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SCHOOL TOURS & PROGRAMS
Big House on the Prairie:
An introduction to the Davis family and their home
Theme
The David Davis Mansion in Bloomington,
Illinois—the home of Judge David Davis and his wife Sarah—is the
setting for a hands-on look at the differences between past and
present society and culture. When it was built, the Mansion was
considered a thoroughly modern home; it featured the latest in
comfort and technological conveniences. But when students visit the
mansion in the 21st century, it gives them a glimpse of a
very different lifestyle from the way they live today. Experiencing
life as Illinois residents lived it in the 19th century
gives young people an intriguing and meaningful way to compare the
differences between their own lives and those of people living in
the past.
Objectives
To help second- and
third-grade students discover the differences between past and
present by giving them hands-on experiences that allow them to
compare their modern home with a nineteenth-century residence.
Format
This program meets second- and third-grade social
studies and reading objectives.
Each
student is given an activities book containing drawings of the David
Davis Mansion and a set of questions about the house and the family
who built it.
Using their activities book as a study guide,
students take a tour of the home to find the answers to the set of
intriguing questions that are designed to highlight the differences
between past and current lifestyles: Why does the David Davis
Mansion have so many fireplaces? Did any children ever live in this
house and where did they play? What was it really like to have
lived in this elegant home 130 years ago?
Transportation and Tour Information:
There is no admission fee for this program. The
site is currently working to provide bus transportation for all
participating classes; the site encourages walking field trips, when
possible.
The program is available on Wednesday s through
Fridays from January through April between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Tours are approximately 1 hour in length.
Arrangements may be made for multiple classes to
tour at the same time. A study guide with pre-visit and post-visit
activities will be provided for teachers who sign up for the
program. Call 828-1084 for more information and to arrange
details.
PLEASE RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN THIS PROGRAM AT LEAST THREE WEEKS IN
ADVANCE.
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