August 15-19
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Museum of Work & Culture (42 S. Main St., Woonsocket)
Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center (121 Hope St., Providence)
John Brown House Museum (52 Power St., Providence)
The RIHS Partners With Mount Vernon to Host Teacher Appreciation Week
Highlights Include Workshops, Tours, and Free Admission at RIHS Museums
(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) ??? The Rhode Island Historical Society today announced the full schedule of programming for Teacher Appreciation Week, presented in partnership with George Washington???s Mount Vernon and taking place August 15 through August 19 at various RIHS sites in Providence and Woonsocket.
During Teacher Appreciation Week, educators can enjoy free workshops and RIHS museum admission; info sessions about the resources that the RIHS offers in and out of the classroom; as well as special discounts on membership, gift shop purchases, and walking tours.
The programming lineup (full descriptions below):
- Monday, Aug. 15: Mount Vernon Educators Workshop at the Museum of Work & Culture
- Tuesday, Aug. 16: ???History Hangout: Educational Resources & Opportunities at RIHS??? at the Robinson Research Center and John Brown House Museum
- Wednesday, Aug. 17: Woonsocket Walking Tours at the Museum of Work & Culture
- Thursday, Aug. 18: All Ability Information Session & Tour at the Museum of Work & Culture
- Friday, Aug. 19: Educator Open House at the Museum of Work & Culture??
Throughout the week, teachers and their families get free admission (up to four people) at the John Brown House Museum and the Museum of Work & Culture, and can enjoy a 20% discount on gift shop items. Walking tours that aren???t already free as part of Teacher Appreciation Week programming (as outlined below) will be discounted $2 per ticket for teachers and their guests (registration required by emailing Jennifer Wilson at jwilson@rihs.org). Plus, educators will save 25% at any membership level by joining the RIHS during Teacher Appreciation Week.????
Teacher Appreciation Week Program Descriptions??
On Monday, Aug. 15, 9am-3pm, the RIHS and George Washington???s Mount Vernon will cohost a professional development workshop at the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket.????
The all-day event will focus on the definition of citizenship and the immigrant experience in the 18th-20th centuries, and how citizenship has been redefined in the 21st century. Participants will hear lectures from leading academics on these topics, engage with each other in a lively roundtable conversation and hands-on activity, tour the Museum of Work and Culture, and enjoy a catered French-Canadian lunch.????
Participating Rhode Island teachers will receive a stipend for their time, limited to the first 25 registrants. Teachers interested in attending may register at????
www.mountvernon.org/WoonsocketWorkshop??
For registration questions, they may contact Zerah Jakub at zjakub@mountvernon.org or (703) 799-5234.??
Tuesday, Aug. 16, is ???History Hangout: Educational Resources & Opportunities at the RIHS??? at the Robinson Research Center and the John Brown House Museum. Space is limited to 15 people, and registrants will receive a $10 gift certificate to Geoff???s Superlative Sandwiches (163 Benefit St., Providence) for lunch.????
Kicking off the morning at the Robinson Research Center from 9am to 9:45am, teachers will receive a brief overview of the RRC and its collections, while learning about resources available for student researchers and teachers. This will be followed by a tour of the reading room and a discussion about what the RRC can offer K-12 classes.????
The program will then move over to the John Brown House Museum at 10am for mid-morning coffee and snacks; a free tour of John Brown House Museum; and an overview of the lesson plans, field trip options, and museum resources available to educators. At 11am, teachers can go on a free ???Benefit Street: A Mile of History??? walking tour or a free Avi Walking Tour (our most popular trip for kids!). They can then enjoy a 2-for-1 lunch special at Geoff???s Superlative Sandwiches, one of the sponsors of the RIHS???s SummerWalks program.????
This ???History Hangout??? program is free to teachers with registration at??
http://goo.gl/forms/ftYYjkYfIgRyVQ2N2????
They may also call (401) 331-8575 x136 or email programs@rihs.org. Those who register will be entered into a raffle for one of three prizes:??
