Featured Programs 

BRAND NEW! Life of a Revolutionary War Soldier
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45-60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th & Above

Students will examine primary sources and replica artifacts to learn more about the daily life of a soldier during the American Revolution, including reasons for joining the conflict, what they would have worn, eaten, and even their illnesses. To end the program, students will read excerpts from the diary of a soldier who was present at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781!

Exhibition Design 101 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 30 - 45 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 9th – 12th

How do museums create exhibitions? What does a curator do? What are the best tips and tricks when designing a show? During this 45-minute workshop, students learn more about the behind-the-scenes work of exhibition design. We will discuss choosing themes and corresponding items, how to effectively create engaging displays, and our “Ten Commandments” of exhibition design. This program is perfect for students taking on project-based learning, like Virginia History Day.

Please email Education Coordinator Cece D'Arville to book your program - cd'arville@virginiahistory.org

Featured Program Bundle

PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE MONTH BUNDLE 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL:  4th & 5th Grade Virginia Studies
This bundle features 8 HistoryConnects programs delivered monthly throughout the school year. Each month, a museum educator will lead your students through a guided inquiry process to analyze and interpret a variety of primary sources. The program schedule & sources are aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning, and each program focuses on developing history & social science skills. 

LEARN MORE or email Cece D'Arville to book your program - cd'arville@virginiahistory.org

Browse by Century: 17th Century | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century

17th Century Programs

THE POWHATAN INDIANS 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: K – 12th

Using primary sources as well as replica artifacts created by Mattaponi Indians, students will learn about what life was like for Woodland Indians by examining the Algonquian-speaking Powhatans in Virginia before the first English settlers made it their home. The Powhatans serve as an excellent example of Woodland Indian culture that dominated the eastern United States prior to the European contract. Students will identify the various natural resources used by Native American men, women, and children to make their tools and clothing. Note - Early Elementary groups are encouraged to enjoy this program in 30-40 minutes. 

POCAHONTAS: HER LIFE & LEGEND 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

The study of Pocahontas is an excellent exercise testing the strength of primary versus secondary sources. This program examines the historical evidence of six episodes of her life that are recorded by English settlers and compares those accounts to images created after her death. 

JOHN SMITH'S MAP OF VIRGINIA 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

John Smith's map of Virginia is one of history's most influential maps, Through guided inquiry, your students will examine different early maps of Virginia to explore concepts of colonization, exploration, and indigenous history to answer the question, "Why was John Smith's map of Virginia so important?".

POWER & AGENCY IN COLONIAL VIRGINIA
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

Students will explore how demographics like race, gender, and wealth made colonial Virginians' lives different. This program will examine the growth of the Virginia colony and economy, enslavement versus indentured servitude, the impact of English colonists on Virginia Indians, and women's lives in Colonial Virginia. This program examines a variety of primary sources, such as broadsides, objects, legal paperwork, and images that shine a light on what life was like in colonial Virginia. 

18th Century Programs

POWER & AGENCY IN COLONIAL VIRGINIA
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

Students will explore how demographics like race, gender, and wealth made colonial Virginians' lives different. This program will examine the growth of the Virginia colony and economy, enslavement versus indentured servitude, the impact of English colonists on Virginia Indians, and women's lives in Colonial Virginia. This program examines a variety of primary sources, such as broadsides, objects, legal paperwork, and images that shine a light on what life was like in colonial Virginia. 

Creating A New Nation: Virginia and the Founding Documents
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 6th – 12th

Virginians played an essential role in the creation of the new American nation. From actions during and following the American Revolution to ideas and documents that established the new country, Virginians were involved at every point. During this program participants will discuss George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Mason, while examining some of the most important documents in American history: The Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, The Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. 

DIFFERENT PATHS TO FREEDOM: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

Discover the implications that the American Revolution had on ideas of freedom and liberty. Students will examine the relationship between enslaved individuals and revolutionary ideals through personal stories and an investigation of Dunmore's Proclamation, James Lafayette's petition, and Peter Sublett's manumission.

19th Century Programs

LETTERS FROM A ‘49ER: A VIRGINIAN’S JOURNEY TO FIND CALIFORNIA GOLD
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

In 1849, John Robertson Maben traveled to California in search of gold. In this program, participants will join Maben on his journey. In a series of thirteen letters, Maben describes his travels to his wife, Sarah. These letters are especially vivid as Maben was witness to events both momentous and mundane. Students will join Maben on his journey, interpreting his letters and tracing his travels on a nineteenth-century map.

