slavery issue in the 18th century and discover how America’s founding documents contradicted the realities of slavery.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Explore the causes and consequences of witchcraft beliefs. Students analyze the artwork and text from an exhibit of Fairfield’s witchcraft trials in 1651, 1653, and 1692. What types of evidence were used to prove “witchcraft?” How did these trials affect the opinions of the townsfolk, those accused, the accusers, and the judges? Students make judgments on the evidence to form conclusions about 17th century New England with discussions on “witch hunts” of today.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
370 Beach Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 259-1598
education@fairfieldhs.org
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Students combine geography, economics and Hartford history to relate life in the 18th century to today’s global marketplace.
Central Historical Questions:
How did Hartford develop as a major business district?
How is 18th-century Connecticut’s economy similar to today, how is it different?
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Influence of Geography on the Social, Political, and Economic Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: Globalization and Economic Interdependence
Contact Information
396 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 247-8996
butler.mccook@ctlandmarks.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
Meet Esther and Timothy Keeler, owners of the Keeler Tavern, as they introduce students to family and community life in Early America. Students make connections between life in Early America and present day as they explore Esther’s Kitchen and help her prepare her herbs for a variety of uses, while Timothy introduces students to his tavern, the center of town life. Students learn about the various roles the tavern held in community life, as a meeting place to hold political discussions, a social space for dancing and drinking, the post office, and much more.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Gender Roles in Economic, Political, and Social Life
Contact Information
132 Main Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
(203) 438-5485
education@keelertavernmuseum.org
http://www.keelertavernmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
No
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

How did women win the right to vote in the U.S.? Who helped make that happen and what did they have to endure? Why did it take so long?
These are just some of the questions you can explore with your students through Votes for Women: Connecticut Women Changing Democracy, an award-winning module in our DIY History series. Students will learn about the fight for women’s suffrage through the eyes of Connecticut suffragists like the Smiths of Glastonbury, Isabella Beecher Hooker and Alice Paul. They’ll also discover the power of their stories and their relationship to today’s world as they explore their legacy in the lives of some of our state’s famous political firsts including Ella Grasso, Clare Boothe Luce and Denise Nappier. Finally, students will see how they can use their own voices and the power of the vote to change our democracy.
DIY History is a series of free downloadable educational modules that educators can use to bring women’s perspectives into the classroom. All modules include background information on relevant Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees and a host of discussion and research activities, creative projects, and primary source activities all aligned with Common Core standards and all designed to connect to the existing curriculum.
Type:
DIY Classroom Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
320 Fitch St
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-9007
info@cwhf.org

How do institutionalized racism and discrimination affect individuals and the nation? What difference can one person make?
In this DIY History module, students will meet Marian Anderson, the legendary contralto whose “once in a century” voice helped catalyze and inspire the Civil Rights Movement. They’ll learn about Anderson’s life including the landmark concert that sparked a national conversation about race and involved First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Students will also discover how Anderson’s breaking of racial barriers opened doors for other performers of color and inspired leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They’ll also explore ways they can use their own voices to create social change and how Anderson is connected to other remarkable women from Connecticut.
DIY History is a series of free downloadable educational modules that educators can use to bring women’s perspectives into the classroom. All modules include background information on relevant Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees and a host of discussion and research activities, creative projects, and primary source activities all aligned with Common Core standards and all designed to connect to the existing curriculum.
Type:
DIY Classroom Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
320 FItch St
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-9007
info@cwhf.org

