Outreach and Educational Programs
The Essex County Museum and Historical Society has a variety of educational and outreach programs that can be presented at the museum or in a classroom or other venue. A minimum of 30 – day advance reservation is needed and programs are presented October through May.
Educational programs for youth have recommended grade levels and group size is limited to 20 students, if presentation is at the museum. All programs are in compliance with Virginia’s S.O.L.’s and most offer hands-on activities. Each lesson includes take home items that can be copied for use in the classroom or at home.
Reservations can be made by calling the museum at (804) 443 4690 between 10 am and 3pm any day except Wednesdays or Sundays or by completing the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Use the + and – icons to expand and close the details each Program.
The Essex County Museum and Historical Society has a variety of educational and outreach programs that can be presented at the museum or in a classroom or other venue. A minimum of 30 – day advance reservation is needed and programs are presented October through May.
Educational programs for youth have recommended grade levels and group size is limited to 20 students, if presentation is at the museum. All programs are in compliance with Virginia’s S.O.L.’s and most offer hands-on activities. Each lesson includes take home items that can be copied for use in the classroom or at home.
Reservations can be made by calling the museum at (804) 443 4690 between 10 am and 3pm any day except Wednesdays or Sundays or by completing the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Use the + and – icons to expand and close the details of each Program.
Archaeology
Students will learn through visual aids, discussion, and hands-on, the meaning of Archaeology, the equipment and methods used to identify artifacts. They will learn the importance Archaeology has on the history of our nation. Recommended grade level : third and above.
ESTIMATED TIME: 25 – 30 minutes
HANDS – ON: Sifting sand and uncovering a variety of artifacts.
TAKE HOME: Vocabulary listing, Archaeological anagram, picture for coloring, diploma.
Black History Overview, Essex County
Attendees will be given an overview of different segments of African American life in Essex. These segments highlight the different times in our county’s history and some of the African Americans who provided significant contributions within and outside the community. This activity offers presentation to students and/or adult groups.
ESTIMATED TIME: 30 – 35 minutes
HANDS – ON: None
TAKE HOME: Copy of menu from Mark Haven’s Beach.
Chesapeake Bay, Marine Life, Watermen, and Zeuglodon
Students will learn through discussion and visual aids and hands-on activites information relating to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, economic and environmental aspects of the waterways, the rivers, marine life, and pre-historic life. The job of the Waterman and John Smith’s exploration will also be topics for discussion. Recommended grade level : fourth grade and above.
ESTIMATED TIME: 35 – 40 minutes
HANDS-ON: Use of hand-outs to identify marine life and pre-historic life.
TAKE HOME: Glossary, copy of “What people can do to save the Bay”, picture of a pre-historic mammal (Zeuglodon).
Chesapeake Bay Environmental & Oyster Castles
This lesson provides more in depth analysis of the environmental concerns of the waterways and the efforts to maintain a healthy aquatic life. Recommended for 5th and 6th grades
ESTIMATED TIME: 40 – 45 minutes
HANDS – ON: Constructing an Oyster Castle
TAKE HOME: Glossary, Save the Bay, Waterman background, Word search.
History of Corn
Students will learn the origin of corn, different types of corn, geography of corn, and experience, by hands on, the earliest means and methods of preparing dried corn for grits. ( An 11 minute video of a local water powered grist mill will be shown for indoor presentation.) Recommended grade level : 4th to 6th
ESTIMATED TIME: 30 – 35 minutes
HANDS – ON: Grinding corn into meal, using a mortar and pestle
TAKE HOME: Vocabulary listing, instructions for making a corn husk doll and wreath, map of Corn Belt States, listing of different types of corn.
