Homeschool Day - Old Sturbridge Village | Kids Out and About Hartford <

Homeschool Day - Old Sturbridge Village


*The event has already taken place on this date: Fri, 11/13/2020
Join us for our November Home School Day on Friday, November 13! Home School Days offer you and your family the opportunity to explore the Village and participate in activities. This is a great opportunity for kids to gain exposure to many aspects of 1830s New England life in an interactive way. The health and safety of our visitors is our top priority, so this Home School Day will look a little different from past events. While we are not able to offer hands-on workshops at this time, we encourage you to visit the Village and try out some fun, outdoor activities on your own, or register for one of the in-person programs with the Village’s knowledgeable staff.

Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.

Admission and Ticketing

Up to three kids 17 and younger are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult paying full admission now through November 28, 2020. To manage capacity in accordance with Massachusetts reopening guidelines, we are requiring all visitors to purchase/reserve tickets in advance. Please plan to arrive during the time window listed on your ticket. Once you have been checked in you are welcome to stay until the property closes at 4:00 pm. Click your preferred time slot to reserve your tickets. If you have a complimentary admission pass or a discount of any kind please email visitorcenter@osv.org or call 508-347-0213 in advance to reserve your entry with a Visitor Center staff member. Members can also reserve their tickets by clicking their preferred time slot below.

10:00 am – 11:30 am

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

You can read more about our policies regarding COVID-19 and purchase/reserve your tickets here.  All visitors must enter the Village through the main Visitor Center. Museum Education will be closed to the public.

Please also note:

  • Buildings are currently closed, but as the season progresses, we will open buildings in phases with occupancy limits. In the meantime, guests can watch a variety of demonstrations and talk with costumed historians outside!
  • In accordance with MA state guidelines, all guests are asked to wear a face mask when interacting with our staff or other visitors and when physical distancing is not possible.
  • All visitors must enter the Village through the main visitors center. Museum Education will be closed to the public.

Timed In-Person Programs (subject to change)

Things to know:

  • Pre-registration is required for all activities listed below, unless otherwise noted.
  • All events are limited to 10 students due to restrictions on group size.
  • These are not drop-in programs and our staff will have a list of registrants for each workshop.
  • Students’ guardians must stay in close proximity of the program location for the entire duration of the activity for safety reasons.
  • All activities will take place outside to allow for proper social distancing, weather permitting.
  • Workshop times are approximate. Please stay close by during your child’s workshop.

STEM Challenge: Design a Waterwheel  

Meets by the Grist Mill | 60 Minutes | Ages 8+

Register for 10:30 SOLD OUT

Participants in this session will use their engineering skills and creativity to create a waterwheel from simple materials. Each participant will get their own materials to work with, and will get a brief introduction to waterpower at the Village’s mills.

STEM Challenge: Build a Truss Bridge 

Meets by the Covered Bridge | 60 Minutes | Ages 8+

Register for 1:30 SOLD OUT

Participants in this session will create a strong bridge from basic materials. Each participant will get their own materials to work with, and will get a brief introduction to bridges and engineering by examining the structure of the Village’s own covered bridge.

Simple Machines Tour 

Meets at Grist Mill | 60 Minutes | Ages 6+

Register for 11:30 SOLD OUT

There are so many simple machines to see here at the Village! From pulleys to wedges to screws, take a tour with a museum educator to see how many you can find!

Scouring Wool Demonstration

Meets at the Fenno House | 15-30 minutes | Ages 5+

Register for 10:30 SOLD OUT

Register for 2:30

Scouring, or cleaning wool was just one step in the process of getting it ready to weave and spin. Stop by the Fenno House to learn how we transform a dirty sheep fleece into yarn.

Village Tours 

Meets in front of the Meetinghouse | 90 Minutes | Ages 6+

Register for 10:30 SOLD OUT

Register for 1:30

If you’re new to Old Sturbridge Village, or maybe would like to learn something you’ve never learned before, join a museum educator for a guided tour to explore some exciting highlights of the Village. Please note: this tour involves a lot of walking and will last about 1.5 hours.

