School Programs
7-12
TAKE A LOOK at our programs targeted for students grades 7–12 below. Programs vary by grade level, so if you have younger students, head over to our K–3 or 4–6 pages.
You'll see prices listed after the programs, but you can also see the general pricing chart for our breakdown of costs. For any other questions, check out our FAQs.
When you have an idea of what you might want to do while you're here, check out our availability for the days you’re interested in visiting and then make a request using our School Tour Request Form.
Explore 179 years of the Read House (1797–1976)! Students will study artifacts throughout the house and historic photography of the interiors to compare and contrast daily life, labor, and technology of each of the Read House families with today’s modern lifestyles. Teachers may elect to focus on one period of occupancy (Read Family, 1797–1836, or Laird Family 1920-1975) if preferred.
Available:
- On-Site - $2.50 per student, 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
- Virtually - Live (Synchronous), $4 per student, 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
Delaware Standards: History 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.9-12b, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b; Visual Arts 4,5
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6
What did it mean to work at the Read House? What did different servants do? How much did wage-earners get paid? And how was all of that similar and different during the Read period (1797–1836) and the Laird period (1920–1976)? Students will answer these questions as they explore the house with an interpreter to discover the narratives hidden within primary sources, such as architecture, artifacts, and documents. A series of educator-led hands-on activities will examine the ways in which primary sources can be used to highlight or hide historical narratives. Students will be empowered to consider what kinds of objects, images, and documents might represent the stories of living and working in their own communities.
Available:
- On-Site - $4.50 per student, 90 minutes (tour + activity), Grades 7-12
- Virtually - Live (Synchronous), $4 per student, 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
Delaware Standards: History 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.6-8b, 2.9-12a, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b; Civics 3.9-12a, 4.9-12a; Economics 1.6-8a, 3.6-8a, 4.6-8a
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6; RI.7-12.3-4, RI.7-12.6-9; W.7-12.4, W.7-12.7-9; L.7-12.1a-d, L.7-12.6
Explore New Castle on foot! Students will traverse the cobblestone paths and travel through four centuries to discover the many different peoples who called New Castle home. From the Lenni Lenape to the Swedish, Dutch, English, African American, Haitian and Italian communities, New Castle’s rich history tells the story of displacement, colonization, and migration. Students will explore why New Castle was such a desirable place to live for different groups over time and how community identities flourished through the construction of religious buildings, the development of transportation, and the practice of culture. Finally, students will face questions of what it means to be from New Castle in the 21st century.
Available:
- On-Site - $2 per student (if added to another program), 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
Delaware Standards: History 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.9-12b, 3.6-8a, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b; Geography 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.9-12a, 3.6-8b, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a, 4.6-8b 4.9-12a
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6
Practice analyzing primary sources outside of the classroom! As history detectives, students will investigate over 215 years of the Read House from the perspective of a museum curator. They will pull apart historical objects, examine Read House documents, and analyze photographs to uncover the voices that shaped the ways in which the house has looked over time from federal mansion to historic house museum. Using their detective skills, students will consider the choices that were made to preserve the house and how those, too, have played an active role in constructing the Read House’s story. Then, to practice the historian’s craft, students will take on the 45-minute Exhibition Challenge! Each small team will each create its own exhibition plan complete with a set of themes/goals, rough design, and exhibition objects checklist to pitch to a panel of expert judges. By the end, one group will be crowned Curatorial Team Champions!
Available:
- On-Site - $5.50 per student, 135 minutes (1-hour tour + 75-minute activity), Grades 7–12
- Virtually - Live (Synchronous), $4 per student, 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
Delaware Standards: History 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.6-8a, 2.9-12a, 2.6-8b, 2.9-12b, 3.6-8a, 3.9-12a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b; Visual Arts 2,3,4,5
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6; RI.7-12.3-4, RI.7-12.6-9; W.7-12.4, W.7-12.7-9; L.7-12.1a-d, L.7-12.6
Documents can tell us a lot about the past, but they can’t tell us everything. How can archeological artifacts, museum collections, art objects, and architectural structures teach us about life in the 1800s? In Read House and the Big, Wide World, students will participate in a hands-on learning session and a walking tour of the town to learn how historians use a variety of primary sources to study the past.
Available:
- On-Site - $4.50 per student, 90 minutes (tour + activity), Grades 7–12
- Virtually - Live (Synchronous), $4 per student, 45 minutes, Grades 7-12
Delaware Standards: History 1.6-8a, 1.9-12a, 2.6-8b, 2.9-12b, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b; Geography 1.9-12a, 2.6-8a, 3.6-8b, 3.9-12a, 4.6-8a; Economics 1.9-12a, 4.6-8a; Civics 1.9-12a; Visual Arts 2,3,4,5
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6
Coming Soon!
Delaware Standards: Science HS-LS2-5, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS4-3; Geography 1.9-12a, 1.9-12b, 2.9-12a, 4.9-12a; History 1.9-12a, 3.9-12a, 4.9-12a, 4.9-12b
Common Core Curriculum Standards: SL.7-12.1a-d, 3, 4, 6; RI.7-12.3-4, RI.7-12.6-9; W.7-12.4, W.7-12.7-9; L.7-12.1a-d, L.7-12.6
Are you interested in bringing your class to more than one New Castle site? Read House & Gardens partners with the New Castle Historical Society (Dutch House & Amstel House) and the New Castle Court House Museum for field trips. Just let us know in your request form if you’re interested in adding any of the programs at these sites and we’ll be happy to coordinate the full field trip for you!
Is that list of standards looking like alphabet soup? Check out our standards charts for quick reference.