John Smith's Exploration, Jamestown Settlement, Tobacco, and Pocahontas
Students will learn through discussion and visual aids the importance of John Smith’s exploration, the waterways he surveyed, and the Indian tribes he encountered and the influence they had on him. They will learn the significance of Jamestown and the importance of Tobacco, and the important role Pocahontas had on the settlement’s survival. Recommended grade level: 4th – 5th
ESTIMATED TIME: 30 minutes
HANDS – ON: Copy of John Smith’s voyage map to identify waterways and Indian tribes encountered. Picture of Tobacco leaf to identify the use of the different leaf layers.
TAKE HOME: Vocabulary list, initial voyage facts, outlines of John Smith, Pocahontas, and Jamestown Settlement, pictures of Indian village.
Native Indians and Waterways
Students will through use of visual aids and discussion demonstrate knowledge of physical geography and native people, past and present. Reference to John Smith and the Steamboat Era will be included. Recommended grade level: 4th – 6th
ESTIMATED TIME: 35 – 40 minutes
HANDS – ON: Interaction with pictorial maps and waterways.
TAKE HOME: National Historic trail map, Listing of waterways and Indians, Tribes/Chiefdoms recorded by John Smith, picture of Indian village, Rappahannock River tributaries.
The River, Then and Now
To provide students with an understanding and appreciation for the history of the river and how the changes in trade, steam-boating, land use and population growth redefined the region environmentally and economically. A review of John Smith’s voyage and Indian culture will also be discussed.
Recommended grade level: 4th and above
ESTIMATED TIME: 45 minutes
HANDS-ON: Using a map of the river will follow a simulated navigational path of the steamboats and location of the ferries which crisscrossed the river.
TAKE HOME: Steamboat fact sheet
18th Century Colonial Life
Students will learn through visual aids and discussion the transformation from settlements to towns, city life vs. plantation life, clothing, pastimes, travel, transportation, and various occupations. ( An 11 minute video of the miller’s job is included )
Recommended grade level: third grade through fifth.
ESTIMATED TIME: 45 minutes
HANDS – ON: None
TAKE HOME: Vocabulary list, colonial talk list, pictures of anvil, pottery maker, brickmaker, and examples of blacksmith’s work.
18th Century Colonial School Room Experience
Students will participate in an 18th century classroom exercise for both boys and girls via discussion, visual aids and hands-on activities. They will experience a typical day by reviewing learning tools, writing on slates , Latin and Greek lessons, geography, and celestial navigation. They will also learn about the type of pastime activities the children engaged in. The importance of the Declaration of Independence will also be included.
Recommended grade level: third through fifth
ESTIMATED TIME: 40 minutes
Walking Tours/Historic District
A: PICTORIAL TOUR FOR NON-WALKERS, BACKGROUND: This presentation is designed for those people who are unable to do much or no walking at all. 12 sites within the Historic Area have been photographed and each will be discussed relative to its individual history. This lesson can be presented in nursing homes or to a group visiting the area. If in the museum there would be a limit of 20 people. Advance reservations are required.
ESTIMATED TIME: 35-40 minutes
TAKE HOME: Copy of walking tour map. Background articles on Tappahannock and the Steamboat Era, and Wharves.
B: FOR STUDENTS: The tour starts with a museum tour. The tour then will exit to Prince St. and follow the route of historic homes and sites including the River, which was the hub of activity in the early history of Tappahannock. Students will learn about the people, land use, the importance of the river, and the impact the Steamboat Era had on the region. Note: depending on class size may need to divide into 2-3 groups.
ESTIMATED TIME: 45-60 minutes
TAKE HOME PACKET: Articles on Tappahannock, River and Steamboats, Wharves, and Downing Bridge
C: FOR ADULTS: This tour starts with a museum tour. The walking tour includes the full Historic District where the group(s) will see the original buildings and hear about the many influential citizens who were important to the beginning development of Tappahannock. At the river the group will learn about its importance and how the Steamboat Era influenced the economic, cultural and agricultural growth of the region.
ESTIMATED TIME: 60-75 minutes
TAKE HOME PACKET: Background articles of Tappahannock, the Steamboats, Wharves, Caponka, and Downing Bridge
FEE: May apply