Heritage Discovery

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Description

Heritage Discovery Day is a customizable, curriculum-connected museum experience designed for educators seeking a deeper and more interactive learning opportunity for their students. For those looking beyond the general museum visit, this immersive program allows students to explore heritage through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

This museum-led, in-museum program is supported by teachers and chaperones and takes between two and three hours to complete. Each program consists of four components that encourage students to connect with Saskatchewan history through exploration, creativity, and discovery.

With each classroom booking, students will receive:

• One hands-on activity selected from our Hands-on Activity Menu
• One heritage craft selected from our Heritage Craft Menu
• One Artifact Discovery Box where students can handle and investigate authentic and replica artifacts
• One curriculum connected Museum Quest that encourages exploration throughout the museum

By combining interactive activities, artifact exploration, and self-guided discovery, Heritage Discovery Day offers a memorable and meaningful way for students to engage with Saskatchewan's stories, people, and past.

Hands-on Activities (30 - 40 minutes): Choose one from the following list

Hand-Churned Ice Cream Making (40 minutes)

Students learn how ice cream was made before electricity while using a hand-cranked ice cream freezer to help make a batch of ice cream. Each student will have an opportunity to sample the finished product.

Hand-Churned Butter Making (30 minutes)

Students explore traditional farm life and food production by using a ceramic butter churn and dasher to make homemade butter. Each student will have an opportunity to sample the finished product.

Rope Making (40 minutes)

Students learn about the history of rope, its importance in agriculture, and traditional rope-making techniques. Together, they will create a rope to take back to school.

Dipped Candle Making (30 minutes)

Students learn about daily life before electricity while creating their own dipped beeswax candles and exploring the importance of candlelight in the past.

Pen and Ink Making (40 minutes):

Students will create ink from berries and other seasonally available natural plants. They will then create a quill pen to practice the art of writing.

*Additional Hands-on activities may be added for an extra fee. Add-ons are limited to Ice cream making, Rope making, Candle making or Butter making.*

Heritage Craft: (30 min to 1 hour): Choose one from the following list

Toy Making (30 minutes)

Students learn how children in the past created their own entertainment while making a simple toy from common household materials.

Weaving (1 hour)

Students explore the importance of wool, spinning and weaving in early settler life. They will create a woven bookmark on a cardboard loom.

Sewing (1 hour)

Students explore the importance of making and repairing clothing for early life on the prairies. They will learn basic hand-sewing techniques while creating a small plush project.

Leathercraft (1 to 1.5 hours)

Available for Grades 5 and up. Students are introduced to traditional leatherworking techniques while creating a small leather project that emphasizes design, creativity, and basic leatherworking skills.

Artifact Discovery (30 minutes): Choose a discovery box on one of the following themes:

• Toys
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• Communications
• Electricity
• Natural Resources
• The Bison
• School House
• The Great Depression

Museum Quest (30 minutes):

Museum Quests are curriculum-connected scavenger hunts designed to guide students through the galleries. Students are led to artifacts of interest, where they can learn about heritage and answer related questions.

Additional Program Information

Curriculum Connections

Social Studies

• IN3.1, IN3.2, DR3.2, RW3.3
• IN4.1, DR4.1, RW4.1, RW4.2, RW4.3
• IN5.1, IN5.2, DR5.1, DR5.2, DR5.3
• IN6.1, IN6.2, IN6.3, IN6.4, DR6.1, DR6.2, DR6.3

Arts Education

• CP3.7, CP3.8
• CP4.7, CP4.8
• CP5.8, CH5.2, CH5.3

Chaperone Ratios

Groups are expected to provide chaperones (including teachers) at a ratio of 1 adult per 5 students. These chaperones are admitted free of charge. Support staff and chaperones for students with significant needs are allowed at a 1:1 ratio at no charge.

Admission for additional adults beyond the required number is $12 each.

Visiting With Multiple Classes

It is possible for multiple classes from the same school (up to 60 students) to participate in a self-guided visit at the same time. Both classes may book together, but must indicate the name and contact information of all educators that will be attending on their joint booking.

School Booking and Cancellation Policy

Please review this information prior to completing your booking.

Museum Manners

Please review this information with your class prior to attending your program.

Contact Us

Please contact us for further information at 1-306-783-8361 or yorkton.ed@wdm.ca.