School Programs

2020/2021
STANDARDS BASED PROGRAMS

"Children are our legacy" - that was the lens through which President Emeritus, Seth Bongartz, fostered Hildene's school programs. Today, and into the future, youth education at Hildene is at the very heart of our mission. While programming will look different this school year, in our dedication to school-aged children, their teachers and caregivers, we are introducing school-based and home-based versions of some of our most popular regular programming. Of course, we invite learners to use the Hildene campus to undergo their investigations, as allowed. PLEASE NOTE: as of Fall 2020, the Hildene Education Department is offering alternate programs with COVID- best practice protocols in mind. These are some of our most popular lessons, but delivered with consideration for student, caregiver and educator safety. Find them listed under "Alternate Programs 20/21". These options temporarily replace our regular programming, which remains below for reference (each marked with the sub-head "Program On Hold"). Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Social Studies State Standards are incorporated into all new 2020/21 alternate offerings. WINTER OPTIONS: participants on site at Hildene may take advantage of snowshoe and ski rentals from our Pavilion (weather, and best-practice safety protocol, permitting). We encourage guests to take advantage of our trails in all seasons - a visit for an outdoor winter education program, along with self-guided fun on our trails and a few moments by the fire, will make for an engaging cold weather visit.

 

Alternate Programs 20/21

Pullman Porters, Hildene education
LIVE, VIRTUAL: Pullman Porters: Unsung Heroes, Former Slaves, Labor Organizers, Middle Class Citizens & Civil Rights Activists

Winter • Grades: 6-8 • Length: 1 - 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM OFFERED: WINTER, 2020/21 (launch: January 11, 2021)

During this live virtual program students discover the critical role that Pullman porters played in giving rise to America’s black middle class, the formation of the black labor movement, and the momentum for the civil rights movement. This slice of history spans 100 years beginning with the Emancipation Proclamation. Students engage in activities relating to what it was like to travel and work on a Pullman car and actively participate in discussion about the porters’ enduring fight for social change and justice in America. BIG IDEAS: Historical Connections; Human Rights; Impact of Economic Systems; and Nature of Conflict. SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.

Hildene, Robert & Mary's home
AT HILDENE: Windows To The Past

Nov-Apr • Grades: 5-12 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM OFFERED: FALL through SPRING, 2020/21

Students take a tour of Hildene, built by presidential son Robert Lincoln and his wife Mary in 1905, to learn about the family and their lives at the turn of the century. Students also visit the exhibit The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural, which includes one of Lincoln’s stovepipe hats of which there are only three in existence. 

Robert Lincoln, a captain of industry, served as president of the Pullman Company from 1901 to 1911. Students learn about his Pullman career through a visit to our fully restored 1903 Pullman car, Sunbeam. The interpretive exhibit “Many Voices” focuses on the Pullman Company that built the cars; the privileged families and executives who travelled in them and the Pullman porters who worked in them. The fourth voice is of those who visit the car and the conclusions they draw from the experience. BIG IDEA Historical Connections; Forces of Unity and Disunity & Nature of Conflict. STANDARDS

 

Black Capped Chickadee, Winter education
Winter Adaptations: Coping with the Cold

Winter • Grades: 2-5 • Length: 1 - 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM OFFERED: WINTER, 2020/21

Colder temperatures and shorter days bring about many changes in the world around us. Students explore forest life through observation and exploration to discover the ways plants and trees adapt to winter’s challenges. They also examine the familiar black-capped chickadee to discover its remarkable survival strategies and complex language of calls. Weather permitting, students take a close look at the unique designs of snowflakes and examine the processes that form them. BIG IDEAS: Structure and Function; Cycles; and Interdependence. NGSS STANDARDS

Under and Over the Snow, education program
Under and Over the Snow

Winter • Grades: 1-3 & 4-5 • Length: 1 - 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM OFFERED: WINTER, 2020/21

