Educational And Children's Programs

The mission of the Western North Carolina Historical Association Educational Programs is to help each student and visitor rediscover the land and people of western North Carolina through experiences that reveal the past and illuminate the future.

School Programming:

Field Trips:

Field trips are available at Smith McDowell House Museum on Thursdays and Fridays. Check out our on-line 2011 - 2012 Curriculum Guide HERE and choose your program topic and call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org and make a reservation. Minimum group size is 12 students. Pre-visit and Post-visit lessons are available as well as the Program Lesson Plans which include the NC Standard Course of Study Goals and Objectives. Program fee is $3.50 for students (teacher, assistant and up to 4 chaperones FREE - extra adults $4 each)

North Carolina Standard Course Of Study Goals for lessons can be downloaded HERE

Program Lesson Plans: click on the bold titles

The Drovers Road   (an outdoor game)
The 3 Rs (One Room School House)
Behind The Big House (Slavery history)                                     
Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley (The story and the trial)
Emeline Piggot, Confederate Spy  (A hands-on Civil War discovery)
Kiffin Rockwell:Asheville's World War I Flying Ace  (Early aviation history)        
The History of the U.S. Flag (Includes flag ettiquette) - lessons posted soon
The Home Front (Civil War) - lessons posted soon
Victorian Tea Party 
This program features a program about Victorian manners and includes tea and refreshments. Cost: $7.00 each student. Limit of no more than 24 students.
Pre and post visit activities are required and are available by clicking on the Victorian Tea Party title.
 

Traveling Trunks

Our Traveling trunks are a great value. Artifacts and a week’s worth of lesson plans – all in one box! The trunk includes theme-appropriate artifacts and a curriculum guide. The cost is only$15 for a week loan. The trunk may be picked up on Friday or Saturday afternoon and are to be returned by the next Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. There is a $15 per day late fee should trunks be returned late. Advance reservation is required. Please note that borrowers are responsible for replacement costs of missing or damaged items, so please be cautious. Call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org to make your reservation.

Advance lesson plans will be available for download soon

Outreach Programs:

Let us bring the museum to you! Call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org for reservations to bring a museum staff person or volunteer to your site. 1 hour, $90.00 for 1 class or group of no more than 60 students, $35.00 for each additional class or group on the same day (plus 25 cents per mile for locations outside of Buncombe County).

Any of the programs featured in the Curriculum Guide can be reserved as an Outreach Program. Download the pre and post visit activities above. 

Living History Day:

This is an event for school groups. Craft & history demonstrations, hands-on activities and tours of the 1840s Smith McDowell House Museum highlight the day.
Living History Day for 4th graders is held on the 2nd Friday of October.  2011: October 14
(This event has been cancelled, due to scheduling difficulties)
Living History Day for 5th grade will be held on April 20, 2012. (4th grade is also invited to this event)
Space is limited, so reservations are required. Cost is $3.50 for each student.
Please call or email for reservations.
Pre and Post Visit materials can be downloaded HERE.
The Hands On Back Pocket Guide can be downloaded HERE

 

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING:

The Crafty Historian:
A new series of educational and fun activities for school age children. Each program includes a program and a craft activity that reinforces the program. Children above the age of nine are welcome to attend without a parent, and younger are welcome with an adult. There is a minimal charge for each program based on the type of craft for the day.
These will be held on the third Saturday of most months from 10:30 to 12:30. Reservations are encouraged.
    
2012 -  January 21: Oh, Pioneers                  March 17: Games and Pastimes                              
              May 19: All Tied Up (strings)           June 16: Music (at the Back of the House Bash)
              July 21: TBA                                  August 18: We All Scream for Ice Cream!!

Victorian Tea Party:
February 11, 2012 The Victorian Tea Party program is a high tea luncheon with a manners program and Victorian Valentine craft. Appropriate for age seven and up and a grown up is required. Wonderful opportunity for a Mom & Me or a Dad & Me morning! $10 Adult, $10 child. Reservations required at least three days ahead of event.

Easter Egg Hunt: 
Always held on the day before Palm Sunday, the annual Easter Egg Hunt is a delight for children! Eggs on the historic grounds, prizes and refreshments and perhaps a visit from the Easter Bunny himself! $5 children, adults free. (age 4 and up).

Birthday Parties
Make your child’s birthday a “historic event”! Choose one our themes and you can relax while party-goers enjoy a program and historic craft. Parties are designed for children aged 7 and up and have minimum and maximum participant requirements and include 2 hour use of party room, program, activity and activity materials, use of tablecloths and table settings. You provide cake and refreshments. Parties must be during museum hours of 10:00 – 4:00 Wednesdays through Saturdays. You are also welcome to provide your own program, refreshments and activity at a slightly reduced rate.