School Programs
The Museums of Old York offers a range of school programs for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. All of our programs take a hands-on approach to learning, giving students a chance to experience a bit of history. Our dynamic and experienced education staff make learning about history fun and engaging.
These experience-based programs support curriculum standards for the humanities in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and are tailored to meet the needs of school groups and homeschoolers. A PDF brochure that can be downloaded here, describes each program along with the Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts learning standards that each program is designed to meet. Further descriptions of each program are provided in subsequent webpages:
Living History: Every year, the 5th grade classes at York Middle School study local history with the help of Old York. Each student takes on the character of a York Child from 1789. After preparing for their visit with in-class activities, the students arrive at Old York for a two day exploration. Some of the activities that the students participate in are: tours of York's historic houses, hearth cooking with our costumed interpreters at Jefferds' Tavern, and a maritime program at the John Hancock Wharf.
Ox Cart Man: The Ox Cart Man introduces K-3 students to life in the eighteenth century through a series of hands-on activities that relate to Donald Hall's award winning book, Ox Cart Man. Students hearth cook journey cakes like the Ox Cart Man would have taken on his trip. They card and spin wool like his family did in the winter. And they try some eighteenth century games such as ball and cup and Nine Men's Morris. The program concludes with the surprise visit of the Ox Cart Man who talks to the children about his journey!
Warehouse Activities:This program introduces fourth and fifth graders to maritime activities from the mid-eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century in York. The activities take place at the John Hancock Warehouse by the York River. Students listen to a sea captain or a sea captain's wife tell stories about adventures at sea. They learn the difference between exports and imports and identify goods coming into and leaving York in the eighteenth century. Upstairs in the warehouse, children embark on a treasure hunt of the exhibit looking for all the occupations affiliated with the ocean before learning to tie knots like a sailor.
A Day in 1789: This program was created to accommodate the needs of the growing home schooling population. Students are divided into two age groups. The older children prepare lunch or dessert at the hearth while learning about 18th century cooking and domestic life. At the same time the younger children learn about colonial education in the Old Schoolhouse, including a recess with colonial games. The two groups reunite for lunch, after which the older children head out to the Schoolhouse for their colonail lesson and the younger children learn about the Ox Cart Man.
Young Travelers: Students in grades 3-6 are introduced to life in the eighteenth century through a series of hands-on activities. Students try their hand at spinning and weaving wool. They play colonial games such as hoop and stick, tops, ball and cup and Nine Men's Morris. Children participate in hearth cooking either a dessert or a full noon meal. The visit also includes a lesson taught by the schoolmaster or mistress in the museum's eighteenth century schoolhouse.
The People and Their River: Using the York River as an example, students in grades 3-5 will study the importance of Southern Maine estuaries throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. At the John Hancock Warehouse, students will be introduced to the museum's maritime collection and learn about York's maritime history. They will then board a reproduction 1889 Piscataqua gundalow, Captain Edward H. Adams. These unique vessels were used extensively for the hauling of cargo on the salt water rivers of Southern Maine. Please note: this special program is only available during the first two weeks in May.
Colonial School House Lesson: The schoolmaster or mistress will teach your students about education in the late 18th century. Students of all ages will learn about manners, discipline and the three Rs of reading, writing and arithmetic. Students will practice math on slates, use quill pens, read from the New England Primer, make a copy book to take home and play colonial games during recess. Other activities may include a spelling bee, using words from the New England Primer, real world math problems, tongue twisters and riddles.
Steedman Woods: This is an interdisciplinary program for grades 4-6 that looks at the use, human impact and preservation efforts of land along the York River. Students start at the John Hancock Warehouse and then walk through adjacent Steedman Woods. Subjects discussed include Native American use of the land, farm use in the 18th century, the use of grist mills and ice houses, currens preservation efforts and livelihoods that rely on the river.
Old Gaol: The Old Gaol tour introduces students of all ages to the themes of government, law and society by looking at the eighteenth century gaol -- which is Old English for jail -- and gaoler's living quarters. The gaol cells offer the opportunity to discuss colonial law and justice, while the gaoler's living quarters display colonial family life. Built in 1719, York's Old Gaol is one of the oldest public building in the United States.