|
SCHOOL TOURS & PROGRAMS
Snap Apple: Exploring
Cultural Diversity
Through a visit to the David Davis Mansion
Theme
The David Davis Mansion in Bloomington,
Illinois—the home of Judge David Davis and his wife Sarah—is the
setting for a study of cultural diversity. Bloomington, Illinois
has been shaped over the past century by the impact of many
immigrant cultures upon the existing population.
In the 1870s, Irish immigration was at
its height when Sarah Davis (a New Englander whose origins were
English) employed farm hands and servants who brought their Irish
traditions with them when they came to work on her estate.
The conflicts that arose from the clash
of these two cultures, and the eventual melding of the two, help
students understand the origins of the diverse cultural traditions
and conflicts that exist today.
Objectives
To understand the impact of an immigrant
culture upon the existing customs and traditions of a community.
Format
This program meets an extensive list of Social
Studies State Goals and Standards for 6th grade.
Drawing upon primary
and secondary sources (the letters of Sarah Davis, newspaper
accounts, census records, etc.), costumed interpreters use
first-person presentations and hands-on activities to help students
compare and contrast Sarah Davis’s views with those of her
contemporaries.
Students meet and
speak with Sarah’s Irish maid and Irish cook, who are extremely
excited about the Snap Apple party they will be attending on the
night of October 31, 1874.
Students also meet
Sarah Davis and her friends (also of English origin) who are
enjoying an evening dinner party at her home, where they excitedly
express a different view of what October 31st is and should be.
Students also
encounter the younger generation in both groups who represent yet
another set of beliefs and attitudes towards Halloween.
The tour and hands-on
activities provide examples of cultural differences in language, the
arts, literature, and foods.
Illinois Social
Studies Goals Met
6th
grade
a) 16A Apply the
skills of historical analysis and interpretation. Identify various
models used to interpret history through the use of primary and
secondary sources.
b) 18A Compare
characteristics of culture as reflected in language, literature, the
arts, traditions and institutions.
c) 18B Understand
the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.
Analyze the way institutions and groups meet the needs of the
people. Use primary sources to compare different viewpoints of
individuals and groups.
d) 18C
Understand how social systems form and develop over time. Explore
differences and similarities among people and their cultures.
Demonstrate an understanding of cultural similarities and
differences among human groups and appreciate human qualities.
Demonstrate an understanding of how immigration contributes to the
cultural diversity of the United States.
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 Mondays and Tuesdays
in October between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tours are approximately 2
hours 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 BY OCTOBER 1.
|