Women only hold about 25% of STEM jobs in the U.S.–and this number hasn’t changed in more than a decade!
In this DIY History module, students will explore the stories of pioneering Connecticut women in STEM including Nobel-prize winning geneticist Dr. Barbara McClintock, technology entrepreneur Jenny Lawton, world-renowned astronomer Dr. Dorrit Hoffleit, trailblazing female architect Theodate Pope Riddle and many others! In the process, they’ll discover how women are transforming our world every day through exciting careers in STEM and learn how they can be part of the solution to the gender gap in STEM fields.
This module is a perfect way to bridge the divide between disciplines and bring science/STEM, social studies, language arts and other educators together and help students understand how their learning fits together!
DIY History is a series of free downloadable educational modules that educators can use to bring women’s perspectives into the classroom. All modules include background information on relevant Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees and a host of discussion and research activities, creative projects, and primary source activities all aligned with Common Core standards and all designed to connect to the existing curriculum.
Type:
DIY Classroom Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
320 Fitch St
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-9007
info@cwhf.org

What role has Connecticut played on the national and international stages? How have Connecticut women helped to shape our state, our nation and our world?
This interactive multi-media program explores the stories of some of Connecticut’s most remarkable women! Students will be inspired as they learn about well-known figures like Prudence Crandall, Ella Grasso, and Marian Anderson as well as lesser known heroines including Maria Sanchez, Barbara McClintock and Hannah Watson. This presentation will give a panoramic view of some of the 112 Inductees to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame from all fields of endeavor, from politics and sports to the arts and sciences.
The presentation can be tailored to fit the needs of your curriculum and can be hosted for a single class or a larger group of students…and, as with all Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame programs, this program is available free of charge!
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Contact Information
320 Fitch St
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-9007
info@cwhf.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

How did American women gain the right to vote? Why did it take so long? Why has it been so difficult for women in break into politics and achieve equality? How have Connecticut women helped to shape our state, our nation and our world?
Connecticut’s history is filled with remarkable women who achieved extraordinary things and changed life for people through their work in multiple fields. In this interactive multi-media program, students will learn about some of the state’s powerful female voices for change in our democracy and discover the power their own voices can have as they explore the inspirational stories of suffrage advocates like Alice Paul and Isabella Beecher Hooker, prominent female firsts like Ella Grasso and Denise Nappier and social activists like Helen Keller, Anne Stanback and Estelle Griswold.
This talk can be tailored to fit your needs and connect to your curriculum…and, as with all Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame programs, this program is available free of charge!
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
320 Fitch St
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-9007
info@cwhf.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
From early flying machines to supersonic jets, students discover the history of aviation and the human genius that made it possible through up-close encounters with real historic aircraft.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Using Evidence to Learn About Our Past
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
36 Perimeter Road
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
(860) 623-3305
agparks@neam.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
The Milford Historical Society has three houses. The 1700 Eells-Stow House ; the 1780 Stockade House and the Bryan-Downs House containing the Claude Coffin Indian exhibit which shows the life of the Paugussetts who lived in Milford before 1639, a country store and current exhibits. In the K-2 program we tell about the colonists’ daily lives. In grade 3 we discuss Milford history and in the upper grades we discuss Milford in the Revolutionary War.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Influence of Geography on the Social, Political, and Economic Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
34 High Street
Milford, CT 06460
(203) 874-2664
adwdmt@att.net
http://milfordhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Travel back with your younger students to 600 years ago in the Eastern Woodlands. During this program, students explore Native American homes and gardens, play musical instruments, examine clothing and animal furs, and then discuss the importance of community in the lives of Native American groups in the Eastern Woodlands.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Contact Information
38 Curtis Rd
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Challenge your students to examine and discuss the differences between their lives and the lives of Native Americans from the past. In this program, students explore the uses of natural resources by Native Americans, and how important these resources were and are to the survival of people from this region of North America.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Contact Information
38 Curtis Road
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Introduce your students to hands-on primary sources in a museum setting! During this program, students have the opportunity to evaluate and work with two museum pieces; an image and a document representing Native American communities and history from our region.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
38 Curtis Rd
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Compare the lives of the Eastern Woodland Native Americans to life in the Northeast today. Students examine images of the Eastern Woodlands, compare different artifacts and discuss group roles within a village. Through storytelling, students discover how traditions and moral lessons were passed down through different generations in tribes.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Contact Information
38 Curtis Rd
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

