Educational Programs
"Adventures in Time": Offered in Two Sessions July & August Also watch for Programs offered during school vacations in the "Upcoming Events" area.
The North Andover Historical Society plays an important and active role in bringing local history alive for our children. The town-wide educational programs for students are presented at the first through fifth and seventh grade levels. These programs have evolved from a staff production with volunteer input and cooperation from participating teachers.
Second Grade Program
The second grade program is usually the first exposure that the students of North Andover have to their local history. Second grade classes come to "Mrs. Johnson's Cottage" to experience the daily life of children in the 1820s. They get a chance to try on reproduction clothes, see where they would have eaten and slept, and discover what their chores would have been. Each student participates in making butter with a churn, a typical children's activity in the 1800s.
Third Grade Program
When the study of local, or community history was assigned to the third grade curriculum, the Society developed several multi-part programs including a photographic presentation to provide a brief overview of the town's history, a scavenger hunt of the town buildings and history, and study kit on the meaning of artifacts. These various in-classroom programs are currently being offered to the North Andover community.
Several field trip options are also available, utilizing the Old Center Village or the Parson Barnard House and Old Burying Ground. Cost for this program is $3 per child.
Fourth Grade Program
The fourth grade program takes place at the Parson Barnard House and Carriage Barn. The program explores the concept of change over time and man’s impact on his environment. Beginning with a house tour 
where the students become “House Detectives”, the changes in both the architecture and domestic life between 1715 and 1830 is studied. The “Detective” looks for signs of technological advancements, and the impact of the Industrial Revolution. The evolution in agricultural tradition from the 18th to the early 20th centuries is explored in the 1812 Carriage Barn. Students are exposed to a wide variety of agricultural tools from the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries; discuss their uses and which equipment children would have used regularly in the 1800s. A few tools are available for the students to operate, giving them a better sense of early life in North Andover. The fourth grade program costs $3 per student.
Outreach Children’s Programs
Programs are available in the classroom or for groups (scouts, home schoolers) on a variety of topics including local history, holidays, schools of the past and other exhibit related topics (ie. Civil War, 18th Century in the North Parish). Programs can be adapted for grades 1-12, for public school classrooms or home schooled children. Teacher workshops are also offered on developing programs based the Society’s local history resources. Fees depend on the scope of the program desired.
"Adventures in Time" Summer Enrichment Program
July 7-11; Aug. 4-8
Adventures in Time is a two-session program that explores various topics in history. Twelve participants experience different aspects of life during the development of the American nation through ‘hands-on” lessons in a variety of traditional crafts and trades. Several field trips to historic sites in and around North Andover give the children a chance to explore the history of the entire region. The fee is set according to current market demand.
Our children's summer enrichment program will be held in two one-week sessions.
The first week, "Victorian America" will look at young America through its arts and letters, its inventions and innovations. The week includes field trips to the Orchard House in Concord and the Quilt Museum in Lowell, as well as learning the language of fans and flowers and "papier mache", testing our sewing and quilt making skills, and creating "hair" bracelets in the Victorian tradition. A period tea party will end the week.
During the second week, "Hearth & Home," we will explore the art of fireplace cooking, spinning and weaving and dairy skills (including home-made cheese). We will visit the Wenham Museum for a look at a kitchen from the past. "Historic Foodways" will fill our final day.
The day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a supervised lunch period (child must bring their own lunch) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2007 ADVENTURES IN TIME UPDATE
Both weeks of our children’s enrichment program were filled, and each week had a waiting list. Deb Friedman, historic food specialist and Director of Interpretation at Sturbridge Village, conducted a “foodways” program during each week. Under Ms. Friedman’s guidance, the children prepared a variety of historic dishes, including some “recipes” from our own collection. You may have seen the photo in the Citizen of Deb Freidman with our Adventures in Time kids “cooking” in our own backyard!
A Real Adventure this Summer
Emily and I were playing with Squeekers. When we went for a short walk, we found something white, hiding in the moss. Next Emily and I took off the moss and dirt. Some of the moss was loose and some was tight. We found a doll face with curly black hair. Then we gave it to Mrs. Majahad. Then we went back to playing.
We were at the North Andover Historical Society between a rock and a step to the door to the carpenter shop. After finding the doll face Squeekers wants to be called Professor Mousey. (Professor Mousey is a finger puppet.)
Linnie McGuire. Editor’s note: Emily Lozier, age 10, and Linnie McQuire, age 8, were both participants in this summer’s Adventures in Time enrichment program and found the china doll head fragment during the final afternoon of the July session, “Hearth & Home”.
The fee is $140 for one week and $250 for two. NAHS members receive a 20% discount, and a second child receives a 10% discount. Please call the Society for more information and reservations.
Page Last Modified Sun 02-17-2008 10:46
Note: For more information on events, please click on event title or go to Events page or the Programs page.