History for every age

In this hands-on program, students explore the rich history of Saratoga County’s earliest inhabitants, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) People. Activities include a lively discussion on the history of Native People, an analysis of replica and artifact items, and a review of the natural materials used by the Mohawk People.

Roll up your sleeves and join the farmer in processing corn from start to finish! Your preschool students will delve into the wonders of autumn, explore a variety of fall vegetables, and try their hand at shelling, grinding, and sifting corn. This engaging program introduces students to the journey of food from farms to our tables. Through these activities, students will improve counting skills, color recognition, fine motor abilities, teamwork, and listening comprehension.

This customizable program brings history and textbooks to life. Activities include farm chores like making butter, grinding corn, and hauling ice. Other stations offer old-fashioned toys and games, solving historical puzzles, and experiencing aspects of a one-room schoolhouse. All stations encourage students to compare their modern-day lives with those of the past.

Brookside brings the excavation to your classroom in this exciting program. Four groups of students are assigned units to measure, excavate, document, and analyze. We will discuss excavation techniques, materials, documentation procedures, and how artifacts are used to deepen our understanding of local history. Students will use primary and secondary sources to analyze the authentic artifacts that they uncover before sharing their findings with the rest of the class.

Students will explore the life of Alonzo Bump, a Union soldier from the 77th New York State Volunteer Regiment. They will analyze historical letters written by Bump, as well as examine newspapers, photographs, maps, original artifacts, and replica items from the Civil War era. Students will present their findings to the class, promoting collaboration and critical thinking.

Students will explore the experiences of local men and women during World War I by reviewing their authentic letters and other primary sources. They will also learn about the impact of the war on Saratoga County, investigate the effects of the Spanish flu, compare the lives of several soldiers, consider cultural shifts prompted by the war, and study how the home front supported the war effort.

Students explore the importance of water through primary and secondary sources, artifacts, maps, storytelling, and science experiments. They will test and compare the pH levels of water from various sources, try hefting a block of ice with ice tongs, discover the history of floating logs down the Hudson River to paper mills, and compare waterwheel and turbine designs. We examine how water was, and continues to be, an important natural resource in Saratoga County agriculture, industry, tourism, and everyday life.

Students step into the past to explore what school was like long ago. Through storytelling, visuals, and hands-on stations, they’ll practice cursive writing, try out chores, play with old-fashioned toys, and make a craft to take home. Activities highlight classroom life, transportation, home routines, and how learning has changed over time.

We’ll bring our popular Sheep to Shawl program right into the classroom. Sheep to Shawl encourages students to discover the important role that sheep and agriculture have played in local history as well as in our modern lives. This program offers an interactive experience that students will remember for years. A variety of new vocabulary terms are introduced, and students actively participate in the many steps of processing wool fiber.

Offered each spring, Sheep to Shawl includes demonstrations and hands-on activities related to the processing of wool, from shearing a sheep to making a shawl. Four unique stations keep the students actively involved as they observe and participate in the shawl-making process. The program runs 1.5 hours.

Native New York celebrates Native American history and culture, with a focus on the northeastern woodland nations. Students learn about food, shelter, and community structure through interactive and hands-on sessions. It is designed to meet the needs of teachers and students in their study of social studies for grades 2–8, and is especially appropriate for grades 4 and 7, complementing their study of local and New York State history.

Roll up your sleeves and join the farmer in processing corn from start to finish. Students shell, grind, and sift corn, explore a variety of fall vegetables, and enjoy a snack of cornbread and apple juice. Offered on selected dates in October and November, with timing options of 10:00–11:00 AM or 1:00–2:00 PM. Craft materials and a snack are included in the program fee. Please inform us of any allergy concerns or special needs.

Ask us about this program.