In this program students are introduced to the lives of the Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands. Students will examine and discuss reproductions of artifacts in small groups. They will discuss how the environmental landscape of the North East shaped the Native Americans’ daily lives and how they relied on what was around them to survive. Students will also have the opportunity to play a Native American game.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Contact Information
38 Curtis Rd
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Introduce your students to hands-on primary sources from a museum! During this program, students have the opportunity to evaluate and work with two museum pieces; an image and a document representing Native American communities and history from our region.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
38 Curtis Rd
PO Box 1260
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-0518
education@iaismuseum.org

Freedom: In 3 Acts is a mesmerizing journey to emancipation through song. The performance explores African Americans’ struggle for civil rights using movement, singing, multi-media elements and historical narratives. Act I explores coded messages embedded into the lyrics of slave spirituals. Act II focuses on the incredible story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers who used the power of their songs to save Fisk University. Act III is a dynamic exploration of singer Marian Anderson.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
City Arts on Pearl
233 Pearl Street Box #21
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 874-3522
bookings@batedbreathetheatre.org
http://www.batedbreaththeatre.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
In small groups students will explore historic sites around the Lebanon Green and participate in guided hands-on activities. Children will explore everyday life in the 1770s and ways that the American Revolution impacted the lives of ordinary people and their leaders.
Sites visited may included: Governor Jonathan Trumbull House and Wadsworth Stable; Revolutionary War Office (meeting place of Governor Trumbull’s Council of Safety), Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., House; Beaumont Homestead; fist Society Meeting House and the Lebanon Historical Society Museum.
Type:
guided tours & hands-on activities
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
856 Trumbull Highway
Lebanon, CT 06249
860-642-6579
museum@historyofLebanon.org
http://www.historyofLebanon.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes, No
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Many of the students who attended the Litchfield Law School in the late 1700s and early 1800s went on to play important roles in shaping the early American political system. Their experiences as students was deeply influenced by the atmosphere of the time, one student writing, “There is more party animosity here than you can imagine.” While touring through the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, we will investigate the evolution of the two-party system and the divisive issues of the time. Students will assume the identity of Law School students debate the philosophies of their political parties, delving deeper into the intense party animosities and political gossip of the Early Republic through newspaper articles, songs, and letters. We will also hone our persuasive skills through toasts and elocution exercises.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
Themes
Contact Information
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-4501
eogrady@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Litchfield’s illustrious citizen Benjamin Tallmadge was the leader of the Culper Spy Ring during the Revolutionary War. We will explore the beliefs of the Patriots and Loyalists, looking closely at Litchfield’s role during the War. Learn about Tallmadge’s life, spy techniques and technologies, and participate in encoding and decoding activities.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Contact Information
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-4501
eogrady@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Has your town changed in the last 200 years? Learn how communities evolve by investigating what happened in Litchfield. Using clues from maps, paintings, and letters, we will discover what Litchfield looked like from before European settlement through the years right after the Revolution. Students will also study portraits from the museum’s collection to meet townspeople from the past and explore how their influence helped the town grow.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Patterns and Causes of Population Development in CT Towns and Cities
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Contact Information
7 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-4501
eogrady@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Participants will learn more about the importance of Litchfield to state and national history through a walking tour of historic sites. We will imagine the town as it looked in the past or discover the ways it changed over time. Through careful observation, we will examine the ways that buildings and landscape reflect the political and social trends of the times.
This tour can be modified to focus on a wide range of topics, including architecture, the Colonial Revival, the Revolutionary War, the Litchfield Female Academy, business development, and the Beecher Family.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Patterns and Causes of Population Development in CT Towns and Cities
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
7 South Street
Litchfield, CT 06759
(860) 567-4501
eogrady@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
http://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This special 60-minute tour for younger students lets them experience life during the Gilded Age by combining a house and kitchen tour. Students can try on Victorian clothing and, if time permits, participate in an additional timeline activity in the Museum Center that will enhance their knowledge of the importance of Hartford and Mark Twain in United States history. This will draw deeper connections between their lives and the lives of Hartford residents more than 100 years ago!
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This 20-minute program introduces Mark Twain to a younger audience, and allows them to actually try to do what Twain did best: make up stories! Just as Twain created nightly bedtime stories for his three daughters using for inspiration the bric-a-brac on the mantel in the library of his home, so too will students be asked to collaboratively improvise the telling of a new story based on a selection of Victorian objects that they may have never seen before. The results are certainly creative, and they are also almost always hilarious!
Type:
Interactive Storytelling Game
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Please Choose a 4th Grade Theme
Grade 5: Please Choose a 5th Grade Theme
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

