Learning Adventures for Schools!
School Programs and Tours 2007-2008
Naper Settlement's unique school programs give students a lesson in Northern Illinois heritage they can't get out of any textbook, because here in our village, history lessons come alive -- with sights and sounds at every turn recreating the 19th century.

An adventure through our 13 acres takes students from 1831 -- the time of our area's earliest settlers -- to 1900 and the opulence of the Victorian era. Costumed villagers welcome them into historic homes, working businesses, a fort, schoolhouse and chapel; and the Martin Mitchell House, the grand Victorian home original to our site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For information or to make reservations call our Education Department at 630.420.4161 or e-mail us at grouptours@naperville.il.us

Your group must have a confirmed reservation to visit Naper Settlement. Call well in advance, as some programs fill up quickly. Before calling, have the following information ready: name of the program you are reserving, number of students, number of classrooms, number of adults (chaperone requirements vary by program, please inquire for minimums), the date you'd like to visit, plus alternate dates.

Time Travel Trip (All grades) Offered April through October
Step back in time as you meet costumed villagers along your self-guided route following the development of a typical Northern Illinois town as it grows from a frontier outpost to a thriving agricultural and industrial center. See demonstrations of 19th-century trades and crafts.
Available 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
$5 per student. $7.50 per additional adult
Allow 3 1/2 to 4 hours
Capacity: 400 students per day
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 15, 16 & 18

Living History (4th grade; limited to Naperville schools) Offered November
Bring the 1800s to life through hands-on work and play in our village, during this award-winning program.
$7.25 per student
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 15, 16, 17 & 18

Christmas Celebration (All grades) December
On this self-guided time travel trip, stroll our village in all its splendor and visit with costumed villagers as your students discover how holiday celebrations changed from pioneer days to the Victorian era.
Available 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
$5 per student, $7.50 per additional adult
Allow 3 1/2 to 4 hours
Capacity: 300 students per day
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 15, 16 & 18

Hunt for History-Discover Where Your Community Began
(Limited to Naperville Schools, 2nd grade) Offered January
Students become detectives on their quest to learn about their community then and now. This interactive program will take students on a hunt throughout our village where costumed educators will challenge their knowledge.
2-hour program, $4.50 per student
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 15, 16, 17 & 18

Illinois Ho! (Kindergarten through 2nd Grade) Offered in January, February and March
Students experience the life of 19th century pioneer children during this interactive program. Naper Settlement educators weave a story of past and present as students visit the Log House, where they can imagine living in a bygone age.
1 1/2 hours, $4.50 per student. $4.50 per additional adult. (or minimum program fee of $90)
Min. 20/Max. 60
Add in the History Connection hands-on activity center during your winter visit for an additional $2 per student
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 16 & 18

The History Connection
Young children connect to history in a fun and exciting way at the popular History Connection. This interactive exhibit allows children to play with history and learn about life in the 1800s through old-fashioned toys and games, dress-up and make-believe.
$2 per student

School for Tools (3rd through 5th Grades) Offered in January, February and March
The lifestyle of the 1800s comes alive through sight, sound and smell, as students visit the Blacksmith Shop, Print Shop and Log House. Students experience hands-on activities, guided by costumed educators, to introduce concepts related to chores and common trades of the time period. The two-hour program includes an interactive stop in the Copenhagen Schoolhouse where students learn as if it were yesterday.
1 1/2 hours, 3 stops, $5.50 per student (Min. 30/Max. 60) (or minimum fee of $165)
2 hours, 4 stops, $6.50 per student (Min. 30/Max. 90) (or minimum fee of $195)
Buildings subject to change without notice.
Call 630.420.4161 for information regarding groups over 90.
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 15 & 17

Voices of the Past: The Underground Railroad in Northern Illinois (5th through 8th Grades) Offered January, February and March
This exciting and emotive program is really theatre in our buildings with your students participating in the experience by taking on the roles of 1856 scholars. Along the way, they meet townspeople who offer many different perspectives about the issues of the day, among them an abolitionist, an Irish immigrant and a runaway slave. Where do your students stand? This program is excellent reinforcement to Civil War period classroom studies.
2-hour program
$6.50 per student, $6.50 per additional adult. (or minimum program fee of $260)
Min. 40/Max. 80
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 14 & 16