Look What I Did with a Leaf! – Just added!

Meets at Simple Machines exhibit | 45 minutes | ages 5+

Register for 10:30

Register for 1:30

Together, we will read the story Look What I Did with a Leaf. After the story, we will go on a leaf hunt before making leaf rubbings and animals out of leaves.

An Introduction to Timber Framing and the Village’s New Cabinet Shop 

Meets at the site of the new Cabinet Shop (next to the graveyard) | 30 Minutes | Ages 8+

Register for 1:00 SOLD OUT

The Village is in the process of building a new cabinetmaking shop! Participants will learn about building a 19th-century timber-frame Cabinetmaker’s workshop, in the 21st century.

Make a Bubble Wand and Giant Bubble Contest (45 minutes)

Location TBD | 45 Minutes | Ages 6+

Register for 10:30 SOLD OUT

Register for 11:30 SOLD OUT

Using just wood and string, create a bubble wand to make some really huge bubbles. Afterwards, we’ll have a contest to see who can make the biggest bubble.

Nature Weaving

Meets at the River Walk | 45 Minutes | Ages 6+

Register for 11:30 – Just added!

Register for 1:30 SOLD OUT

Using natural materials that we gather ourselves, we will make beautiful artwork with this modern-twist on weaving.

Make a Fairy House

Meets at the River Walk | 45 Minutes | Ages 5+

Register for 2:30 SOLD OUT

Fairy houses are small, whimsical dwellings made from natural materials. Join us on the River Walk to make our own enchanted structures to leave for visitors to find.

Kids Garden Chores 

Meets at Fitch House Garden | 30 Minutes | Ages 5+

Register for 2:00 SOLD OUT

Children helped a lot around the house, on the farm, and in the gardens. Learn more about what it was like to be a kid during the 1830s and what kind of chores you might help with around the garden.

Group Mural

Meets on the Common by the Flag Pole | 45 Minutes | Ages 6+

Register for 10:30

Register for 1:00

Let’s make an OSV mural together! After a brief tour of the buildings on the Common and some discussion of 1830s architecture, we’ll sketch out detailed drawings of the Center Village buildings. Then, we will attach them to a group mural.

Writing Letters, 1830s Style

Meets on the Common by the Flag Pole | 45 Minutes | Ages 8+

Register for 11:30

Register for 2:00

Keeping in touch with friends and family is very important during this challenging time! Listen to some examples of letters from OSV’s collection and then discuss what you hear with the other workshop participants. Then, practice your best handwriting to compose a letter to a friend or loved one. We’ll mail it for you, so make sure you know the right address!

Fire Balloon Launch on the Common (no registration required)

11:00

1:00

Join us for a demonstration (or two!) of a fascinating diversion enjoyed by children in the early 1800s, a toy hot air balloon flight! Pre-registration is not required for this activity.

Other activities in the Village during the day:

  • Butchering at Freeman Farm
  • Preparing for Thanksgiving at the Fitch House
  • Milking demonstrations
  • Scavenger hunts
  • Kid-friendly performances
  • And more!

Stay tuned for a list of other activities taking place in the Village during the day! We will post a schedule here in the week leading up to Home School Day.

Can’t make it to the Village? We’ll be posting more information soon on our upcoming virtual workshops, made just for homeschoolers.


This Home School Day is generously sponsored by:

Cornerstone Bank


*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.

Location:

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
Sturbridge, MA, 01566
United States

Phone:

(508) 347-3362
Contact name: 
Old Sturbridge Village
Email address: 
The event has already taken place on this date: 
11/13/2020
Time: 
Program Registration Required
Price: 
Cost: Included with standard daytime admission or Village membership. Please make sure to reserve/purchase tickets before arriving! Pre-registration is required for most activities as well.

Ages

Adults & kids together