During this 45- to 60-minute program, small groups of students are given binders containing primary and secondary source materials related to an individual who knew Samuel Clemens very well – a family member, a friend and/or a servant of the Clemens family. Drawing from conclusions that the students reach during a discussion of these sources, they then co-write a biography of their subject that explains how that person’s relationship with Samuel Clemens enhances their understanding of both individuals. This program immerses students in rich primary and secondary sources to explore multiple points of view, across different racial, ethnic, class, and geographic divides.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

This 45-minute activity allows middle school students to analyze and evaluate vintage photographs, period songs, regional maps, and other source readings to enhance their understanding of Chapter Four in Mark Twain’s classic, non-fictional work Life on the Mississippi, an evocative description of the heyday of steamboats on America’s greatest river system. A follow up activity allows them to expand their learning through poetry and/or song. Life on the Mississippi is specifically designed to afford visiting school groups an excellent opportunity for enrichment of their Social Studies and English classroom learning consistent with the learning objectives cited in the new Connecticut Common Core Standards.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

This two-part classroom program is designed to give advanced students of U.S. History an in-depth “jigsaw” exercise in the analysis of primary sources as they prepare an essay response to questions related to the life and legacy of Mark Twain. Two major themes of American History are explored: race and imperialism. Part I is titled The Shame is Ours: Mark Twain from Slavery to Jim Crow, and Part II is titled Mark Twain and the Rise of American Power. Parts I and II are each 90 minutes in length. One or both parts may be done during a visit to the Mark Twain House & Museum, or as an outreach program at your school.
Type:
Primary Source Workshop
Target audiences:
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This 45-minute presentation underscores the importance of Twain’s masterpiece by placing it within the context of the larger history of race relations in the United States from slavery to the modern Civil Rights movement. The program demonstrates how the book continues to be a catalyst for positive social change when properly framed within a larger curriculum.
Type:
Virtual Program
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

During the 19th century, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain were two of the most famous Americans in the world. Surprisingly, they lived as neighbors in Hartford. In collaboration with the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, this program offers students the opportunity to tour both of their homes and experience this 45-minute classroom presentation that places their greatest works, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, into historical context. Your students will understand and appreciate how these small books had such a profound influence on race relations 150 years ago and today.
Type:
Virtual Program
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 247-0998
GroupTour@marktwainhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

This tour is an overview of the Pequot experience, highlighting exhibit areas from 18,000 years ago up to present day, pointing out the important connection of the land, the people, community, and family.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Imaginations soar with the sights, sounds, and smells in the 16th century Pequot Village. This tour promotes understanding of Pequot life in the 1500s and demonstrates the importance of family and community.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 4119671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Discover why Native people have great respect for the natural world and why resources are valued as “gifts.” Stone, bone, shell, and wood were appreciated because they could be transformed into useful objects. Students explore the seasonal dioramas and learn how each season brings different gifts — obtained from both the land and water. The tour for Grades K-3 focuses on Ice Age mammals including dire wolves, giant beaver, and mastodon.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: The Role of Geography
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Environment and Climate
Grade 5: The Impact of Geography on History
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Environmental Changes
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Upper-level students (Grades 7–12) learn about the harsh impact of reservation life and how the conflicting elements of social, political, and economic changes reshaped the Pequot world. Contemporary issues of federal recognition and sovereignty conclude the tour. Elementary students (Grades 4-6) learn about Pequot ancestors who lived at Mashantucket and the difficult decisions they had to make to survive. Hear the stories of Sachem Robin Cassacinamon and Hannah Ocuish who became a servant at the age of six.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Pilgrims, Native Americans, the Mayflower and turkey on the table. Explore the truths and the myths of this “American” holiday, the history of thanksgiving celebrations, and how America came to believe in the story of the “First Thanksgiving”.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

