Menu:
School Programs for 2009-2010
- All programs begin with a five-minute introductory video that
provides an
overview of the history of Connecticut's Old State House. - Recommended group sizes for each program are listed below.
- We require one chaperone for every ten students. Chaperones are
responsible for supervision and must remain with the group at all times!
I Spy the Old State House
Students exercise their powers of creativity, curiosity, observation
and description
when they create and decorate spy glasses that will help them
explore the art and
architecture of Connecticut's Old State House with our knowledgeable
staff.
Grades: k‐2
Time: 45 minutes
Group size:
up to 30 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each
How Government Works: Connecticut's 3 Branches and Why
They Matter
Students explore the three branches
of state government and become familiar with their role as citizens
through interactive activities. Students debate issues,
participate in a mock
court trial, and learn about the executive branch.
Grades: 3‐6
Time: 1 ½ hour
Group size: up to 50 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each
History is All Around Us Exhibition
Opened in 2006, this multi media exhibition explores 300 years of
Hartford’s
history. Featured objects include a 1912 fire truck, arrowheads,
pieces of the
Charter Oak, 18th and 19th century cookware, and a bicycle owned by
Mark Twain.
Choose how you would like your students to experience the
exhibition!
- Scavenger Hunt – Working
in teams, students explore the exhibition using a
fun and educational scavenger hunt.
- Map Activity & Tour
– Students examine Hartford's architectural
evolution as
they place wooden blocks on a large map. The different colored blocks
represent various time periods from the 1690s to present day. Discussion focuses on types of structures, building placement and change over time.
- Facilitated – Working in small groups, students search for objects,
such as a
skateboard, license plate, clock, and money. They discuss how the object
reflects government's impact on citizens and report their findings to the
class.
- Self-Guided – Students explore the exhibition at their own pace.
Grades: 3‐6
Time: 45‐60 minutes
Group size:
up to 30 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each
Want Change?
Students interact with a living history character to discover how
the person
impacted Connecticut. Based on actual people, the historic
characters explore issues
of the day, how they accessed state government, and the actions they
took. The
program consists of a living history performance (you choose the
character) with a
focused exploration using reproduction objects and primary
documents.
| Living History Characters: | |
 |
Hannah Watson:
Left a widow with five young children to raise and a
newspaper business to run, Mrs. Watson
petitioned the General Assembly for assistance after her paper mill
burned.
Hear about her efforts to keep the news coming during the
Revolutionary
War. |
 |
Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.: Meet Governor Trumbull, Jr. and learn about his 12 years in office, as well as his service to George Washington during the American Revolution. Discover how the role of governor has changed over two hundred years. |
 |
The Rev. Joseph Steward: In 1797, the Rev. Steward opened a cabinet of curiosities, filled with natural and cultural items, on the third floor of the Old State House. View his amazing collection and discover how museums have changed since Steward's time. |
 |
P. T. Barnum: Best known as a showman, Barnum served four terms in Connecticut’s General Assembly. He proudly voted to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which ended slavery, in this very building in 1865. Hear about his views and political life. |
 |
Frances Ellen Burr: Miss Burr believed that all citizens, including women, should have the right to vote. In 1869, she co‐founded the Connecticut Women’s Suffrage Association. Learn about her efforts to secure women’s suffrage. |
Grades: 3‐12
Time: 1 ¼ hour
Group size: up to 50 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each
My Museum
Students meet the Rev. Joseph Steward and learn how he opened a museum
in the Old
State House. Students tour Rev. Steward's "cabinet of
curiosities." After the tour, students work in groups to create a
museum of their own.
Grades: 3‐6
Time: 45‐60 minutes
Group size:
up to 50 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each
Discover the Old State House
Students explore the historic Old State House through questioning
and interactive
activities. During the program, students examine the building’s use
and how it has
changed over two hundred years.
Grades: 3‐6
Time: 45‐60 minutes
Group size: up to 30 students
Price: $4.00 per student. Includes admission for 1 adult per 10
students. Additional
adults: $6.00 each