HISTORY IN A HAVERSACK: LIFE OF A CIVIL WAR SOLDIER 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

From 1861 to 1865 the country was in a military and social revolution. This program will discuss various aspects of a soldier's life in the Civil War.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

Abraham Lincoln is often called The Great Emancipator; however, enslaved people were responsible for seizing their own freedom. During this program, students will explore primary sources related to self-emancipation at Fort Monroe and the resulting Confiscation Acts. Students will also analyze the Emancipation Proclamation and explore the impact it had on both enslaved and free African Americans. Through guided historical inquiry your students are introduced to political cartoons as primary sources and interpret the importance of these sources while learning about their historical context. 

SICK CALL! CIVIL WAR DISEASES, HOSPITALS, & MEDICINE
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

More soldiers died during the American Civil War from diseases than from battle wounds. What were the most common diseases, and how did doctors treat them? This program examines doctors, nurses, and patients in both the North and South and how they dealt with sickness and injury. Please Note: This program does include images of illness, death, and surgery. 

DEATH & MEMORY AND THE CIVIL WAR
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 6th – 12th

The goal of this program is to better understand how the country dealt with the deaths of over 620,000 people during the Civil War. Students will use primary sources such as photographs and letters to analyze how the fatalities were felt on the home front. They will leave with a more comprehensive knowledge of how the Civil War changed America’s mourning customs and perspectives of war and death. *This program uses several images of dead bodies, both on battlefields & in staged photos. Please be advised that this may be upsetting to some viewers. 

REBUILDING AMERICA: RECONSTRUCTION AND JIM CROW
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

After the Civil War, Virginians eagerly embraced economic development and technological change while resisting political and social change. Indeed, as Virginia moved forward in many ways and living standards improved, society was rigidly segregated by race. This program examines the ways in which Virginians and other former Confederates dealt with rebuilding and reunification after the Civil War. Particular attention is paid to the impacts of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, the origins of Jim Crow, and other steps taken to disenfranchise African Americans. 

20th Century Programs

PICTURE THIS: VIRGINIA IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

Using photographs from throughout the twentieth century, this program is designed to allow students to examine changes in Virginia's industry, society and politics. Historical themes such as education, industrialization, urbanization, transportation, civil rights, and suffrage are explored.

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE STARTER PACK 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th & 5th 

Can people support different ways of achieving the same goal? This program looks at how women in the twentieth century had varying perspectives about gaining suffrage. Students will explore the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia through primary sources like broadsides and photographs. 

SIGN OF THE TIMES: ACTIVISM IN THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT 
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45-60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 6th-12th

How did Suffragists convince Congress to ratify the 19th amendment? This program tracks and examines the rhetorical techniques used by Virginia women in the fight to gain women's suffrage. Students will use primary sources from the VMHC's collection to see how tone and word choice intensified during the Suffrage Movement. By exploring how to craft an argument, students will learn how writing influenced social activism.

FIGHTING JIM CROW
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th – 12th

How did Black Americans fight against Jim Crow during the 20th century? From Richmond neighborhoods to Farmville classrooms, this program explores how resistance to Jim Crow laws and stereotypes varied across time and place. Students will examine photography and ephemera from the VMHC collections to understand how Black activists worked across a century. Special focus will be paid to dual economies, Black men's service in WWII, and legal action in the Civil Rights Movement. 

LESSONS LEARNED: ANALYZING CONTENT AND TONE IN TEXTBOOKS
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 – 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 9th-12th 

Lessons Learned is an interactive analysis of Black history in Virginia textbooks that range from late 19th century texts to early 21st century texts. Students will examine passages related to the first arrival of Africans in 1619, slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction in an effort to understand how the Lost Cause movement impacted Southern education over the last century.

FRESH PAINT: MURALS INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF VIRGINIA
PROGRAM LENGTH: 45 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 6th – 12th

Fresh Paint features murals inspired by Virginia’s history. Ten of Virginia’s most talented mural artists were provided unrestricted access to the museum’s vast collection of books, letters, maps, artwork, photographs, and objects. Each artist chose objects that interested them and used those stories as inspiration for an original painting reflecting the Commonwealth’s diverse history. Throughout the program, participants will explore the intersection of art and history, engage in a discussion about interpretation of the artwork, and learn more about historical events in Virginia. 

Virtual Tour of the Story of Virginia Exhibition
PROGRAM LENGTH: 60 Minutes | GRADE LEVEL: 4th & Above

During this program, students will take a guided virtual tour of the VMHC's permanent exhibition The Story of Virginia. The exhibition interprets 16,000 years of Virginia history and features more than 500 artifacts, maps, letters, and diaries. From the earliest American Indian artifacts to life in the state in the twentieth century, students will explore the cultural and historical transformations of the commonwealth as they travel from one gallery to another. Please Note: This program can only be booked in the afternoon.

Please Email Cece D'Arville to book any of the above programs - cd'arville@virginiahistory.org