By taking a detailed look at the 1637 massacre of a Pequot village and the ensuing centuries of oppression faced by the Pequot people, students examine how our personal actions can carry serious consequences. The film, The Witness, is part of the program content.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

In this enrichment program in the Pequot Daily Life gallery, students discover how Pequots lived without malls and shopping centers. They learn how Native people constructed dug-out canoes, built housing, enhanced personal appearance, and prepared food. This hands-on experience gives students a better understanding of how Native people transformed the natural resources into useful common items.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: Gender Roles in Economic, Political, and Social Life
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Do you know why archaeology is sometimes called “our window to the past?” Students discover the answer to this question in a hands-on enrichment program. Students are divided into small groups to work with simulated refuse heaps from three different time periods in Pequot history. Their task is to identify and interpret artifacts from each time period, understand why cultures change over time, and the reasons for change.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Our traveling programs bring an educator with a variety of hands-on objects, photographs, and materials to illustrate Pequot lives and activities as they changed over time beginning with a look at a 16th-century coastal village. Participants learn how the arrival of Europeans brought dramatic changes and explore the similarities and differences of Pequot people today. The program includes a Native perspective which did not change over time — the importance of respecting Mother Earth — because the way we care for the environment today impacts upon our children for generations to come.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Human-Environment Interaction
Contact Information
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
(800) 411-9671
groupsales@pequotmuseum.org
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Visit this multi-sensory, multi-media exhibit that follows 400 years of Hartford’s history. Highlights include a 1912 Fire Engine and Mark Twain’s bicycle!
Design your own experience:
– Search & Discover – Working in teams, students explore the exhibition using a fun and educational “scavenger hunt.”
– Build Hartford – Students examine the evolution of Hartford’s built environment with a physical map activity and discussion about types of structures, building placement and changes in a community over time.
– Self-Guided – Students explore the exhibition at their own pace.
Type:
Self-Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Defining Regions
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What is a community? What role do we play in our communities? Students learn about their local, state, national, and global communities and discuss what makes each unique. Using the stories of Connecticut’s Old State House and the book Harold and the Purple Crayon as their guides, they discuss what makes a community, how communities are formed and work together, and illustrate how they fit into each community.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: The Way We Live Today
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Students exercise their powers of creativity, curiosity and observation when they create “spy glasses” to help them explore the art and architecture of Connecticut’s Old State House.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What is the Charter Oak and why is it an important part of Connecticut history? Students will learn about the story by re-enacting the legendary event that took place in Hartford in 1687. They will also explore the History Is All Around Us exhibit to find items made from the wood of the great oak tree.
Type:
Re-enactment
Target audiences:
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 2: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Students explore Connecticut’s Old State House through questioning and interactive activities. During this program, students examine the building’s use over two hundred years and learn some of the key stories from its past.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Defining Regions
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
8605226766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Fulfill your civics requirement in the historic rooms of Connecticut’s Old State House as students engage in an interactive role-play election and
mock court trial to learn about the three branches of state government!
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Students embrace the messages found in objects and architecture illustrating local and state history as they discover their place within this cultural narrative. Visits include hour-long tours at both the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Old State House.
At the Old State House, students will participate in These Walls Do Talk: Art and Architecture at the Old State House. This program will use visual clues which illustrate the role history played in the art and architecture of the building, the site’s significance as the birthplace of democracy and its connection to ancient Greece and Rome. At The Wadsworth, teachers may select either Connecticut People & Places or American Art.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Grade 6: Defining Regions
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

