Each lesson is designed to use Columbia County Historical Society's extensive collection of historic art, objects,
documents, and photographs in creative ways that meet New York State's Common Core Standards.
These downloadable lesson plans are made available by a 2009 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
documents, and photographs in creative ways that meet New York State's Common Core Standards.
These downloadable lesson plans are made available by a 2009 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Museums use objects, pictures, and words to tell a story. They offer varied experiences for visitors, and require the expertise of staff members with different skills. Students in this unit will become curators, educators, and directors, and use the creation of a museum exhibition as a framework for investigating a given topic.
Download Lesson Plan. Common Core Standards Reading: Standard 3, Standard 5, Standard 6, Standard 7 Writing: Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 7, Standard 8, Standard 11 Speaking & Listening: Standard 1, Standard 4, Standard 5 |
Whaling was a critically important industry in Columbia County in the 18th and 19th century. Students will investigate the early history of the city of Hudson, how it was planned and its pattern of growth. After one failure to thrive as a whaling port, in 1829 another group of whalers revived the industry and Hudson lived as a whaling port once again until 1844 when the last whaling voyage was made from the Hudson port. Download Lesson Plan.
Common Core Standards Reading: Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 6, Standard 7 Writing: Standard 3, Standard 7, Standard 8, Standard 11 Speaking & Listening: Standard 1, Standard 4, Standard 5 |
Just like a letter or a diary entry, portraits can be a useful and informative primary source that helps us learn about the past. To effectively learn from portraits, students must hone their observation skills, ask good questions, and think like a history detective. Sometimes, portraits are best used in conjunction with other sources. For example, a museum might have an item of clothing worn by a sitter in a portrait, or a house seen in a portrait (or a house that a portrait was intended to hang in) might still exist. Download Lesson Plan.
Common Core Standards Reading: Standard 3, Standard 5, Standard 5, Standard 6, Standard 7 Writing: Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard, 7, Standard 8, Standard 11 Speaking & Listening: Standard 1, Standard 4, Standard 5 |
This unit is designed to help students appreciate that architecture that surrounds them. Students will gain a understanding of architectural styles and the reasons for their development. They will explore the architectural styles that exist in their neighborhoods as well as in their school community. The lessons will focus on architecture as Art, History, Mathematics, Science and Technology. Download Lesson Plan.
This lesson plan also includes an accompanying powerpoint presentation. Download Powerpoint Presentation. Common Core Standards Reading: Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 6, Standard 7 Writing: Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 7, Standard 8 Speaking & Listening: Standard 1, Standard 4, Standard 5 |
The unit will help provide a local focus to the study of the Civil War. Students will investigate primary source documents, including letters, diary entries, and engravings, to learn about the everyday life of Columbia County men who served, as well as that of the men, women, and children who were left on the home front. Download Lesson Plan.
This lesson plan also includes printable civil war stationary. Download Stationery. Download Enlarged Stationery Common Core Standards Writing: Standard 3, Standard 4, Standard 5, Standard 6, Standard 7 Speaking & Listening: Standard 1 |
Columbia County Historical Society is Chartered in the first instance (Absolute Charter) by the Board of Regents, State Education Department, The University of the State of New York