Education

Explore Paterson's role in the Industrial Revolution and discover how the natural world inspired a founding father, entrepreneurs, immigrants, poets and artists to build the nation's first industrial city and changed the world.

Students will learn about preserving the C&O Canal as a place to learn and explore our history, describe the C&O Canal as an early transportation system including canal operations, lock technology, and life for canal workers, and explain the concepts and effects of various earth processes, including: weathering, erosion, deposition, and flooding.

A three-touch model field trip where students will investigate the reasons that Springfield Massachusetts was selected for the nation’s first armory. Students will create their own maps and explore primary sources to learn about what this area would have looked like in 1777 prior to the founding of the armory.

The Legacy of Springfield Armory: How one Site Changed the Nation examines the history and legacy of Springfield Armory. This trunk includes lessons that explore the history of the Armory, a map maker activity examining primary sources, lessons on various technological developments including the Blanchard Lathe, noteworthy individuals at the Armory, a critical thinking writing prompt on identifying the significance of a historical site and more!

Learn the history of the park's iron pyrite mine on this moderate, two mile hike that lasts around two hours. Rangers will hike with students to the old mine site, and give students the opportunity to learn about the park's mine reclamation efforts, stroll along a boardwalk, and see several existing foundations and capped off mine shafts.

Discover the rich history of Prince William Forest Park. This 30 minute to one hour overview program offers information covering various time periods from Native American history to the Great Depression and World War II.

In this lesson, students will create a six word story based on the accomplishments of Wilbur Kelly.

In this lesson, students will learn about the fiberglass products manufactured at the Ashton Mill to improve everyday life.

How many clothes do you own? Are any of them handmade? Why don't people tend to hand make their clothing at home anymore? This lesson will investigate our complicated relationship with something as simple as thread. Old Slater Mill was the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in North America. This place transformed the relationship US citizens had with their clothing. This hands-on activity investigates how our relationship with clothing has changed over the past 230 years.

In this lesson, students will create a timeline showing Rhode Island’s changes in transportation over time.