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EDUCATION PROGRAMS

 SCHOOL PROGRAMS 

Educational programs in museums provide unique, informal learning experiences for students. Museum and school partnerships are an excellent way to build greater understanding and knowledge. A visit to our Museum can foster both an understanding and appreciation of our shared local history. The D&H Canal Museum’s education program supports school curriculum objectives for the 4^th and 5^th grades though we would be delighted to tailor our educational services to meet the level and need of each class. 

Elementary School Tour

We offer guided school group tours of our museum complete with working models of a canal lock and Gravity Railroad, a recreated interior of a canal boat cabin, canal and gravity railroad dioramas, and a Roebling Aqueduct model. Students view a brief video about the D & H Canal followed by a demonstration of our working scale model of Lock 16.  Students then take a guided tour of the Five Locks Walk, a mile long walk along the original towpath trail from Lock 16 to Lock 20, designated a National Historic Landmark. There they can experience the actual canal, with snubbing posts, feeder canals, waste weirs and slips still in place.  Lastly, students work together in small groups to find the answers to various canal related questions with our Hoggee Hunt, which encourages participation and enriches their museum experience. 

Hoggee Hunt

In this activity, each student is given a copy of the Hoggee Hunt booklet and proceeds through the museum searching for answers to numerous questions.  Students are encouraged to work together, or, if preferred, they can work individually at their own pace.

Our three hour educational experience is available for school groups at $3.00 per child and chaperone and with no charge for teachers. 

TEACHER RESOURCES

Teacher’s Packet
We provide comprehensive lesson packets for teachers complete with prepared lesson plans, primary documents, and activity sheets. Each lesson corresponds to specific NYS standards. These packets are available free to teachers’ prior to their museum visit. Additional lesson packets are available for purchase at $15.00 each in the Museum Gift Shop. 

Primary Document Packet
The Museum also offers a primary document packet containing numerous documents dating back to the 19th century canal era. Accompanying each document are congruous document based questions. This packet is  available for purchase at $10.00 each in the Museum Gift Shop.

19th Century Food Unit
With the 19th Century Food Unit, students will learn about cooking and eating habits of different laboring groups and areas of the country. This packet is available for purchase for $15.00.

 Literature Unit
Our two Literature Units feature an abundance of language arts activities including worksheets on adverbs, adjectives, similes and other literary elements, book report ideas and other fun projects.  The units are based on two children's novels available in our bookshop.  Canalboat to Freedom follows Benja, a young indentured hoggee, on his adventures on the D & H Canal including involvement in the Underground Railroad.  Benja learns numerous life lessons and discovers the importance of freedom. Captain Kate tells the story of a headstrong girl who pilots her father's barge on the C & O Canal during the Civil War, learning responsibility and how to see life from another's perspective.  Both units are available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop for $10.

Thematic Units
Thematic units supply excellent cross-curriculum information to students. We currently have two thematic units available to teachers, The Underground Railroad and 19^th Century Travel. Each includes lesson plans in numerous disciplines with enriching activities that are both fun and informative. Selected contents include but are not limited to, chapter books and picture books with corresponding materials, graphs, timelines, cooperative group activities, CDs and games.  Teachers can pick up a Thematic Unit for $15.00 each for one week or $20 each for two weeks.

Museum in a Box
Consisting of two separate yet related programs, Hoggees: Children of the Canal and The Gravity Railroad, our Museum in the Box is designed to bring the Museum straight into your classroom! Complete with manipulatives for learning centers, primary documents with DBQ’s, historical photographs, videos and fun activities.  This discovery based learning program is the perfect compliment to your Museum visit but may also be used independently. Teachers can pick a Museum in a Box up at the Museum for $10 each for one week or $15 each for two weeks. 

YOUTH PROGRAMS

 Scouting Program
The Museum offers a selection of workshops designed to aid both Boy and Girl Scouts in completing various badge requirements. Each workshop can accommodate up to 20 scouts. Cost is $5 per scout, which includes all supplies and refreshments. All workshops can be tailored to the needs of the scouts. Contact the Museum for current offerings.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Group Tours
The D & H Canal Museum welcomes adult groups and bus tours.   Our building is wheelchair accessible and we can help you plan lunch.  Guided tours of both the Museum and Five Locks Walk may be scheduled in advance by calling the Museum.

Performing Arts & Lecture Series
Our historic Gothic chapel plays a host to numerous music and theatrical events during the year.  Past performances have included jazz and Celtic music concerts as well as the Bel Canto Institute performing Italian arias.

Updated 3/31/2005