School Programs

Field Trips at the Shaker Heritage Society

What appears today to be a scenic, agricultural oasis in the middle of modern development was once the site of a revolutionary community whose innovative outlook resulted in significant industrial activity and a varied economy.

Explore themes of daily life, agriculture, teamwork, and technology on a field trip to America’s first Shaker settlement, or with an outreach program in your classroom. Our programs help students meet the New York State learning standards for social studies education. They also appeal to multiple learning styles through hands-on participation, and inquiry-discussion.

The Shaker Heritage Society has developed fun, educational activities for students grades K-12, and ELA/Social Studies programs recommended for grades 6-9.

SHS programs address New York State Key Concepts

History:  Belief systems; Change; Conflict; Choice; Culture, Diversity, Identity, Interdependence, Movement of People and Goods  |  Geography:  Human Systems, Environment and Society  |   Economics:  Factors of Production, Science and Technology  |  Civics, Citizenship, and Government:  Justice, Citizenship, Decision Making, Human Rights

01

Explore America's First Shaker Settlement

Tour the Church Family site and learn about how was life in a farming and industrial community in the 19th century!

02

Utopia & Dystopia: The Shakers and The Giver

Discover the similarities about the Shaker communities and the Community from Louis Lowry’s book ‘The Giver’!

03

Shakers in your Classroom Outreach Program

Enjoy learning about the Shakers in your own classroom with a visit from one of our museum’s educators!

The Shaker site is adjacent to the Ann Lee Pond Historic and Nature Preserve.  Teachers may also want to take advantage of the pond for natural history explorations.

 

Tours and programs at the Shaker Heritage Society site and in schools are available Tuesday-Friday.  On site programs can be scheduled March through early October and in-school programs can be scheduled throughout the school year.