The
Beverly Historical Society & Museum (BHS&M) welcomes your interest in our educational programming for students from grades 3
to 12.
We are involved as a primary source document
repository and research library facility for the new Essex County History Program - Essex
Lincs www.essexlincs.org.
Beverly Public Schools (BPS) is partnering with Salem
State College (SSC), the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) and the National
Archives and Records Administration—Northeast Region (NARA) to present Connecting
ESSEX LINCs: Connecting Elementary Teachers, Sources, and Scholarship to Explore Local
History in a National Context. This project will increase elementary school teachers’
knowledge, understanding and appreciation of key events and issues in American history
through an intensive professional development program. The project combines historian-led
content sessions with training in how to use local primary sources/resources for teaching
key topics in American history. Using ESSEX History is a three-year project to
improve the quality of American History instruction in Essex County's middle schools and
high schools through teacher seminars and summer institutes on the people, places and
events of Essex County, Massachusetts.
To the extent possible, the staff of
Beverly Historical Society will be happy to work with individual teachers to add unique
elements to their classroom presentations. In addition, some of our most-requested general
programs are still available for booking. So read on! And please give us a call to
book your program or to discuss customizing our offerings to meet your needs and
objectives.
Historic Site
Experiences
Digging up the past -An Introduction to
Archeology
This
3rd grade program begins at the Cabot House with a discussion of early European
settlement on the North Shore, focusing on the history of the 17th century
Balch House and an archaeological dig done at the site in 1998. Archaeological terms
and procedures are explained. Small groups of students then perform their own
"digs" in "pits" provided by the museum educator. Each
"pit" contains an actual historic artifact that can be examined, identified in
resource material, and dated. This program includes a visit to the Balch House, which may
be scheduled on a different date if desired. $90; first part of the program available in
the classroom for an additional fee.
Massachusetts State Learning standards: 3.2, 3.4,
3.9, 3.11, 3.12
Concepts and Skills: # 3 Observe and describe local or regional historic artifacts
New England Maritime History: The Triangle Trade
This 5th grade program introduces students to
the connected nature of maritime industry in the 18th and 19th
centuries and illustrates the role Massachusetts had in the slave trade. Students will visit the Cabot House and use primary
sources to learn about African Americans in Beverly, and play a game to learn about how
trade in commodities brought wealth to Essex County. $50
Massachusetts State
Learning standards: 5.11, 5.12
Concepts and Skills: #3 Observe and identify details in photographs and charts relating to
an historical narrative
#4 and #7 Maps #12, 13, 14 Terms – profit, entrepreneur, supply and demand
Historical Re-enactors
A
Visit from Lucy Larcom, Beverly's First Lady of Letters
Author and poet
Lucy Larcom, played by Ginny Currier, one of America's earliest and most revered female
writers, will visit your classroom or auditorium. Arriving in authentic period
dress, Miss Larcom reads her works and talks about her childhood and life as an unmarried
working woman. Grades 3 - 10.
Field Trips
Balch House Tour
The
17th century Balch house is a wonderful example of an early colonial New England house.
With a museum educator, students examine the house and its furnishings and discuss
what the contents tell us about colonial life. Time: 50 - 60 minutes Cost: $3 per
student ($30 minimum)
Bus Tour of Historic Beverly
A
short bus tour of many of Beverly’s historic sites, including the Ferry Landing, the
John Cabot House (1781), Fish Flake Hill, Independence Park, and the John Hale Farm
(1694). The tour concludes at Beverly’s beautiful Lynch Park, where the class can
enjoy a picnic lunch. (School to provide bus
transportation) Time: 90 - 120 minutes Cost: $5 per student ($100 minimum)
Historic
House Tours
Age
appropriate tours are offered at our three historic properties. Group fees range from $30
- $100.
Balch
House - A structure built during the 17th century, this site was the home of John
Balch, one of Beverly's earliest settlers.
(May 30 - October 31, 2009;
Tue. - Sat.; 12 noon - 4 p.m.)
Hale Farm
- The architecture and furnishings of this house reflect the evolution of Beverly history
from the witchcraft hysteria of the 17th century to the role of the North Shore in the
fight for American independence to the development of Beverly's "Gold Coast" as
home to Boston's wealthy, leisured class during summer months in the 19th century.
(By advance appointment only.)
Cabot
House - Built in 1781, John Cabot's residence exemplifies the grandeur made
possible by the highly lucrative maritime trading during the federal period.
Semi-permanent 1802 Beverly Bank Exhibit. Original location of one of the oldest
banks in America, recreated with various artifacts, manuscripts, banknotes, coins, and
other currency on display. Original bank vaults dating from
1800’s. "Beverly and the American Revolution" exhibit. A great
teaching exhibit with various documents of our "founding fathers," plus original
artwork telling the story of the Revolution from "Paul Revere's Ride" to
"Washington saying goodbye to his troops." Various rotating exhibits.
Open year-round: Tue., Thur.,
Fri., Sat., 10 am - 4 p.m. and Wed. 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Please
contact us at info (at) beverlyhistory.org or call (978) 922-1186 for more information or
to secure a date and time. We look forward to
working with you in an effort to make Beverly’s history come alive! |