In the room where the historic Black Law of 1833 was passed, students meet Prudence Crandall, the school teacher from Canterbury, Connecticut and Andrew Judson, the lawyer and legislator who tried to stop her from teaching African-American girls in her school. Students take part in the dialogue by playing the roles of various historical characters that either supported or opposed Crandall and Judson’s points of view.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
8605226766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

The site of the Old State House was witness to many important events during the Revolutionary War. Students will role-play and interact with historical characters to learn about Connecticut’s role in America’s quest for independence and the significant contributions made by the state and its citizens during the American Revolution.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
8605226766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

What is the Civil War and why did it start? Did everyone in Connecticut agree about the war? How did it impact the people living in Connecticut? Students learn as they meet a Union soldier and discover what life was like on the battlefield, help a Connecticut woman with the “homefront” effort while her husband and sons are away at war, and participate in the 1863 Connecticut election that pitted war governor William Buckingham against “Peace Democrat” Thomas Seymour.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Perhaps the most famous court case ever heard at Connecticut’s Old State House was the case of La Amistad. Students make a personal connection with the story as they explore the events of the trial from Hartford to New Haven to the U.S. Supreme Court, and learn about the people involved in the case in the fall of 1839. Students discuss the Atlantic slave trade, discover the stories of those involved in this ground-breaking trial, and debate if justice really was served. Modified for varied age groups. Participatory re-enactment and primary source activities available.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice
Grade 6: Human Population
Contact Information
800 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-6766
Jacob.Orcutt@cga.ct.gov
https://www.cga.ct.gov/osh/docs/2016/StudentProgramGuide.pdf
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
This field trip focuses on the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War and its relationship to Windsor. Battlefront Letters, supply lists, and reproduction artifacts tell how soldiers and their families in Windsor coped with the War for Independence. Students will visit the two historic homes during their trip: The Strong-Howard house and Hezekiah Chaffee House. During tours of these houses students will be taught about the roles of the Howard and Chaffee families during the war and how their activities relate to the greater themes of the American Revolution. The Strong-Howard House is fully furnished with reproductions of revolutionary era furniture and items. Students can touch everything in the house, providing vital insight into the domestic lives of Revolutionary era Americans. In our galleries students will learn about important revolutionary figures from Windsor including Oliver Ellsworth, a drafter of the U.S. Constitution, first senator of Connecticut, and third Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Activities and themes are dependent on the grade level participating in the trip. If prior notification is provided content and themes can be included or altered as necessary to meet your classes’ specific needs.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Defining Regions
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Grade 6: Movements of People
Contact Information
96 Palisado Avenue
Windsor, CT 06095
860-688-3813
jmooney@windsorhistoricalsociety.org
http://windsorhistoricalsociety.org/
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

An exploration of Native American and Guilford Colonists culinary cultures. Students will help prepare a meal over an open hearth while learning about domestic life in the colony in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 5: Cultural Diversity and an American National Identity
Contact Information
84 Boston Street
Guilford, CT 06437
347-453-8511
info@hylandhouse.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
No
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Connecticut when only the Native Americans lived here? What did the land look like? How did people eat, sleep and survive? Travel back in time with us to explore the natural environment of our region over 600 years ago. Students will explore: natural history, ecology, Native culture and early engineering.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 5: Gender Roles in Economic, Political, and Social Life
Contact Information
1 Museum Drive
Greenwich, CT 06830
203-869-0376
educationreservations@brucemuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
No

