Daily Life Programs

Spend a day in the lives of seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth century farm families and discover the importance of livestock, field crops, and gardens to their survival and success. Students perform farm chores, learn how families and communities were organized, and find out how natural resources were used by both consumers and producers. Hands-on activities vary by exhibit and season.

Choose a combination of Old World and American exhibits:18th Century West Africa, 17th Century England, 18th Century Ireland, Irish Forge, 18th Century Germany, Eastern Woodlands Indians, 1760s Valley of Virginia, 1820s Virginia, 1840’s Schoolhouse, 1850s Virginia.

Virginia Standards of Learning: K.1 K.2 K.3 K.6 K.7 K.8 K.9 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.13 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.12 3.1 3.4 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.13 VS.1 VS.2 VS.4 VS.6 USI.1 USI.3 USI.4 USI.5 WHI.1 WHI.12 WHII.1 WHII.4 WHII.5 VUS.1 VUS.2 VUS.3

Step back into the lives of farmers and families in Europe and West Africa during the 1600s and 1700s to discover how farmers organized their farms and lives. Students will experience a day in the life of these farmers, learning how to earn money, grow crops, raise livestock, and do household chores. Hands-on activities vary by exhibit and season.

Select from the Museum’s Old World exhibits: 18th Century West Africa, 17th Century England, 18th Century Ireland, Irish Forge, 18th Century Germany.

Virginia Standards of Learning: K.1 K.2 K.3 K.7 K.8 K.9 1.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.13 2.1 2.8 2.9 2.10 3.1 3.4 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.13 VS.1 VS.4 USI.1 USI.4 WHI.1 WHI.12 WHII.1 WHII.4 WHII.5 VUS.1 VUS.2 VUS.3

Experience a day in the life of American Indians and the first settlers of the frontier on the Eastern Woodlands Indian exhibit and the 1760s Settlement. Students will use traditional tools to cultivate the land and learn about survival on the frontier.

Experience life in the early 1800s to see how farms developed from 1820s through 1850s. Students will see various livestock and come to understand the importance of livestock as well as crops to the farm families of the 1800’s.

Students can also experience a traditional lesson delivered by an old-time “schoolmaster” to compare to lessons in today’s schools.

Select from the Museum’s American exhibits: Eastern Woodlands Indians, 1760s Valley of Virginia, 1820s Virginia, 1840s Schoolhouse, 1850s Virginia.

Virginia Standards of Learning: K.1 K.2 K.3 K.8 K.9 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.13 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.12 3.1 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.13 VS.1 VS.2 VS.4 VS.6 USI.1 USI.3 USI.4 USI.5 WHI.1 WHI.12 WHII.1 WHII.4 WHII.5 VUS.1 VUS.2 VUS.3