How do animals adapt to Vermont’s long cold winter? Through outdoor activities, students examine the survival strategies of animals in winter and learn basic track identification skills. They examine prints and track patterns, learn to move like the mammals do, and practice their tracking skills in the woods nearby. BIG IDEAS: Structure and Function; and Place. NGSS STANDARDS

damselfly_naiad
Pond Critters

Fall • Grades: 1-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours  

OFFERED FALL 2020

Pond dwelling critters are remarkable for their diversity of size, shape and adaptations for finding food, moving and breathing.  Students examine their own pond critter, brought by Hildene educators, to make observations and to identify how they are adapted to live in a watery world. Students also become familiar with the differences between the young and adult forms of their critters and build a pond food web. BIG IDEAS: Diversity; Interdependence; and Structure & Function. NGSS

mighty monarchs: educational programming at Hildene
Mighty Monarchs

Fall • Grades: K-3 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

OFFERED FALL 2020

Monarchs are the only butterflies to migrate north and south each year, yet no single insect completes the round-trip journey.  Students explore the conservation of this butterfly, while learning about its habitat, life cycle and migration, including tagging and releasing a monarch. BIG IDEAS: Interdependence; Cycles; and Structure & Function. NGSS

The Buzz on Bees_Hildene Educational Programming
The Buzz on Honey Bees

Fall • Grades: K-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

OFFERED FALL 2020

How is honey made and a flower pollinated? Students explore the world of honey bees with investigation and pantomime.  They examine the honey bee’s design, life cycle, social structure, and important role as a pollinator. BIG IDEAS: Interdependence; Cycles; and Structure & Function. NGSS

Secrets of Seeds_Hildene Educational Programming
Secrets of Seeds

Fall • Grades: 1-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

OFFERED FALL 2020

How are animals, catapulting, and the forces of wind, water and gravity linked to seeds?  Students explore this and other questions during our investigations of seeds. Students examine how seeds are formed, identify the parts of a seed that grow into a new plant, and inspect selected seed bearing structures to look for evidence of how the seeds travel. BIG IDEAS: Interdependence; Cycles; Reproduction; and Structure and Function. NGSS

Natural Science

alpacas
Fibers to Felt

Fall & Spring • Grades: K-1 & 2-4 • Length: 2 hours  

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Students explore the fibers of sheep, alpaca and rabbit while learning what is required to raise and care for these animals. They discover the importance of each animals’ unique nutrition and behavior as they feed the alpaca, provide healthy pasture for the sheep, and tend to the rabbits’ hair. After interacting with the animals, students process sheep fleece into a product to take home! BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Systems; and Structure and Function  NGSS

 

seed image
The Significance of Seeds

Fall • Grades: 1-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

How are animals, catapulting and the forces of wind, water and gravity linked to seeds? Students explore this and other questions while investigating the fascinating world of seeds. Depending upon their prior knowledge, students discover how seeds are formed by examining parts of a flower. They may dissect a seed to identify the parts that grow into a new plant. They also examine the features of selected seed-bearing structures, locate the actual seeds inside, and look for evidence of how the seeds travel. While in the field, students search for many different seeds and determine how they might travel using evidence to support their ideas. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; Interdependence; Reproduction; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

apple
Apple Trees: From Flowers to Fruit to Cider

Fall • Grades: K-1 & 2-3 • Length: 2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

The crisp days of fall are time for cider making. Using apples we have picked from Hildene’s trees, students wash and press the fruit into sweet cider. After it has been pasteurized, students sample the delicious juice. To appreciate the development of apple fruit, students explore the essential role of pollinators and dissect a simple flower to discover how its parts contribute to the process of pollination. Through investigation and pantomime, the life cycle of the apple tree, the functions of its parts and how it changes through the seasons will also be examined. BIG IDEA: Structure and Function; Interdependence; and Cycles. NGSS

 

monarchs
Mighty Monarchs

Fall • Grades: K-1 & 2-3 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Monarchs are the only butterflies to migrate north and south each year, yet no single individual completes the round-trip journey. Students explore the conservation of this magnificent butterfly, while learning about its habitat, life-cycle and migration, including tagging and releasing a monarch before it begins its fall journey to the mountains of Central Mexico. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

honey bee
The Buzz on Honey Bees

Fall • Grades: K-2 &3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Who’s who in the hive? How is honey made and flowers pollinated? Students explore the world of honey bees with investigation, pantomime, and inspection of the bees in our observation hive. They examine the bee’s design, life-cycle, social structure and important role as a pollinator. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

