EYE on EDUCATION

at the Monroe County Historical Museum

DID YOU KNOW?

We have great educational opportunities for your class at the Historical Museums- tours of our multiple sites, a variety of historical topics including Native American life, the Victorians, our Veterans and military, the Fur Trade,  the War of 1812- some with hands-on activities- all in line with Michigan Standards & Benchmarks. Visit one site    or several- we adapt our schedule to yours, and give your students a positive, interesting experience at a professional museum, not far from home! Call today for information or to schedule a tour or presentation.

How can we help you present local history into your classroom?

SCHEDULE your FALL TOURS NOW!

The Museum offers free educational kits for your use in your classroom- it’s as easy as scheduling, picking up, using and returning! Kits vary in size and purpose- some are background information, some CDs for computer use, some hands-on materials. Kits can also be used by other educators- home schoolers, 4-H clubs, Scouts. Give us a call or e-mail Lynn Reaume.

 Education Kit (pdf)

The Monroe County Historical Museums host a number of sites available for free scheduled tours- not just the     main Museum in downtown Monroe, but also the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post, Martha Barker Country Store,   and more. Consider the Monroe Labor History or Vietnam Veterans Historical Museums for your upper elementary students. We are flexible on days and times, and offer compliance with Michigan standards and benchmarks,       plus fun in learning about our local history, from early Frenchtown to now.

Call for available dates and scheduling.

 Education Tours (pdf)

Looking to introduce your students to Native American language? Want to hear how the words sound? We have "Inaadiziwin"- an Anishinaabe language DVD which teaches basic words and phrases, with pronunciation. The  DVD focuses on Native American seasonal activities such as fishing, making maple syrup, ricing, deer hunting,   and trapping. The DVD is made and sold through the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission- a great source for Anishinaabe teaching materials.

Also available for loan (or $25 purchase) is a 90 minute video of "Michigan in the Civil War", which chronicles the state's involvement and activities during the American Civil War- including Monroe county units, local heroes  Norman Hall and George Custer, and more. A very good overall source of information, which includes the Underground Railroad, Governor Austin Blair, and topics such as Michigan's Native Americans and ethnic groups   in state service.

Contact Education at the Museum for loan details.

Thanks to Custer School coming to the Monroe County Historical Museum during Custer Week to learn about all things "Custer"! The Monroe County Convention & Tourism Bureau sponsored the trip for about 350 3rd and 4th grade students. The museum was bustling with the sounds of fun and learning- your students can have the same experience. Call us about presentations & tours.

More thanks to St. Joseph, Erie Elementary School for their trip to the museum- they were studying Woodland  Native Americans and the Fur Trade when they came to the museum. Their presentation included a       lot of "hands-on" experience, handling stone tools, projectile points, various daily life tools, and foods cultivated by the Indians. They learned about what animals figured prominently in the Fur Trade, and what animals lived in   Monroe County.

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From last year: the Monroe County Intermediate School District 2010 In-Service Day!

We were very honored to be invited to present our resources to Monroe County Teachers at the November In-Service held here at the main Museum! Early in the morning Director John Gibney gave the opening welcome and introduction to set the theme for the day, followed by a PowerPoint introduction to all the county museums by acting Education Coordinator Lynn Reaume. A personal general tour was given to the teachers of both of the exhibit floors of the museum, and a more in depth presentation on Education rounded out the first half of the day. The teachers found local restaurants for lunch on their own. Archivist and manager of collections Chris Kull spoke about the Archival holdings, with interesting examples of obituaries, maps, letters and more. Representing the Dundee Old Mill Museum, retired assistant principal Dorothy 'Meg' Heinlen talked about opportunities using their museum and archives, and Bill Conner introduced all to the latest Monroe County museum, the Labor History Museum in downtown Monroe. Refreshments were served throughout the day, with free information available on our multiple sites and educational offerings.

Thanks to the Monroe County ISD for their invitation, and thanks to the participating teachers and their enthusiastic vote for history! And big thanks for all you do with your students to promote history, and local involvement!

Chris Kull presented Archives information.

 Dorothy Heinlen handed out brochures on the Dundee Old Mill Museum.

One teacher remarked it was one of the best In-Services she attended in her 24 years of teaching!

Staff were sought out and thanked by many of the departing teachers, who greatly enjoyed their day.