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Markham Museum Education Programs
Markham Museum is a 25-acre Open-Air Museum representing life from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Historic Homes and Businesses; a Land Transportation Exhibit; Historic Gardens; and an Apple Orchard bring the Museum to life as we celebrate Markham's early settlers and its Natural Heritage.
Preschool and Kindergarten Programs Ages 3-6
Elementary School & Guide and Scout Group Programs
High School
How to Book a Program
Our Pricing
Adult Supervision
A is for Apple
Ages 3-6
Program Description: Discover the wonderful world of apples, from how they grow to the many ways that apples are used now and in our past. Children will visit the Museum’s heritage apple orchard where they will learn about the seasons in the orchard and how apple trees grow. Each group will also participate in their very own ‘Apple Schmoozing Bee’ peeling apples in the same way many settlers did. Other exciting stops on our tour include the Honey House to discover how important bees are to apple trees and a historic home where the children will learn about locally grown fruit. Each child will also create their own apple magnet craft to take home or back to the classroom.
Length = 2 hours, morning or afternoon
(includes approximately 20 minutes for a snack and potty break, snack not provided by Museum)
Cost = $5.00
Minimum Number of Participants = 15
Maximum Number of Participants = 80 max
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 5 children is required. If your adult to child ratio exceeds this amount you will be charged for each adult over the required ratio.
Preschool Early Settler
Ages 3-6
Program Description: Introduce your class to what life was like for children in Markham a long time ago. Hands-on activities and lots of imagination will allow children to compare and contrast life in the 21st century with life in the 19th and 20th century. Children will explore elements of Markham’s early settler’s lives by visiting a log cabin home, the Wilson Store, the Wheel Wright Shop and by testing out toys from the past. Drawing from their experiences at the Museum, students will create a paper “train” to put on display in the classroom.
Length = 2 hours, morning or afternoon
(includes approximately 30 minutes for a snack and potty break, snack not provided by Museum)
Cost = $5.00
Minimum Number of Participants = 15
Maximum Number of Participants = 80 max
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 5 children is required. If your adult to child ratio exceeds this amount you will be charged for each adult over the required ratio.
NEW FALL 2011 – Day at the Museum and Half Day at the Museum
Our programming team has been working hard this year to redevelop our half day and full day programs that link to Markham’s early settler past. We are using more of our amazing heritage buildings and incorporating more hands-on experiences.
This new program allows you to choose the buildings and activities that best enhance your class room learning. There are 10 half hour long tour options available for you to choose from, please see the options below.
| Tour Options |
Themes |
Hands-on Activity/Craft |
| Barns and Mills |
Explore the importance of barns and mills in early Markham in our saw mill. |
Craft - Tin Punching |
| Home Life |
Compare and contrast our log cabin home with homes of today. Discover how people lived before modern home conveniences, while also learning about an early home-based industry, weaving. |
Craft - Rolled beeswax candles |
| The General Store |
Discover the General store’s role in the community by visiting our Wilson Variety Hall. Compare and contrast shopping, then and now. |
Measure merchandise using scales and balances |
| Communication |
Experience early methods of communication in our 1910 print shop. Explore how information travels from person to person now and in the past. |
Craft - Use ink and quill to create calling cards |
| Early Travel & Natural Resources |
Learn about nature’s influence on travel and settlement through comparing and contrasting transportation methods, past and present. |
Transportation Activity |
| Leisure Time |
What did people do in their free time? Discover the many toys, games, and other forms of leisure activities children and adults of the past participated in. |
Play with early settler toys, games and puzzles |
| Living off the Land |
Learn about early settlers’ year-round food sources and their creative ways of keeping food fresh before refrigeration. |
Preserving guessing game & Apple Schnitzing |
| Fleece to Fabric |
Discover how raw materials, such as sheep’s wool and flax, are turned into a usable fibres and fabrics. |
Handle various fibres, card and spin |
| Travel Trunk |
Where did Markham’s early settlers come from, why did they move here, and why did they choose Markham? Students will compare and contrast the ideas of moving now and then. What would you bring on your long journey? |
Explore the contents of an early settler’s travel trunk |
| Blacksmithing |
What is a Blacksmith and what was their changing role in the community? Learn about this exciting trade in our newly reopened blacksmith shop.
