Middle & High School Programs
call the Education Department at (860)868-0518 ext. 103 to schedule a field trip today!
Discovering Quinnetukut
Participants in this program will have fun as they enhance their historical thinking skills learning about Connecticut's rich Native American history. Discovering Quinnetukut includes:
- Quinnetukut: Our Homeland, Our Story... in this exciting exhibit, a chronology of Connecticut's indigenous past is explained and students see how settlement patterns and technology changed over time; human interaction with the environment; and ways Native Peoples maintained their tribal identity after European settlement.
- A visit to the Simulated Archaeological Site, where participants discuss archaeology in Connecticut and how archaeological discoveries can help us learn about the past
- Sachem's House (Longhouse) Classroom, where students learn about daily life in the 1500s, handle authentic and replicated artifacts and discuss what evidence archaeologists might find of the artifacts, centuries later.
- Outdoor replicated Algonkian village, where participants will view and learn about homes and structures of Native Americans in the 1500s, and the evidence of those structures that would be found now.
- From East to West: Across Our Homelands, where students compare post-contact era artifacts from different Native American cultural regions and discuss European influences
- If you would like to incorporate a visit to our Gift Shop, mention that when booking!
2 to 2½ hours
$9 per student with $120 minimum
Introduction To Archaeology
Participants will begin their program with a brief introduction to the science of archaeology, before visiting our outdoor replicated Algonkian village to investigate the structures and consider what evidence is left behind by past cultures for archaeologists and anthropologists to uncover. Working in teams, students will next excavate their own square in our Simulated Archaeological Site, recording and interpreting their findings. Using actual artifacts, participants will practice basic analytical techniques to identify the age, possible use and other characteristics of objects. This program encourages analytical thinking as participants try to reconstruct the everyday behaviors of past cultures. If you would like to incorporate a visit to our Gift Shop, mention that when booking!
2 to 2½ hours
$15 per student with $200 minimum (max. 25 students per group)
Introduction To River Ecology
The river ways of the Eastern Woodlands have always been a vital resource to the Native Americans of this area, providing food and transport. This program focuses on the ecology of the riverbed, riparian life and the watershed and its relationship to the surrounding area. At the nearby Shepaug River, students will learn to assess the water quality of a river or stream by surveying its benthic macroinvertebrates (insect larvae, adult insects and crustaceans) and also conduct simple chemical analysis. This program provides an introduction to river ecology, demonstrating its importance to the surrounding environment and fostering an awareness of human impact on our natural water systems. If you would like to incorporate a visit to our Gift Shop, mention that when booking!
2 hours
$10 per student with $160 minimum (max. 24 students per group)