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Connecticut when only the Native Americans lived here? What did the land look like? How did people eat, sleep and survive? Travel back in time with us to explore the natural environment of our region over 600 years ago. Students will explore: natural history, ecology, Native culture and early engineering.
Type:
In School Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 3: Cultural Diversity and a Connecticut State Identity
Grade 5: Gender Roles in Economic, Political, and Social Life
Contact Information
1 Museum Drive
Greenwich, CT 06830
203-869-0376
educationreservations@brucemuseum.org
Inspiration to Action asks students to identify a social problem today and one action step they can do to change it. As a group, students create the Chain of Change, which serves as a reminder of the change each person has the power to do back in the classroom.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Contact Information
77 Forest Street
Hartford, CT 06105
860-522-9258
SchoolPrograms@stowecenter.org
http://harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
A facilitated discussion-based program focused on social issues of race, class and gender in contemporary life. Students connect issues Stowe advocated for to present day issues. Students identify action steps they can take that will lead to positive change. Discussion topics include: stereotypes, mass incarceration, activism, social movement, bullying, food justice, or can be tailored to meet curriculum needs.
Type:
Hands On Program
Target audiences:
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Contact Information
77 Forest Street
Hartford, CT 06105
860-522-9258
schoolprograms@stowecenter.org
http://harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
Being mindful of the Connecticut Core Curriculum we have designed a very special tour for 3rd grade students. Students will visit the Museum’s various galleries to learn about Waterbury’s history and how it has grown and changed over time. We will compare and contrast our past with our present. Using our VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) our goal is to give each student a voice in the discovery of their observations. For many of the students the is their first visit to our Museum. Our goal, during this visit, is to engage them in the “art” of observing and sharing their observations. After their guided tour, students will continue to the Studio to enjoy in a hands-on activity to deepen their experience they had in the galleries.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Contact Information
144 West Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 753-0381
meghan@mattmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
Being mindful of the Connecticut Core Curriculum we have designed a very special tour for 5th grade students. Our newly installed permanent Indigenous Peoples of Connecticut and Waterbury exhibition will excite the students by observing various tools and artifacts and learning about the many tribes of Connecticut. Students will revisit Colonial Waterbury times and review the innovations of the time period. We discuss the history of slavery in Waterbury through the personal story and injustice of Fortune, a slave owned by Dr. Preserver Porter. Students are then guided through the city’s involvement during the Revolutionary War through the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the abolishment of slavery. Students will complete the guided portion of their tour learning about the early history of the Industrial Revolution and Waterbury’s contributions to the manufacturing world. The students experience will conclude with a short writing prompt choosing one of time periods that were discussed and writing a “day in the life” journal entry. The Museum’s goal by combining the tour, gallery conversations and writing prompt is to deepen the students understanding of Peoples of Waterbury, 1600s – 1800s.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
144 West Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
(203) 753-0381
meghan@mattmuseum.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
Themes
Contact Information
,

Students examine first-hand the primary source material on display in our on-going series of Special Collections exhibitions through docent-led tours. Students hold and read from rare books, manuscripts, and archives. They discuss the historical importance of primary source material and analyze its relevance in the 21st century through connections drawn to contemporary material on display, discussion of themes that are universal to the human experience, and collaborative writing and art activities that foster reflection and critical and creative thinking.
For the 2017-18 school year, our Special Collections exhibitions will include: 1917: The U.S. Enters the Great War (Oct 5-Dec 3, 2017); Selections from the Children’s Historical Collection (Dec 15, 2017-Feb 4, 2018); Native Americans: Living in the New World (Feb 15-May 6, 2018).
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of the United States in World Affairs
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
720 Pequot Avenue
Southport, CT 06890
203-259-0346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Through docent-led tours, students learn about the history of Pequot Library and its contributions to our community; explore the library building, which is listed on The National Register of Historic Places and sits near the site of the last great battle of the Pequot War; learn to view historic buildings and architecture as primary sources while experiencing our iconic steel stacks, glass floors, and Tiffany & Co stained glass windows.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Role of Connecticut in U.S. History
Contact Information
720 Pequot Avenue
Southport, CT 06890
203-259-0346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