Please note: This option is only available as part of Day at the Museum (the full day program)
|
Handle the 3 C’s of Blacksmithing and assemble a wheel |
Half Day at the Museum
Join us for an amazing taste of what Markham Museum has to offer! Choose 4 of our exciting new tour options listed above.
Length = 2 hours
Availability = Year Round, Morning or Afternoon
Cost = $6.00 per student
Minimum Number of Participants = 18
Maximum Number of Participants = 80
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 8 to 10 children (depending on your school board's policy) is required. Adults above this ratio will be charged participant fees.
Day at the Museum
Come and explore the Museum for the day! Join us for an exciting full day of discovering all Markham Museum has to offer. Choose 8 of our exciting new tour options listed above.
Length = 4.5 hours, including a half hour lunch break
Cost = $12.00 per student
Minimum Number of Participants = 18
Maximum Number of Participants = 120
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 8 to 10 children (depending on your school board's policy) is required. Adults above this ratio will be charged participant fees.
Please contact the Program Coordinator for further details about this new program!
Snowshoeing
Ages 6 and up
Ontario Curriculum Connections
Health and Physical Education Grades 1-8
Girl Guide and Scout Badge Connections
Girl Guides - Snowshoeing Badge
Cubs - Winter Cub Badge
Program Description: Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to keep active during the winter months and has provided an important method of transportation and recreation throughout Canada’s history. Participants will learn the history of snowshoeing, how to care for snowshoes, the importance of dressing for winter weather and basic snowshoeing skills through a variety of activities and games. At the end of the program participants will warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.
Length = 2 hours
Cost = $6.00 per student
Minimum Number of Participants = 15 Maximum Number of Participants = 40
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 8 to 10 children (depending on your school board's policy) is required. Adults above this ratio will be charged participant fees.
New this year we will be offering a program for High School students that will enhance their research and inquiry skills. This program is designed to meet curriculum elements from history to civics/careers. Also great for Intermediate and higher ESL classes.
Mind your P’s and Q’s
Program Description: This two-part program will introduce students to the concepts of research and inquiry through interactive and hands-on activities focused around the Museums NEW Research Center and 1910 Print Shop. Best practices for researching and how to use written, oral and visual communication will be practiced through the examination of original archival documents. While the exciting evolution of text, printing, the English vocabulary, and information sharing then and now will be explored at the Print Shop.
Length = 2 hours
Availability = Year Round, Morning or Afternoon
Cost = $7.00 per student
Minimum Number of Participants = 15
Maximum Number of Participants = 30
A minimum ratio of 1 leader to every 8 to 10 children (depending on your school board's policy) is required.  Adults above this ratio will be charged participant fees.
Please contact the Program Coordinator for further information.
To Book a Program
- Phone the Museum at 905-294-4576 to book a Program. Programs should be booked at least two weeks in advance to ensure availability.
- At time of booking you will be asked the following questions:
-Preferred dates and times for programs
-Contact person's full name
-Group name
-Full address including postal code
-Email address
-Estimated number of children
-Estimated number of adults that will be attending the program (please refer to adult to child ratios for each program as they differ based on the age of the children).
-If there are any special needs we should be aware of e.g. mobility issues, students that require an EA, etc.
- Upon receiving this information you will get verbal confirmation over the phone that your program is booked. You will be told the price of the booking at this time and will be asked to provide the Museum with a 20% deposit for the program within the next two weeks.
- Within the week you will receive written confirmation via email, which will contain your invoice, confirmation letter and information package via email. Full payment for the program, minus deposit, is required on the day of the program.
- Please call the Museum to confirm your final numbers 1 week prior to your program.
Cancellation Policy
The Museum reserves the right to cancel a Program at any time to ensure the safety of participants and the site.
Cancellation of a Program by a group:
In writing/email more than 5 days prior to the program: Full Refund
In writing/email 5 days or Less: 20% deposit will be retained by the Museum
Full payment must be paid to the Museum on the day of the program.
The Museum accepts cheques, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Interac and cash. The Museum will send an invoice to the school or group and must be paid in full prior to the start of the Program.
All school groups must be accompanied by adult supervisors at a ratio 1 adult per 8 or 10 participants (depending on your school board's requirements) for elementary school and above, 1 adult per 5 participants for children under 6, or groups or participants that have special needs. Adult supervisors are free within this ratio. Adults above this ratio will be charged participant fees.
