School Programs

Waterloo Region Museum
10 Huron Road,
Kitchener, Ontario, N2P 2R7
Telephone: 519-748-1914
TTY: 519-575-4608
Email Waterloo Region Museum
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Dave Neufeld
Education Coordinator
Tel. 519-748-1914 ext. 3269
Email Dave Neufeld

students at museum entrance

A school field trip to the Waterloo Region Museum and Doon Heritage Village is a one-of-a-kind interactive learning opportunity for your class that brings curriculum to life and creates lasting memories.

We make it our goal to ensure that programs are linked to and in harmony with the Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum and we offer excellent educational value and fun for your students.

We have updated our existing programs and introduced some new offerings, including revised learning resources for teachers.

2018/2019 School Program

Mini Museum Goers - Pre-school Program

Early Learning/Kindergarten Children are introduced to the gallery museum and community outings through fun activities on a variety of themes. Choose from program themes such as; Collecting, People in our Community, or Jobs and Working.
Available January to April only. 1.5 hours, maximum 40 children.

Once Upon a Time - Kindergarten/Grade 1 - Social Studies

Nursery rhymes are the theme in this fun program, where students can see animals, feed the chickens, play games and help with household chores. Heritage and Citizenship - Relationships, Rules and Responsibilities. 1.5 hours, maximum 45 students.

Everyday Structures - Grade 1 - Science and Technology/Social Studies

In this highly interactive program, students use tools and models to simulate construction techniques while examining barn frames, log buildings and other structures. Structures and Mechanisms. Two hours, maximum 60 students.

Family and Community Traditions - Grade 2 - Social Studies

This program introduces students to a variety of events and festivals celebrated in the Region of Waterloo including Eid, Hanukah, Diwali and Chinese New Years. Combine with A Village Christmas 1914 to make a full day visit. Heritage and Identity - Changing Family and Community Traditions. Two hours, maximum 60 students (offered November and December).

A Village Christmas 1914 - Grade 2 and 3 - Social Studies

Christmas and the New Year's are the tools used to demonstrate how traditions and celebrations are passed on, preserved and changed. Students examine ethnic groups as well as home and public celebrations. Combine with Family and Community Traditions to make a full day visit. Grade 2: Heritage and Identity - Changing Family and Community Traditions. Two hours, maximum 90 students (offered November and December).

Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival - Grades 2 to 5

Covers a variety of Science and Technology, and Heritage and Citizenship units. Full day, unlimited students, *free bussing when applicable. Runs on specific dates in May. For more information visit www.wwcgf.com.

Strong and Stable Structures
Grade 3- Science and Technology/Social Studies

This structures program advances the material learned in Grade 1 with an emphasis on what makes a building stable. Students look at joints, struts, braces, ties and more in a variety of structures on site. Structures and Mechanisms - Strong and Stable Structures Heritage and Identity - Communities in Canada: 1780 to 1850. Two hours, maximum 60 students.

Communities in Canada 1780 to 1850 - half day - Grade 3 - Social Studies - Heritage and Identity

(replaces Early Settlement in Upper Canada). An integrated and highly interactive look at the three main communities in southwestern Ontario in this period. First Nations, African Canadians and European settlers. How they lived and interacted. Heritage and Identity - Communities in Canada, 1780 to 1850. Two hours, maximum 75 students.

Communities in Canada 1780 to 1850 - full day
Grade 3 - Social Studies - Heritage and Identity

(replaces Early Settlement in Upper Canada). Our full-day version of this popular program. First Nations, African Canadians and European settlers. Comparisons of how they lived and interacted during this period. A more in-depth look at all three groups of people in Southern Ontario, students will see the majority of our historic buildings in this more comprehensive program with lots of great hands-on activities. Heritage and Identity - Communities in Canada, 1780 to 1850.
Four hours, maximum 120 students.

Amazing Machines - Grade 4 - Science and Technology

Students are challenged to use the seven simple machines and their problem solving skills to deal with real life issues. Devices such as block and tackles and winches are used by students in full scale. Structures and Mechanisms - Pulleys and Gears Two hours, maximum 60 students.

Forest Festival - Grade 6 and 7 - Science and Technology, Social Studies and Geography

The Forest Festival teaches students several key messages; the importance of the Forest Life Zone, forest ecosystems, species at risk, stewardship and conservation and climate change through hands-on interactive activities. Relates to many studies of science and geography across the curriculum. Full-day program, 500 students per day (October 11 and 12, 2018).

