School Programs

Programs for School Groups            

The following programs are offered by the Education Department for school groups during the 2012-2013 academic year. Reservations must be made in advance. All programs are compatible with the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) requirements.           

View SOL compatibility for specific programs. 

Download the 2012-2013 School Program Flyer (PDF).

School Programs Offerings (2012-2013) 

A Colonial Community
The Richmond community in colonial times will be investigated through hands on artifact investigations, playing colonial games, and creating a craft to take away. Time in the museum's galleries will expose students to portraits and additional primary source materials. Available as outreach.      
GRADE: PreK-6 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour

African Americans in Antebellum Richmond
Students explore the lives of African Americans through the use of artifacts, primary documents, stories and games. Available as outreach.       
GRADE: PreK-12 l COST: $4 per student  l TIME: 1 hour           

Children in the House: Growing Up in the 1800s
Learn about family life, education, clothing and games from the 19th century using photographs, primary documents, reproduction artifacts and a tour of the Wickham House (1812). Available as outreach.
GRADE: Pre-K-5 l COST: $4 per student  l TIME: 1 hour

Civil War Spies: Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Elizabeth Bowser
Learn about two women who spied for the Union in Richmond during the Civil War.  Students will tour the  Wickham House (1812), work with primary source photographs and conduct hands on artifact investigations. Available as outreach. 
GRADE: 4-12 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour

Fall Line City History
What elements are part of a changing community? Using primary and secondary sources, the students will explore the development of our city. They will compare Richmond as a settlement to today's modern city while sharing  maps and pictures and adding pieces to the puzzle that became a Fall Line City. Available as outreach.
GRADE: 2-6 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour

Era Explorations
Using photographs, video and audio, this program will assist students with their understanding of the times and attitudes of four eras. Select from The Great Depression, Rosie the Riveter: the Homefront during WWII, Segregation/Integration, and Growth of a Modern City for a 90-minute presentation. (Also available in a 45-minute version.) Available as outreach.
GRADE: 4-12 l COST: $6 per student l TIME: 90 minutes (45 minute version available)

Greek by Design
The students will discuss the elements of Greek and Roman deisgn and culture while touring the 19th century home of John and Elizabeth Wickham. Available as outreach.             
GRADE: 3-12 l COST: $4 per student  l TIME: 1 hour

Hands on Richmond History
Using artifacts, documents, diaries, letters, oral histories, maps, drawings, photographs, pictures, newspapers and reproduction objects, students will engage in grade level appropriate history investigations. They will work from personal artifacts, learn about collection organization, interpret artifacts and documents, and use primary sources to better understand the past. Available as outreach.  
GRADE: PreK-12 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour   

Powhatan Indians       
A hands-on program using Native American artifacts to learn about the lives of the Eastern Woodlands Indians of Virginia and their reliance on natural resources.. Available as outreach.
GRADE: PreK-5 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour

Waterways (New Program!)
Primary sources and hands-on activities help students explore the value of the rivers to the people living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Available as outreach.
GRADE: PreK-2 l COST: $4 per student l TIME: 1 hour

Who's Hat is That?
Hats tell a lot about the people who wore them: where and when they lived or what they did for a living.  Children will try on hats from our collection, discuss what the hat tells them about the person, do a Mexican Hat Dance and create a hat of their own. Available as outreach.   
GRADE: PreK-2 l COST: $4 per student  l TIME: 1 hour

Gallery Tour
School groups reserving one of our school programs may add a 30-minute gallery tour for $1 per student. For groups who do not wish to participate in one of the History Center’s school programs, one-hour gallery tours are available at the regular program price of $4 per student, with a minimum fee of $40.
GRADE: K-12

Reservations and Pricing

To Make Reservations                     

• Contact the Assistant Director of Education, 804.649.0711 x 317, or download our School Groups reservation form.           
• Programs must be scheduled in advance. Four weeks notice is preferred.                 
• 90-minute version of each program is available.                  
• A deposit of $25  is required one month prior to your visit, with final payment due upon arrival. Arrangements for invoicing must be made in advance. Checks are made payable to the Valentine Richmond History Center.             
• Cancellation of a program must be made by telephone call at least 48 hours in advance.            
• Attendance numbers must be updated 48 hours prior to the scheduled program. Fees due will be based on the number reported.
• You will receive a confirmation letter detailing your reservation and payment requirements in addition to a teacher resource packet relating to your chosen program.  
• The Richmond History Center is handicap accessible, but please let us know of your group’s special needs in advance of the program so that we may better accommodate you.

Prices for programs at the History Center:                                                                                  

• $4 per student (except as noted in each program description above), with a minimum fee of $60, for on-site programs.      
• One adult chaperone for every 10 children is required and admitted free of charge. Each additional adult is charged $4.               
• Box lunches can be arranged for your group as well as an on-site location at which to enjoy them.               

Prices for outreach programs at your school:                                               

• $4 or $6 per student with a $90 or $100 minimum fee. No charge for the teacher.      
• Off-site programs outside the Greater Richmond area will be charged a mileage fee.                            
• Your full payment must be mailed and received by the History Center on or before your program date. Our History Center teachers are not authorized to accept payment at your school on the day of the outreach.                                     

Tips for a great trip!

• Eat your bag lunches downtown on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol, Tredegar Iron Works, or local parks such as Byrd Park, Maymont Park or Bryan Park.                                             
• Buses and marked vans can park directly in front of the museum on East Clay Street.
• If your group is carpooling, the History Center will need to know ahead of time to arrange additional parking.

School Programs SOL Compatibility 2012-2013

(printable PDF Version)