pollinators
Bee Friends: Know Your Pollinators

Fall & Spring Grades: 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Designed to inspire curiosity and care for pollinators of all kinds, this program introduces students to who the native pollinators are, the vital role that pollinators play in agriculture and natural communities, and the steps we can take to promote and protect pollinator habitat in our schoolyards and backyards. Students record pollinator and plant interactions in the field, examine the characteristics of pollinators, dissect and identify parts of flowers, visit our observation hive, and learn how to incorporate pollinator friendly features into gardens and landscapes. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

bumble bee
Bumble Bee Basics

Fall & Spring Grades: 2, 3-4 Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Gentle and fuzzy, everyone has watched a bumble bee buzzing between flowers in summer; but what about the rest of the year? How do bumble bees overwinter? Where do they raise brood in the spring? How do they fly in the fall when it is chilly or raining? With indoor and outdoor activities, students examine the bumble bee’s life cycle, its habitat needs, and its vital role as a pollinator. They are introduced to the differences in color patterns between species, learn how to enhance pollinator habitat and may observe queens in search of nest sites, workers foraging or new queens preparing for winter. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; Structure and Function. NGSS

 

spiders
Splendid Spiders

Fall • Grades: K-1 & 2-3 • Length: 1 hour

PROGRAM ON HOLD

In our gardens, forests, fields and homes, spiders can be found, quietly focused on their important ecological role - capturing and eating insects. Students observe live spiders and build model spiders from their observations, discover the process of spiders capturing prey in a web, and go on a guided hunt to observe spiders, webs and record observations. We also examine the life cycle and vital ecological role of these terrestrial predators. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

turkey
Wild & Wary: Vermont’s Turkeys

Fall • Grades: K-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Unlike earlier times, the turkey we enjoy today isn’t a wild bird, but rather farm-raised. While tasty, the domestic turkey is not nearly as fascinating in behavior or development as its wild cousin. With slides, touchable artifacts, and interactive activities, students explore the history, habitat, life-cycle and behavior of Vermont’s wild turkeys. Our inquiry includes activities highlighting the importance of predators in shaping the turkey's behavior and survival strategies. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Cycles; and Change over Time.NGSS

 

pond
Pond Discovery

Fall & Spring • Grades: 1-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 - 2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

To discover the remarkable diversity of the pond community, students explore the life in and around Hildene’s pond using nets, magnifiers and field guides. They collect creatures from different pond habitats, make observations about their differences, and identify ways they are adapted to live in a watery world. They also work together to create a pond food web. BIG IDEA: Systems; Diversity; Interdependence; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

stream
Streams: Life Beneath the Flow

Fall & Spring • Grades:-2-4 & 4-5 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Students explore the variety of habitats and interconnected web of animals and plants within a stream. They catch and identify aquatic insects, build a river food web, and learn how insect life can teach us about a stream’s health. They also discover important adaptations that are vital for life in these ever-changing ecosystems. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Systems; and Diversity. NGSS

 

wetlands
Wetlands are Working Lands

Fall • Grades: 3-5 • Length: 2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Students investigate Hildene’s wetland to discover the indispensable properties and functions of these unique habitats. From a floating boardwalk that extends 600’ through the marsh, students assess the water quality based on the macroinvertebrate population, discover the characteristics of wetland soils, and examine the adaptations of wetland plants to further their understanding of the ecological importance of these ecosystems. BIG IDEA: Interdependence; Systems; Diversity; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

vernal_pool
Vernal Pools: Unique Amphibian Nurseries

Spring • Grades: 3-5 • Length: 2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

With slides, investigation and observation of live animals, students discover the critical support vernal pools provide to certain amphibians. They examine the energy and nutrient source of these temporary pools, become familiar with some of the “obligate” vernal pool species and learn why these pools are called the “hatchery of the forest.” BIG IDEA: Interdependence; and Systems.NGSS

 

snow
Under and Over the Snow

Winter • Grades: 1-3 & 4-5 • Length: 2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

How do animals adapt to Vermont’s long cold winter? Through indoor and outdoor activities, students examine the survival strategies of animals in winter and learn basic track identification skills. They examine prints and track patterns, make their own tracking guides, learn to move like the mammals do, and practice their tracking skills in the woods nearby. BIG IDEA: Structure and Function; and Place. NGSS