First Peoples Festival - Grade 5 to 8 - Heritage and Identity, Aboriginal Perspectives: The Teachers Toolkit

Learn about the history and current realities of the Region's First Nations, Métis and Inuit population. A three day educational festival presented in partnership with the local First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and organizations. Dance, crafts, art, Elders and traditional teachings, current issues and more. Relates to many studies of history across the curriculum. Full day, maximum 400 students per day (September 25, 26, and 27, 2018).

Louis Riel Day
Grade 5 to 8 - Heritage and Identity, Aboriginal Perspectives: The Teachers Toolkit

A commemoration of the events surrounding this great Canadian. Raising of the Métis Flag, a variety of workshops, Métis and Voyageur games, music and other activities. (November 12 and 13 2018).

Canada: A Changing Society - half or full day - Grade 8 and 10 - History

In this program, students learn about lifestyles, technology, and the factors of social change in 1914. Teachers may select from a variety of activities from health and medicine to leisure and entertainment. Grade 8: History - Canada: A Changing Society. Half or full day, maximum 120 students.

Berlin to Kitchener in the Great War
Grade 10 - History

Technology, soldiers, women's history and a name change. What happened in Waterloo County and Berlin in the First World War? Canadian History Since World War I - academic and applied Two hours, maximum 80 students Combine this program with 'Canada: A Changing Society' for a full day experience.

WW1 Education Days
Grade 10 - History

A new event-style program offered in partnership with the History Matters Association, a Great War re-enactor organization. Enthusiastic presenters with lots of collected First World War artifacts and paraphernalia. Military fashion show of the different nations, battle school, role of women, equipment demonstrations and much more. Full day, maximum 400 students. (October 1 and 2, 2018)

General Information

Please discuss with your students as a minimum preparation:

a definition of the term museum.
the special consideration visitors to museums should show, for example, why not to touch objects unless asked to, and then how to handle them carefully.

Information to share with students and parents:

Appropriate Clothing

Please ensure that students are dressed for the weather and for a variety of outdoor activities. Portions of many of our programs may take place in the museum galleries or the heritage village. Most village buildings are heated but are often still quite cool early or late in the year.

Personal Protection

Doon Heritage Village is located on 60 acres of land, including environmentally sensitive forest and marsh land. We advise that on all outdoor school trips, you and your students take precautions against West Nile Virus.

Washrooms

Washrooms are located at the museum entrance and in the village.

Lunch

Please inform us if you will be eating lunch at the site as a lunch room is available for students. Group lunch catering is also available for an additional fee, and advance reservations are required. No food is allowed in the galleries or the heritage village.

Admissions and Payment

Admission cost is $5.50 per student for 1/2 day programs and $10 per student for full day programs. One teacher/adult per six students is admitted free of charge. Additional adults are $5.50 per person for half day programs and $10 per person for full day programs.

Admissions should be paid upon arrival - VISA, MasterCard, Interac, cash or cheque - payable to the Waterloo Region Museum. Receipts will be issued. Schools can also be invoiced at the time of your visit.

Note student admission is higher for some educational programs such as the Groundwater Festival.

Please inquire about admission costs prior to making your booking.

Times

Program times may vary. Please discuss timing of your program at the time of booking. We strive to be as flexible as possible to accommodate bus schedules.

At the End of Your Program/Day
Feel free to use the picnic areas for class activities or picnics but please do not re-enter the galleries or heritage village as you may interfere with other programs.

Visit Details

1. Upon arrival at the Waterloo Region Museum, the class will be met by one of our staff and given a general introduction to the site and their program. At this time, the teacher will be directed to pay admission or arrange for invoicing.

2. Following the introduction, each of the teacher/adult supervisors will be given a site guide and itinerary for their program. With most programs, there is not sufficient time to visit all buildings or exhibits at the museum.

3. Groups then leave the orientation area for the galleries or heritage village, escorted by one of our Guest Services Staff.

4. At each scheduled location, one of our historical interpreters will present the program and conduct student activities. Staff will also keep time for the program. Please stay on schedule where possible by going directly to your next program location. Do not visit locations other than those designated for your program as you may interfere with other programs in progress

5. Following your program, the groups may reassemble in the museum foyer prior to departure.

Teacher Resources

We recommend the following activities for the classroom before you visit Waterloo Region Museum with your students.