19th Century School Days (1st grade-5th grade) Offered in January, February and March
Students will take on the role of 19th century scholars in our one-room Copenhagen Schoolhouse during this interactive history experience. A costumed schoolmarm or schoolmaster teaches in the classroom, equipped with old-fashioned desks, slates, slate pencils and McGuffey Readers.
1 1/2 hours, $4.50 per student (or minimum program fee of $90)
Min. 20/Max. 30
Add in the History Connection hands-on activity center during your winter visit for an additional $2 per student
Illinois Learning Standard: Goal 18

We Bring History To You!

Old Fashioned School Days (1st-5th grade) Offered in January, February, March
Transform your 21st century classroom into a historic one-room schoolhouse. Your students will take on the role of 19th century students with a costumed schoolteacher leading the class. Our staff will provide old-fashioned classroom instruction and supplies, including slates, slate pencils and McGuffey Readers.
1 1/2 hours, $7 per student (or minimum program fee of $175)
Min. 25/Max. 45
Consecutive programs may be booked
Illinois Learning Standard: Goal 18

Pioneer Fun (Pre-Kindergarten Classes 4/5 yr olds - 2nd grade)
Offered in January, February, March  
Let us introduce your students to the life of 19th century pioneer children at your location. Imagine being dressed in pioneer clothing, doing old-fashioned chores and walking in the tall grass alongside the family's Conestoga wagon. Students will participate in a craft project, so plan to have crayons or markers available.
1 1/2 hours, $7 per student (or minimum program fee of $175)
Min. 25/Max. 45
Consecutive programs may be booked
Illinois Learning Standards: Goals 16 & 18

19th-Century Child's World - History-in-a-Box 
Help your students connect with the past right in your own classroom. Our school loan kits provide you with artifacts and authentic reproductions of everyday objects used in the 1800s, plus suggestions for their incorporation into social studies, science and language arts lessons. Kits are adaptable for K-8 curriculum.
2-week loan period: $30 for Naperville schools, $40 for non-Naperville schools

 

Movin' In, Building a Town: The Story of Naperville

School Assembly
Your students are sure to enjoy this interactive musical concert on 19th century history without leaving their school! Tap your toes and clap your hands to a performance by award-winning singer and songwriter Amy Lowe.
1-hour performance with up to 300 students, $500
For additional performances on the same day, call 630.420.4161
For information on purchasing the CD for your classroom, call the Museum Store at 630.420.6016
This musical was created with the support of the City of Naperville, Naperville Heritage Society, Naperville Jaycees, Naperville Sunrise Rotary Fund For The Arts and the Tellabs Foundation.

Naper Settlement Museum Store
The Naper Settlement Museum Store provides a variety of excellent and unusual educational supplies such as books, posters, maps, postcards, toys, and souvenirs. Student shopping will be available at the end of all programs and can be arranged when making reservations.
Click Here  to see a partial list of these items which may be used by teachers or parents to plan or pre-select purchases. Fax your order directly to the store and materials will be waiting upon your group's arrival. The Museum Store is open during regular Settlement hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April-October. Additional hours can be arranged for winter programs; call the store at 630.420.6016 for assistance.

"Trading in Time: Bartering and Buying in the 1800s" CD-ROM
This interactive computer game teaches children about the economic life and social interaction of townspeople in the 1880s. Through a fun game, history, math and technology combine to teach children valuable lessons in lifestyles. Each CD includes lesson plans for teachers and a wonderful photo album of 19th century images straight from the pages of history. Pick up one for yourself or investigate purchasing the program for your school. E-mail:  educationmgr@naperville.il.us or call 630.420.6010 for more information.

Educational Facility: 1 CD-ROM $65  
Lab use:  up to 5 users $175
                up to 10 users $375
                unlimited use $595
Call for district pricing.