The United States officially joined the Great War on April 6, 1917, after much debate, concern, and review. Once committed, Americans joined the effort by doing the great and the small. While the U.S. government published educational materials along with propaganda, citizens learned new recipes to conserve food, planted Victory Gardens, and bought liberty bonds. Americans pitched in however they could to help the soldiers “over there”. By their efforts, they answered the question: “What can we do?”. Pequot Library explores this question and these efforts through its collections of pamphlets, posters, and books from the era.
Selections from Pequot’s Special Collections will highlight many civic activities that characterized the Home Front efforts of U.S. citizens. Amid the items exhibited are:
* Vibrant posters issued by the U.S. government to promote civic activities in support of the war effort
* Pamphlets on the conservation of food, Victory gardens, Liberty loans, and political issues
* Novels and poetry of the day
* Maps and military diagrams
During a two-hour field trip to Pequot Library, students will:
– Examine the primary source material on display in the exhibit through docent led tours
– Learn about the history and architecture of Pequot Library, a national treasure that sits near the site of the last great battle of the Pequot War and is listed on The National Register of Historic Places
– Participate in a collaborative writing/art activity that synthesizes insight gained from the exhibit tour with content studied in the classroom
For more information, or to schedule a school tour, please e-mail schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org or call (203) 259-0346 ext 117.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
720 Pequot Avenue
Southport, CT 06890
(203) 259-0346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
No
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Pequot Library Past & Present: Our Building Tells a Story. What were libraries like in the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries? Learn about the history of Pequot Library – an architectural treasure located near the site of the last great battle of the Pequot War and listed in The National Register of Historic Places – including our founders and their mission, the acquisition of our Special Collections, and the contributions the Library has made to our community since its opening in 1894. Journey back in time while exploring our historic building as a primary source that tells the story of our past, through our original steel stacks, glass floors, and Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows. View items from our Special Collections held in our Rare Books Reading Rooms, The Dillon Room and The May Room; examine historic photographs of Pequot Library & Southport.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Contact Information
720 Pequot Ave
Southport, CT 06890
2032590346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Trace the social and economic development of Fairfield as it’s reflected through the architecture of Southport, which has been protected as a national historic district since 1971. Follow the transition of Southport from swampland to the English occupation, to the present, 21st century village of private homes. Learn about two centuries of buildings, from 18th century farmhouses, sea captain and sailor homes of the early 1800s, suburban villas of the latter part of the century, and 20th century commuter homes, and discover how architecture in the area changed as Southport developed from port to commercial district to suburban enclave.
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 8 – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Impact of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the Development of CT Towns and the State
Grade 4: Human-Environment Interaction
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Contact Information
720 Pequot Ave
Southport, CT 06890
2032590346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes

Examine the primary source material on display in our on-going series of Special Collections exhibits. Read from rare books, manuscripts, and archives. Discuss the historical importance of primary source material and its relevance in the 21st century, through analysis of themes that are universal to the human experience, and collaborative art and writing activities that foster reflection and critical and creative thinking. Monday-Friday. 90 minutes.
Special Collections Exhibitions Calendar
November 1, 2018 – January 27, 2019 – Egyptomania: The Western Fascination with Egypt
February 2 – May 5, 2019 – The Art of the Book
Type:
Guided Tour
Target audiences:
Grade 1 – Society and Ourselves
Grade 2 – Making a Difference
Grade 3 – CT and Local History
Grade 4 – United States Geography
Grade 5 – Early United States History
Grade 6 & 7 – World Regional Studies
Grade 8 – United States History
High School – Civics and Government
High School – Modern World History
High School – United States History
Themes
Grade 1: Connecting the Past and the Present
Grade 2: Connecting the Past and Today
Grade 3: Using Evidence to Learn About the Past
Grade 4: Movements of People and Ideas
Grade 5: The Impact of Science and Technology on Society
Grade 6: Global Interconnections: Cultural Diffusion
Contact Information
720 Pequot Ave
Southport, CT 06890
2032590346
schoolprograms@pequotlibrary.org
Lunch space available:
Yes
Handicapped Accessible:
Yes
Pre and Post Visit Materials Available:
Yes
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