Classroom Suggestions for Once Upon a Time

1. Have a dress-up day based on the pictures of children in 1914, provided on another page on this website.

2. If the weather allows, have children dress in costumes for their visit to Doon Heritage Village.

3. Learn songs popular in 1914. Examples are:

Bicycle Built For Two
I've Been Working On The Railroad
Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
While Strolling Through The Park One Day
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
I Want A Girl, Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad
The Maple Leaf Forever

Other examples of strictly children's songs would be:

A Hunting We Will Go
Pop Goes The Weasel
The Farmer in the Dell (plus the game that goes with it)

4. Play some games from the turn of the century. Examples follow.

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (also Beast, Bird or Fish)
Students sit in a circle. A ball is thrown by one player to any one of the others. The thrower calls out at the same time either mineral, animal or vegetable, and counts from one to ten rather quickly. If the player who is touched by the ball does not name something belonging to that kingdom called before the number ten is reached, the student leaves the game until the game restarts.

Minister's Cat
The first player begins by saying, "The Minister's cat is an ambitious cat", the next player "an artful cat" and so on until they have all named an adjective beginning with A. The next time of going around, the adjectives must begin with B and the next time C and so on until the whole of the alphabet has been used.

Grandmother's Trunk
This is one of the oldest word games on record. Each player has to repeat an ever-increasing list of objects. The first player starts by saying "My grandmother keeps an anchor in her trunk" (or any article beginning with A). The player on his left must think of an article beginning with B and say "My grandmother keeps an anchor and b... in her trunk." The game continues, with each player having to remember all the things kept in the trunk and each time trying to add one more thing according to the alphabet. Forgetting the list of things entails disqualification.

Feather
A small fluffy feather is required. All players sit in a circle as close together as possible. One throws up the feather as high as possible and then blows it up to keep it floating. The player to whom it then floats nearest does the same. The object of the game is to keep the feather aloft as long as possible. It cannot touch anyone or land on the floor.

5. Do some work with time lines so that students know how long ago Doon Heritage Village and the pioneer era are. Include some important dates such as:

the year the students were born
the year the teacher was born
the year(s) student's parents/grandparents were born

6. Do your own museum display of pioneer or 19th century items for the classroom. Use caution with students' family items.

7. If studying the turn of the century, collect some of the new products that were available in 1914 for a display.

Year Introduced	Product
1877	Quaker Oats
1879	Sunlight Soap
1885	French's Mustard
1890	Mackintosh's Toffee
1892	Maxwell House Coffee
1890	Fig Newtons
1893	Shredded Wheat
1893	Hires Root Beer
1897	Cadbury Milk Chocolate
1897	Jello-O
1897	Grape Nuts Cereal
1898	Pepsi Cola
1898	Graham Crackers
1904	Canada Dry Ginger Ale
1913	Quaker Puffed Rice
1913	Pepermint Life Saver

8. View silent movies from 1914 such as The Keystone Cops or something starring Charlie Chaplin. Be sure to preview these as they will take some explanation and some are not appropriate for younger children. Many are now available on video and are quite short.

Classroom Suggestions for Every Day Structures and Strong and Stable Structures

If studying Structures and Stability, build a variety of models with the students, using concepts learned in the program. Use a variety of materials - Popsicle sticks, tinker toys, sticks and plasticine for chinking.
Tour the school neighbourhood and note the types of modern homes: apartments, townhouses, detached, two storey, bungalows, etc. Have students draw diagrams and label the parts.
Have students draw pictures of their own houses (or floor plans) and label the parts.
Make arrangements for someone from the skilled trades to visit the classroom and explain what they do. Examples could include plumbers, electricians or dry wallers.

Classroom Suggestions for A Village Christmas 1914

1. Your classroom study should focus on holiday and festive celebrations of all kinds and not just Christmas. Christmas is just one example, and in North America the most common example of a large cultural festival filled with elaborate traditions.

Many of your students may not celebrate Christmas but may celebrate other ethnic and religious festivals such as Hanukah, Ramadan, Kwanza, and many others. Have these students or their families/communities do presentations or talk about what their festivals are all about.

2. Investigate the history of various Christmas traditions in addition to the ones observed at Doon Heritage Village. The list of ethnic variations is endless. Each student will have their own family traditions to share and discuss. Present or have students research Christmas traditions from places such as Spain, Italy, Mexico, Ukraine or other countries.

3. Create a class song book of both Christmas songs and songs from other ethnic groups and festivals.

4. Create a class cookbook of favourite Christmas foods, as well as, ethnic and holiday foods from other festivals. Have students bring in examples of special holiday foods to share from their own background and festivals.

5. Decorate your classroom. Have one corner for Christmas and then several other areas with decorations or displays of holiday items from other ethnic groups and festivals. Create a very multicultural event.

