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Step Back in Time: Hands-On Learning at The
Waterloo Farm Museum and Dewey School Museum

The Waterloo Area Historical Society (WAHS) offers immersive educational programs for elementary school children, providing a unique opportunity to experience 19th-century pioneer life firsthand. These programs are conducted at the Waterloo Farm Museum and Dewey School Museum, where students engage in activities that recreate the daily experiences of children from that era.

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Program Schedule:

  • Seasons: The educational programs are available during the spring and fall seasons.

  • Daily Structure: Each day, two classes, typically comprising 20 to 28 first, second, or third graders, participate. One class spends the morning at the Farm Museum and the afternoon at Dewey School, while the other class follows the reverse schedule, with both groups switching locations after lunch.

 

Experiences at the Farm Museum:

At the Farm Museum, children assume the roles of pioneer farm children, engaging in various hands-on activities that may include:

  • Log House Chores: Under the guidance of "Mrs. Realy," students learn about life in a one-room log house and participate in chores such as cooking, hauling water, doing laundry, and cleaning.

  • Barn Activities: In the Realy Barn, "Mr. Realy" instructs the children in tasks like shelling corn, gathering eggs, sawing wood, and other essential farm duties.

  • Workshop Learning: Students explore the Workshop to gain insights into the tools and craftsmanship of pioneer farmers.

 

Experiences at Dewey School:

At the one-room Dewey School, the Schoolmarm or Master employs teaching methods and materials from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students sit at antique desks, write on slates, read from McGuffey Readers, and may even experience sitting on the "dunce stool," all of which provide an authentic glimpse into historical educational practices.

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Program Costs:

The current fee is $6.00 per person per day, applicable to both children and accompanying teachers and adult chaperones.

 

Contacts & Scheduling:

  • Education Program Coordinator: To schedule a school tour, please contact Mary Spaan at mcspaan@umich.edu or text/leave a voicemail at 734-476-8366.

  • Private Events Coordinator: To volunteer as a docent (Mr./Mrs. Realy, Schoolmarm/Master), reach out to us at info@wahs-mi.org or call us at (804) 596-2254.

  • General Inquiries: For further information, you may call the Waterloo Area Historical Society at (804) 596-2254.

 

These educational programs are integral to WAHS's mission to foster an understanding and appreciation of Michigan's pioneer farmers, their family life, and their children's schooling.

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