School Outreach

Outreach/In-Class Programs

Outreach programs must be reserved at least three weeks in advance.

Fee: $50/program; $45/program for OHC Educator Members. An additional mileage fee will apply to programs outside of Lorain County. 

Program Length: Each program lasts approximately 45-60 minutes (unless otherwise noted) and can be tailored to meet your interests and time frame.

Logistics: Up to 30 students can be accommodated at a time. Each program is structured differently and may require a unique set-up.

Contact: Museum Education & Tour Manager or call 440-774-1700

Program Topics:

We would love to visit your classroom or group to lead your students through a discussion, object exploration, and activity. Programs can be tailored to different grades and interests.

History Mysteries Observation and inference activity for students using historic objects from the museums’ collection.
What Did Pioneers Eat? Discussion and game about pioneers growing, gathering, and raising food.  Will you store enough for the winter?
What Did People Wear? Exploring images and examples of historic clothing through the ages, discussing changes in function and style.
Chore Time and Play Time Hands-on activities and discussion about pioneer children’s work and play time.
The Underground Railroad                    Fact and myth, stories and images, thought-provoking scenario questions, mini activity.
Slavery and the Abolition Movement                                          Primary quotes and document analysis about this complex social and economic system, scenario questions, timeline.
Life During the Civil War Scenario discussion of different perspectives during the war, examples of new technology, period games, soldier life scenarios.

History Kits

Fee: $25 for the kit alone ($22 for OHC Educator Member); $50 for the kit plus an introductory program with a museum staff member ($45 for OHC Educator Member). You may pick up and drop off the kit at the Oberlin Heritage Center during office hours or arrange with the museum to provide delivery and pick-up for an additional fee. 

Rental Length: Standard rental period is 2 weeks. Kit rentals may be extended if arranged in advance.

Logistics: Each kit is designed to accommodate one class or up to 30 students at a time. If damages or losses beyond normal wear and tear occur with kit materials, the renter will be charged a replacement fee.

Contact: Museum Education & Tour Manager or call 440-774-1700

Program Topics:

Kits are designed in accordance with Ohio social studies and many common core standards

Grade Topic
1 Pioneer Child in Ohio
Pioneer life, school, chores, games
2 Jobs: Then and Now
Kinds of jobs, tools of the trade, gender roles
3 Northern Ohio: Then and Now
Maps, using natural resources to build and live in communities, early transportation
4 Northern Ohio & the Underground Railroad
Slavery, abolition, the journey to freedom
4 Inventors and Historic Technology
Electricity, lighting, aluminum, cameras, flight, recorded sound, creative challenge
5 We Were Here First: Generations of Settlers
Geography, Native Americans, colonists, African Americans, immigrants
8 Perspectives: Abolition and the Civil War
Primary sources, slavery, the growing nation, abolitionists, African colonization, Civil War