April 6, 2009
The Virginia Historical Society (VHS) is offering free educational programs for homeschoolers this summer. These special educator led history presentations for homeschool students will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July 2009. Three one-hour interactive presentations are available: Virginia and the Westward Movement, Pocahontas and the Powhatan Nation, and Teaching with Photographs. All three hands on programs are appropriate for children of all ages.
Homeschool families are encouraged to come early or stay after the program to enjoy the educational exhibitions on display at the Virginia Historical Society.
The Virginia and the Westward Movement program examines the nineteenth century movement of Virginians to the West and their contributions to settling the American frontier. Using reproductions of objects that might have been found on a settler’s Conestoga wagon, students will interpret the great migration from Virginia in the decades before the Civil War.
In Pocahontas and the Powhatan Nation, students learn about the culture of Powhatan Indians and the various roles played by women, men, and children in their society. The use of replica artifacts helps students understand myths and truths, tools and clothing, and popular images from Pocahontas’s time. Students will gain a greater understanding of Virginia’s original inhabitants.
Using turn-of-the-century photographs, the Teaching with Photographs program is designed to allow students to examine changes in Virginia’s society and politics. Students will explore context clues from primary source images from the VHS collection to develop an awareness of the changes that occurred across the Commonwealth during the early 1900s.
To reserve a program, contact the Virginia Historical Society’s education department at (804) 342-9652 or vhstours@vahistorical.org.
For more than 178 years, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) has been the steward of our state—and often national—history. Headquartered in Richmond, the VHS features award winning exhibitions that are entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages. Although designated the Official State Historical Society, the VHS is a privately funded nonprofit organization that relies on contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations to sustain its operations. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. (shop and museum galleries only). Admission: $5/adults, $4/seniors 55+, $3/students, free/under 18 and free/members. Admission to the galleries is free on Sundays. For group tour information, call (804) 342-9652. For more information, please call (804) 358-4901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.
Jennifer M. Guild
Media Relations Specialist
Virginia Historical Society
P.O. Box 7311, Richmond, VA 23221
(804)342-9665
jguild@vahistorical.org