- A free field trip for their class to the John Brown House Museum or an in-class demonstration of the ???Complicity Web???;
- A free librarian visit: An RIHS librarian will work with the winning teacher to develop a customized classroom visit. For example, a discussion of a topic relevant to their curriculum or a primer on archival literacy skills such as the use of primary sources, document analysis, critical thinking, and research.
- A free RIHS membership: RIHS members enjoy year-round free admission to RIHS museums; access to RIHS publications; special discounts on souvenirs, gifts, and books; free admission to the Concerts Under the Elms series, discounted admission to special events; and much more.????
On Wednesday, August 17, the fun moves to Woonsocket at the Museum of Work & Culture for a free Wednesday Woonsocket Walking Tour, in which participants will learn about the relationship between the Blackstone River and Woonsocket’s industrial development. Tours are 45 minutes and depart the MoWC at 10am. Participation is limited to 15, and registration is required at https://docs.google.com/a/rihs.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJcdebFr7418J0-7lGROWUOK-oVVVZOHFsZW7vsW0bFE6-Iw/viewform
or by contacting Sarah Carr at scarr@rihs.org or (401) 769-9675.??
On Thursday, August 18, educators can discover more about the Museum of Work & Culture???s SensAbilities Saturdays, which recently won a Best of Rhode Island Award from Rhode Island Monthly magazine. The Museum uses adjusted sensory elements, touch objects, specially developed tools, and trained guides to create a supportive atmosphere that reflects the needs of all visitors. The two-hour event will begin at 10am, and is limited to 25 participants. Those who register for this free program will be entered into a raffle for a free field trip for their class to the Museum of Work & Culture. Register online at
or contact Sarah Carr at scarr@rihs.org or (401) 769-9675????
And finally, on Friday, August 19, the Museum of Work & Culture will host an Educator Open House, including free admission to the museum for teachers and their children, docent-led tours at 10am and 1pm, and a special hands-on activity for kids. This open house is free to teachers and support staff with registration at https://docs.google.com/a/rihs.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkcTMHQCJFF9ZaCMwvu_NkW8rfWr3ZPeaPOu7TifIiVBUFGQ/viewform or by contacting Sarah Carr at scarr@rihs.org or (401) 769-9675.
??About the Rhode Island Historical Society
Founded in 1822, the RIHS is the fourth-oldest historical society in the United States and is Rhode Island???s largest and oldest historical organization, as well as its only Smithsonian Affiliate. In Providence, the RIHS owns and operates the John Brown House Museum, a designated National Historic Landmark, built in 1788; the Aldrich House, built in 1822 and used for administration and public programs; and the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, where archival, book and image collections are housed. In Woonsocket, the RIHS manages the Museum of Work and Culture, a community museum examining the industrial history of northern Rhode Island and of the workers and settlers, especially French-Canadians, who made it one of the state???s most distinctive areas.
??About the Museum of Work & Culture
The interactive and educational Museum of Work & Culture shares the stories of the men, women, and children who came to find a better life in Rhode Island???s mill towns in the late 19th- and 20th centuries. It was recently named ???Best Overlooked Museum??? in New England by Yankee Magazine.
??About George Washington???s Mount Vernon
Open 365 days of the year, Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in America. Over 85 million people have visited Mount Vernon since 1860, when the estate officially opened to the public. Today, Mount Vernon welcomes an average of one million guests each year. The estate, gardens, and farm of Mount Vernon totaled some 8,000 acres in the 18th century. Presently, an estimated 500 acres of this historic property have been painstakingly preserved along the banks of the Potomac River. Guests visiting the estate can view Washington???s Mansion and many other original structures. The historic footprint also includes the tomb of George and Martha Washington and a memorial dedicated to the enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate. Interpretive spaces such as the Pioneer Farm and George Washington’s Gristmill & Distillery provide a rich understanding of Washington’s enterprising and profitable business ventures. Offering additional engaging experiences, the Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center include 25 theaters and galleries showcasing Mount Vernon’s superb collections. The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon is a groundbreaking center for scholarship and educational outreach on the life of George Washington and the colonial and founding eras.