Educational Outreaches
We Come Visit Your Classroom –Available November 1 through April 1
Made possible by funding from: Bauer Fabrication, Bobcat Cafe, Bristol Financial Services, DJ's Tree Service & Logging, George W. Mergens Foundation, Lang Associates, Leo Cox Beach Foundation, Mountain Telecom, Inc., Neat Repeats, NRG Systems, and Queen City Printers.
The 18th Century Man: Boat Builder
LCMM educator brings 18th-century
boatbuilding to the classroom.
1 hour outreach program
For grades 2 and up (maximum 45 students)
- Dressed in period clothing from the 18th-century, the boat builder will talk about the importance of boats, how they were designed and constructed, and what woods were used and why. He brings an extensive assortment of tools, wood samples and historic materials for demonstration and display to increase understanding of this period in our history.
The 18th Century Man: Militiaman
1 hour outreach program
Grades 2+ (maximum 45 students)
- Entering the classroom dressed as a militiaman from the American Revolution on his way to one of the forts on Lake Champlain, an LCMM educator describes and displays his clothing and equipment, including his musket. Discussions will focus on each items use and why it was necessary, as well as the weapons of the era and expectations of a good militiaman. A question and answer period will address topic of interest focusing on life in the 18th-century.
18th-century map
of Lake Champlain,
by cartographer Brassier.
1 hour outreach program
Grades 4+ (maximum 60 students)
- Lake Champlain was the Northern Theatre of the Revolutionary War in 1776. Dressed as a crew member from Benedict Arnold’s fleet, our Museum educator will bring to life the vibrant story of the struggle for independence in our region during a slide presentation. Discussion will follow on topics of interest from the students, and may include shipboard life and discipline, medicine of the times, and issues of the Revolution.
What’s on the Bottom of Lake Champlain?
LCMM educator brings artifacts from a
Lake Champlain shipwreck into the classroom.
1 hour 15 minute outreach program
Grades 4+ (maximum 45 participants)
- There are hundreds of well-preserved shipwrecks on the bottom of Lake Champlain. An educator will present a slide show of the process of Nautical Archaeology. Students will then become historical detectives as they use artifacts from one of Lake Champlain’s shipwrecks to solve the mystery of a sunken vessel.
Lake Sailor: Merchants and Mariners on Lake Champlain
Chance and skill determine the outcome
in the Lake Sailor game.
1 hour 15 minute outreach program
Grades 5+ (maximum 25 participants)
- Our educator will present an introductory slide show of historical images describing life and business on Lake Champlain in the 19th century. Then teams of students form “crews” and “operate” their own canal boat on Lake Champlain, making decisions about where to travel and what cargo to carry. The outcome of their decisions and the weather will determine economic prosperity or bankruptcy.
The Canal Era on the Northern Waterway
50 minute outreach program
Grades 4+ (maximum 60 participants)
- Students will discover the historical background of the canal boat era (1819–1940) in the Champlain Valley. Learn about the legacy of shipwrecks from the commercial period and how the study of sailing canal boats led to the creation of the historic replica of an 1862-class canal schooner, Lois McClure.
Ship Shape
45 minute outreach program
For grades pre-K to 3rd (maximum 30 participants)
- Students learn why boats float in this discovery session for primary grades. Using a specially designed tank, the Museum educator will lead the students in experiments of buoyancy, displacement, and how shape makes a difference in floating and sinking. Students then divide into small groups to conduct experiments using foil boats they create themselves.
Champlain Troubadour: Songs and Stories of Lake Champlain
Champlain Troubadour Matt Witten
sings to a group of students.
45 minute–1 hour outreach program
Grades Pre-K–5 (maximum 30 participants)
- Songs and Stories of Lake Champlain is a fun and educational exploration into the local lore of Lake Champlain and its surroundings. Our Champlain Troubadour (Matt Witten) performs a variety of stories and songs from different traditions to engage the audience in song, movement, and the excitement of people's adventures and follies in the lake environment. His stories depict the lives of common folk (including animals) and their sometimes heroic and often amusing exploits. Enter the world of Wind Eagle, Horse Ferries, Odziozo, Swimming Chipmunks, Alien Plankton, and more! Accompanied by guitar, banjo, ukulele, or accordion, the Champlain Troubadour’s songs usually include movement as well as singing along.
Receive a free CD
when you sign up
for this outreach!