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TRAVELING
DISCOVERY KITS
These
kits contain hands-on, reproduction artifacts along with supplementary
literature and suggestions for teachers. All kits are now free
with a refundable deposit. (Deposit varies relative to replacement
cost of kit.) New offering! Introduce our kits to your
school. Throughout the school year, 3-5 kits can visit your school
for a "show and tell" with Early American Museum staff.
This is a free service. Call anytime to set up a day for your
school. Have a few dates cleared with your building administrator
prior to your call.
LIGHTS,
CAMERA, ACTION! (NEW for 2003)
Use a stereoscope! Make a phantasmascope! Learn to distinguish
a daguerreotype from a cabinet card. Our new kit this year includes
hands-on reproductions of different types of photographs as well
as persistence-of-motion devices. Teach science and social science
at the same time!
GONE
FOR A SOLDIER
Includes some of the personal belongings of a Union soldier in
the Civil War, excerpts from letters of Champaign County soldiers,
and our Champaign County During the Civil War video.
THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY
Provides actual furs and reproductions of trade goods, along with
literature about the interaction between the French and Native
Americans in 18th century Illinois.
HISTORY FROM THE HEART
This outreach kit is based on the publication of the Illinois
Quilt Research Project, History from the Heart, Quilt Paths Across
Illinois. It includes a copy of the book, study questions, suggested
activities, quilt blocks and story books.
DRESSED FOR WORK AND PLAY
Grades K-5
Contains reproductions of everyday clothing worn by boys and girls
in the 1840s. The kit includes background information for teachers,
color slides of paintings and photographs illustrating 19th-century
children, and a selection of toys/school items. All students may
handle the clothing; smaller children may try it on!
ILLINIWEK DISCOVERY
KIT
Touch a braintanned hide and a bison bone, learn what wampum is
and more! This Discovery Kit focuses on the history and culture
of Native Americans who once lived throughout east central Illinois.
Information on the Kaskaskia, Peoria, Cahokia, Mascouten and other
members of the Illiniwek Confederation from 1650-1800 is included.
The kit contains complete lesson plans, maps, a variety of hands-on
materials and Illiniwek language tapes. This kit was put together
by Dan Hechenberger of the educational nonprofit group Nipundikan
and uses the Goals and Standards for Social Science, Science,
Arts and Music, Language Arts and Math. Funding for this kit was
provided by the Ida Haack fund established by Otto Haack.
OUTREACH MATERIALS
THE QUESTION NOW BEFORE US: CHALLENGES,
CHOICES AND CHANGES FOR CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
This handbook covers local history from 1850 to 1870. Sections
on general county history, the railroad, African American history,
political campaigns and Champaign County's involvement in the
Civil War are all part of the kit. Also distributed at this time
was the video, Champaign County During the Civil War. While
these materials are geared toward secondary students, teachers
of younger students will likely find portions of them useful.
All Champaign
County middle and high schools and Champaign County public libraries
were supplied with a set of these materials in 1994.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY: SETTLEMENT OF THE PRAIRIE
1825-1860
This handbook includes transcriptions of primary sources,
suggestions for teachers, and a special timeline which integrates
events into national, state and local history. Geared for a fifth
grade level, teachers of younger and older students should still
find segments of the handbook useful. All Champaign County
elementary schools received a copy of these materials in 1997.