6. Have a dress-up day based on the pictures of children in 1914.

7. If the weather allows, have children dress in costumes for their visit to Doon Heritage Village.

8. Learn Christmas songs popular in 1914. Examples include:

Silent Night
O Christmas Tree ( O Tannenbaum in German)
Away in a Manger
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells

9. Play some games from the turn of the century. Examples follow:

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (also Beast, Bird or Fish)
Players sit in a circle. A ball is thrown by one player to any one of the others. The thrower calls out at the same time either mineral, animal or vegetable, and counts from one to ten rather quickly. If the player who is touched by the ball does not name something belonging to that kingdom called before the number ten is reached, the student must leave the circle until the game restarts. Play continues until only one player remains.

Minister's Cat
The first player begins by saying, "The Ministers cat is an ambitious cat" the next player "an artful cat" and so on until they have all named an adjective beginning with A. The next time of going around, the adjectives must begin with B and the next time C and so on until the whole of the alphabet has been used.

Grandmother's Trunk
This is one of the oldest word games on record. Each player has to repeat an ever-increasing list of objects. The first player starts by saying "My grandmother keeps an anchor in her trunk" (or any article beginning with A). The player on his left must think of an article beginning with B and say "My grandmother keeps an anchor and b..... in her trunk". The game continues, with each player having to remember all the things kept in the trunk and each time trying to add one more thing according to the alphabet. Forgetting the list of things entails disqualification.

Feather
A small fluffy feather is required. All players sit in a circle as close together as possible. One throws up the feather as high as possible and then blows it up to keep it floating. The player to whom it then floats nearest does the same. The object of the game is to keep the feather aloft as long as possible. It can't touch anyone or land on the floor.

Classroom Suggestions for Amazing Machines

1. All machines, whether historical or modern, do the same things. They make work easier. They do this in three ways:

by increasing the force.
by increasing the speed.
by changing the direction of force

2. There are basically seven types of simple machines. They are:

the lever
the pulley
the wheel and axle
the inclined plane
the wedge
the screw
the gear

3. Complex machines are merely combinations of several simple machines. Have students make a list of, or bring in a large number of household tools. These may include scissors, pliers, various openers, a screwdriver, a chisel. a scraper. a knife, a door knob, nail clippers. Find examples in this list or collection of the seven simple machines.

4. Bring a more complex machine into the class room such as a bicycle or a mechanical clock. Have students see how many simple machines they can identify.

Friction - The force that makes two surfaces stick when they are rubbed against each other.
Work - What happens when a force moves through a distance.
Machine - A device used to make work easier
Pulley - A wheel that turns on an axle and has a rope over its rim to pull on in order to lift a load.
Lever - A bar for raising or moving a load at one end by pushing down on the other end.
Fulcrum - The turning point, or pivot point , of a lever.
First Class Lever - A lever with the fulcrum between the effort and the resistance.
Second Class Lever - A lever with the resistance between the effort and the fulcrum.
Third Class Lever - A lever with the effort between the fulcrum and the resistance.
Effort - The force exerted by a machine when it is used.
Resistance - The force that a machine works against when it is used.
Wedge - A simple machine with two straight sides that come to a point.
Inclined Plane - A ramp or sloping surface.
Wheel and Axle - A wheel fixed to an axle, like the steering wheel of a car.
Fixed Pulley - A pulley whose axle stays in one place when it is used.
Movable Pulley - A pulley that moves up or down when it is used.
Block and Tackle - A combination of two fixed pulleys and two movable pulleys, used to increase the advantage of force by four times.
Thread - The winding, sloping ridge of a bolt or screw.
Gear - A wheel with teeth that imparts or transmits motion by acting on another wheel or chain. For our program there are five types - spur, crown, bevel, rack and worm.

Historical Information

Discuss time lines so that students know how long ago Doon Heritage Village and the pioneer era are. Include some important dates such as:

the year the students were born
the year the teacher was born
the year(s) students parents/grandparents were born

Waterloo Region County Timeline

Special School Program Events throughout the Year:

National Indigenous Peoples Day Program

June 19, 20, 21, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with us at the Waterloo Region Museum! A full day of First Nations, Métis and Inuit dance, drumming, games, and crafts. This full day celebration includes several small group workshops and concludes with a full group, participatory pow wow dance. All activities taught by members of the local Indigenous Communities. Appropriate for students in Grades 3 to 5.

First Peoples Festival

September 25, 26 and 27, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The First Peoples Festival is a celebration of First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures, history and realities. This full day festival will include opening ceremonies by Elders in the community, presentations of dance, music, traditional crafts and knowledge, all taught by members of the Indigenous Communities. Appropriate for students in Grades 5 to 8.

