By Neshmia Malik
The Museum of the Grand Prairie is hosting its annual “Summer in the Schoolhouse” program, a historical twist on different subjects with a learning atmosphere much of the late 19th century.
While the Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the natural history of Champaign County and East Central Illinois, the Schoolhouse associated with it serves as a space for the “One-room schooling” aesthetic that mirrors the teaching styles of the late 1800s.
“One-room schooling was the main means of education in this area,” said Patrick Cain.
Patrick Cain is the Public Programs of Visitor Services Coordinator at the Museum of Grand Prairie, which is where the summer in the Schoolhouse program runs.
Cain identifies the school house as a “teaching tool” or “artifact within itself.”
The program takes place once a week for the month of July with students enrolling from, roughly, grades pre-k to middle school.
“We don’t have specific ages for lessons because much like when folks used to attend one-room schools in the area, there were no separate grades. You could be five years old sitting a couple of desks away from a 15-year-old but you would all be taught at the same time,” said Cain.
Cain recalls having a deep connection with history due to growing up alongside this program.
“As a student who used to come here in my younger days and as someone who now works here, when we have these first person interpretations, when they walk into that schoolhouse, it takes them back in time to make them feel like they’re really there,” said Cain.
The program takes on a 19th century classroom where volunteers take the role as “Schoolmasters”, or late 1800s teachers.
The main purpose of this program is to help bring local history to life, while also having school children identify the past in comparison to the present day learning environment.
While the repercussions of COVID-19 were at an all time high this past year, the Schoolhouse program was not able to return for July 2020, giving the Museum alternative opportunities to engage the community kids in historical learning.
“We did a number of virtual and remote opportunities for their program due to the restrictions of the pandemic this past year. For each one of our permanent exhibit spaces, we have used this app to create digital exhibits with content related to one-room schooling,” said Cain.
Museums, historical sites and libraries across the country use the app Clio to pinpoint 40,000 different entities which highlight certain historical points of interest.
“We conducted Facebook live tours of our spaces because people weren’t able to come during the pandemic last year. We brought the museum to them,” said Cain.
The summer in the Schoolhouse program is set to take flight on July 2nd, 2022, every Friday through the month from 10-11 a.m.
Some of the tours have also been posted on Youtube.
Friday, July 9
SUMMER IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE: READING & WRITING
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10-11 a.m.
Jump back in time to 1890 and see if you can keep up with a 19th century reading and writing lesson!! Class will be taught by our own school marm or master, straight out of the past. Costumes welcome; see you at summer school! FREE. Space is limited. Registration is required by July 8 at ccfpd.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to weather or COVID-19 related concerns. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Registration Link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1430
Friday, July 16
SUMMER IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE: HISTORY
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10-11 a.m.
Jump back in time to 1890 and see if you can keep up with a 19th century history lesson!! Class will be taught by our own school marm or master, straight out of the past. Costumes welcome; see you at summer school! FREE. Space is limited. Registration required by July 15 at ccfpd.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to weather or COVID-19 related concerns. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Registration Link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1431
Friday, July 23
SUMMER IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE: ARITHMETIC
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10-11 a.m.
Jump back in time to 1890 and see if you can keep up with a 19th century arithmetic lesson!! Class will be taught by our own school marm or master, straight out of the past. Costumes welcome; see you at summer school! FREE. Space is limited. Registration required by July 22 at ccfpd.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to weather or COVID-19 related concerns. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Registration Link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1432
SUMMER IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE: GEOGRAPHY
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 10-11 a.m.
Jump back in time to 1890 and see if you can keep up with a 19th century geography lesson!! Class will be taught by our own school marm or master, straight out of the past. Costumes welcome; see you at summer school! FREE. Space is limited. Registration required by July 29 at ccfpd.org. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Current public health guidelines will be followed; see CCFPD’s Covid Guidelines and Waiver for In-person Programs. Programs may be cancelled due to weather or COVID-19 related concerns. For more info: (217) 586-2612 or pcain@ccfpd.org.
Registration Link: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1433
