The McHenry County Historical Society offers activities and programs that aim to educate McHenry County school children about this county's rural and agricultural past. Primarily geared toward 3rd through 5th grades, we can usually customize our offerings to meet varying educational objectives. Please call Jan Streib, Educational Programs Coordinator at (815) 923-2267 for additional information. Our most utilized programs include:

1895 West Harmony one-room School                                                 Students listen to school master, Mr. Knickerbocker

West Harmony one-room school experience: This is our most popular program. Students participate in a 2 hour c.1900 school day. Available Tuesday and Wednesday mornings only, late September through late May (no dates in January). Call to make reservations in August to increase your chances of getting a date -- this program books up quickly.

Students role play on how mail was organized---

the old fashioned way.

Museum Tour: Thursday and Friday mornings only, late September through late May, no dates in January. We offer 2 hour tours of the museum including the one room school and the 1847 log cabin. Call for reservations.

Students prepare to enter the Cannon Log Cabin

to discover what life was like in 1847

History Trunk: Available September through May. Late 19th Century trunk filled with artifacts, resources, hands-on activities and lesson ideas. The trunk can be reserved for up to 3 weeks. Call for reservations.

The West Harmony one-room school program and museum tours are offered beginning in the fall (usually in September/October and throughout the school year with the exception of January when no school programs are scheduled.)

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the 1895 West Harmony one-room school is available for 2 hour visits (9 to 11, 9:30 to 11:30, or 10 to 12n.) Students participate in a 2- hour 1900 school day complete with lessons and games at recess. The program is designed for 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders. We can accommodate about 32 students. We provide suggestions for costumes that we encourage students to wear. Games and music of the day are also included. Prior to your visit, you will receive a cover letter. Post activities are available.

On Thursdays and Fridays we offer 2- hour tours of the museum including the one-room school and an 1847 log cabin. Times: (9 to 11, 9:30 to 11:30or 10 to 12.) This program is designed for students from 3^rd grade though the 8^th grade. We can accommodate up to 4 classrooms at one time. After an introduction to the museum and exhibits, smaller groups will be able to experience a trip to the past using changing technology as a tool to understanding the exhibits and various objects. There will be a packet sent to the school including 1 or 2 student page(s) that can be duplicated for each student(s). Suggested post activities are writing projects, focused group discussions and/or drawing. We also suggest taking two days for groups over 90 students.

For use at any time throughout the school year, is a late 19^th century History Trunk that is brought out to schools. Provided are: suggested lesson plans, hands-on activities, artifacts and research resources. It is designed for 2^nd grade through High School use depending on the appropriateness of materials at each grade level. The artifacts and activities deal with our local history from pioneer times through post WW II. The trunk may be signed out up to 3 weeks.

A 40- minute video entitled The History of McHenry County is available through your local library or the Regional School Superintendent’s office in Woodstock. Also available at the Regional office, is a video on McHenry County Barns. Both programs may be borrowed directly from the Society in DVD format.

The Society also operates a local history research library in the museum that may be used by students, individually or with a class. The library is open by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 to 4:30. The only costs to students are copy costs.

We are able to supply speakers/presenters for classrooms, PTAs, etc. on life in McHenry County if arrangements are made well in advance. To make arrangements call 815-923-2267 or e-mail at info@mchsonline.org.

Our special exhibit for 2007 - 2009 is: "Arrival: The 1920s" featuring the Fox River Grove area."

Various program dates are available from September 24th to December 23rd, 2007 and then February 4th to May 23rd, 2008.

.

Please check our web site for special programs and/or projects during the year.

For outside local history assignments students and their families may download a free admission family pass and visit the museum at their convenience. The web site carries information called "The Before Series" which provides short accounts of everyday life experiences with a local slant.

Calls to reserve a date for West Harmony, school tour, trunk, speakers or library will be honored starting August 27^th.

Rev. 2007-08