WW1 Education Days

October 1 and 2, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Waterloo Region Museum in conjunction with the History Matters Association will present an interactive program for Grade 10 students. Students will participate in a unique experience designed to bring WW1 curriculum to life through participatory activities, drills, re-enactments and demonstrations that will take these new recruits back through time!

Louis Riel Education Days

November 12 and 13, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A special education program that celebrates the life of Louis Riel. The Métis Nation of Ontario and the Grand River Métis Council invite you to join us at the Waterloo Region Museum to celebrate Louis Riel Day. This program is for students booked through our education program but all can attend the flag raising and opening ceremony that takes place at 9:30 a.m.

Learn about Louis Riel, his legacy, and Métis heritage. As part of the celebration, the Métis flag will be raised. The Métis flag celebrated its 200th Anniversary last year, first seen at the Battle of Seven Oaks, 1816. This makes it the oldest flag in Canada, predating Confederation.

Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies.

Appropriate for students in Grades 4 to 6.

Waterloo Region Forest Festival

October 11, 12, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Waterloo Region Museum In partnership with the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Grand River Conservation Authority, Waterloo Stewardship Network, and the Children's Water Education Council, presents the 5^th annual Forest Festival for grade 5 to 8 students. This educational festival teaches students several key messages about forest resources in the Region of Waterloo. Presentations and hands-on activities will include information on forest ecosystems, biodiversity, stewardship and conservation, species at risk, and the impacts of climate change. Spend a day with your students in the woods, in glorious fall weather.

Children's Groundwater Festival

A cross curricular event/program for students Grades 2 to 5 covering a variety of Science and Technology and Heritage and Citizenship units.

Susan Reid
Festival Coordinator
Email
519-748-1914
www.wwcgf.com

For more information on the Children's Water Education Council visit www.cwec.ca.

The festival's goal is to educate children about the importance of our most precious resource - water. The Festival promotes awareness that water is the basis for all life. We are proud when children who participate in our festival become catalysts for change by taking information and a new found respect for water back to their homes, schools and communities.

Overview
The festival first started in 1996, and has become a hands-on, interactive event with over 45 activity centres that are educational and fun for students in grades two through five. The goal is for students to enjoy themselves while teaching them all about water issues.

Learning Expectations
Through a combination of multimedia exhibits and hands-on activities focusing on the general theme of groundwater, students have the opportunity to learn about:

the physical science of groundwater
groundwater as a resource: management and utilization in rural and urban settings
the water cycle
the interdependence of people, plants, animals, soil, air and water
the results of the interaction between people and water, and what effect it has on the environment
the role of water historic and contemporary processes and technology

Specific Expectations
The Festival is a multi-grade level program. Through 45 centres we cover some of the following curriculum:

Earth and Space Systems, Grade 2 (Air and Water in the Environment)
Energy and Control, Grade 3 (Forces and Movement)
Heritage and Citizenship, Grade 3 (Pioneer Life)
Earth and Space Systems, Grade 3 (Soils in the Environment)
Life Systems, Grade 4 (Habitats and Communities)
Earth and Space Systems, Grade 4 (Rocks, Minerals and Erosion)
Energy and Control, Grade 5 (Conservation of Energy)
Heritage and Citizenship, Grade 5 (Aboriginal Peoples)

Program Outline
Group planning sessions are held for teachers prior to the Festival

Upon arrival at Waterloo Region Museum, at approximately 9:30 a.m., please have all students wait on the bus until you are greeted by museum staff, who will give you specific instructions for your day. Have accurate statistics on the number of students and the number of adults on each bus.
To enhance your visit, there is a Festival Planner and site map to look over.
Lunch is scheduled from 11:30 to 12:15 p.m.
Waterloo Region Museum staff and volunteers will be located throughout the site but some historic buildings will not be staffed.

Home School Programs

The Waterloo Region Museum offers Home School Day programs that give children unique learning opportunities. These field trips provide a wonderful opportunity to enrich the home learning experience.

Our scheduled Home School Day programs take place on special days and provide opportunities for children to learn about their world and experience life outside of the home school room. Children will touch, hold, see, taste and live what they are learning. On these special Home School days pricing is $5.50 per student. One teaching parent is free (with each paid student admission).

All home schooled children are invited to book a program especially designed for them. Come and explore, learn and discover!

To book your own school program, please call 519-748-1914 (see details below).

Twelve home school students minimum for a pre-booked visit. Suitable for Grades 2 to 5 (approximately age 7 to 12). $5.50 per student.

For more information or to book a school program call 519-748-1914 or email:

Dave Neufeld
Education Coordinator
Email

Jamie Perham
Education Bookings
Email