 

goat
Goats, Gouda & Gastric Microbe

Spring • Grades: K-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours 

PROGRAM ON HOLD

As students interact with the does and kids at our goat dairy, the life cycle, anatomy and care of goats are examined. While learning about the processes of milking and cheese, students participate in chores, identify goat products and bottle feed the kids. BIG IDEA: Cycles; and Structure and Function. NGSS

 

History

hat
Lincoln's Hat

Spring • Grades 2-3 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Students learn who President Lincoln was, where he came from and some of the beliefs and values of this famous president. Against the background of the book Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner, they discover the attributes Lincoln possessed and how they helped him become a great leader. During the program, students roleplay, share their own experiences and match Lincoln's life experiences to those needed to be a great president. Students also visit our Lincoln exhibit to view one of the president's iconic stovepipe hats. CCSS

 

pullman
Pullman Porters: Unsung Heroes, Former Slaves, Labor Organizers, Middle Class Citizens & Civil Rights Activists

Fall, Winter & Spring • Grades: 5-6 & 7-8 • Length: 2 1/2hours 

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Our restored 1903 wooden Pullman car, Sunbeam, provides the setting for students to discover the critical role that Pullman porters played in giving rise to America’s black middle class, the formation of the black labor movement, and the momentum for the civil rights movement; a slice of history that spans 100 years beginning with the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Students role-play what it was like to travel and work on a Pullman car, use primary sources that relate to the era, examine a timeline of milestones in African American civil rights, and visit the mansion where Robert Lincoln conducted Pullman business when he was in Vermont. BIG IDEA Historical Connections; Traditional and Social Histories; Human Rights; Forces of Unity and Disunity; Impact of Economic Systems; and Nature of Conflict. CCSS

 

hollow school
The Hollow School

Fall, Early Winter & Spring • Grades: 1-2 & 3-4 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

Our fully restored one-room schoolhouse provides the setting for students to experience the lessons and tasks of children in early Vermont schools. Our “school day” commences when the bell is rung. Role-playing 19th century scholars, students use reproduction texts, slates and quill pens for their lessons, which include memorization and recitation. They also play old time games during the recess break. BIG IDEA Historical Connections.CCSS

 

crafts
Historic Crafts

Fall, Winter & Spring • Grades: 1-3 & 4-6 • Length: 1 - 2 hours 

PROGRAM ON HOLD

In early America making crafts was an essential part of everyday life. Students make everyday household items like dipped candles or baskets. Increasing students’ appreciation of the early settler’s self-sufficiency, this program introduces each craft in an historical context. Choose from the list below the craft(s) you would like to do: 

  • Dipped Candles 1 1/2 hours (1st-5th)
  • Pierced-Tin Candle Shades 1 hour (1st-5th)
  • Cornhusk Dolls 1 1/2 hours (3rd-6th)
  • Basket Weaving 2 hours (5th-6th)

BIG IDEA Historical Connections; Movements and Settlements; Impact of Economic Systems. CCSS

 

dellwood_soldiers
A Vermont Story: The Equinox Guards & Civil War Camp Life

Spring • Grades: 5-6 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

This program tells the story of the 87 young men from the Manchester area, the North Shire, who served in the Civil War. Our story, based primarily on soldiers’ letters and newspaper accounts, follows these men from their enlistment and training in 1861, to the Battle at Savage’s Station in 1862, where many of them were killed, to the reunions held years later. Students role-play actual members of the Equinox Guards. They practice roll call, drills, marches and other activities including letter writing, singing, food sampling and sewing. By making connections between family, community, Vermont history, and United States history, this program is a resource to augment Vermont history or Civil War curricula. BIG IDEA Historical Connections; Forces of Unity and Disunity; and Nature of Conflict. CCSS

 

lincoln
Lincoln and the Telegraph: The Innovator with the Innovation

Fall, Winter & Spring • Grades 5-6 • Length: 1 1/2 hours

PROGRAM ON HOLD

An innovator at heart, President Lincoln revolutionized the use of the telegraph during the Civil War. Lincoln used this new communications tool to gather information and assert his leadership to the front. 

Students learn about the critical role of the telegraph in the Civil War, use telegraphs to send and receive messages that are combined to reveal one of Lincoln’s most important decisions and then view related artifacts in our exhibit, The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural. 
BIG IDEA Historical Connections; Forces of Unity and Disunity; and Nature of Conflict. CCSS