History

Early Egyptians believed in eternity. They recorded the stories of their Pharaohs and people for you to understand 4,000 years later. Discover how they built massive pyramids to protect the remains of their Pharaohs against time and thieves. They included models of all the comforts of life forever.

Construct a diorama of the Egyptian landscape, including a Pyramid, a Sphinx, camels, and the River Nile. Discover how Egyptians built massive pyramids to protect the remains of their Pharaohs against time and thieves. A hinged construction allows students to reveal the inner workings of a pyramid.
Create a sarcophagus, canopic jars, and jewels to fill your pyramid. These creations will be a symbol of the comforts of life that a Pharaoh would take on their journey to the afterlife.

A gondola is a long, narrow, traditional Venetian rowing boat. Propelled by a gondolier using a single oar, Gondolas have been in use since at least the 11th century. Historically, they were a primary means of transport for Venetians, especially the upper classes. Today, they are enjoyed mostly by tourists as an iconic symbol of the city of Venice. Students will construct a traditional Venetian gondola while learning about the city's history, infrastructure, and how the need to create this mode of transportation came about.

A Roman villa was typically a farmhouse or country house in the territory of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The earliest examples are mostly humble farmhouses in Italy, while from the Republican period on, a range of larger building types emerged, with some reaching extravagant proportions. Learn about Roman culture and construction.

The Ndebele are an ethnic group found in Southern Africa, divided into two main branches: the Northern Ndebele of Zimbabwe and the Southern Ndebele of South Africa. Alongside their distinctive culture, including vibrant geometric mural paintings, elaborate beadwork, these traditional homes are colorful works of art. 

Students will learn how women decorate their abodes with colorful care and ingenuity. Along with an explanation of the construction, decoration, and culture. This program is accompanied by a reading of Maya Angelou's thoughtful children's book to the students, "My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken."

A great example of human ingenuity, the sod houses of Ireland utilize stone and sod, which are readily available throughout the region. These houses exemplify the resourcefulness of the people building them. Another wonderful way humans improvise and secure shelter to bring them safety and a dwelling.

Greek temples were built to house statues of deities, acting as homes for the gods rather than places of worship for the general public. Learn about the specific architectural elements and how temples evolved from sacred groves found in nature to the grand houses of the gods that are still standing to this day around the Mediterranean.

Castles are a projection of power through architecture. From hill forts to motte and bailey, and eventually the classic stone keep, castles of Europe have undergone a splendid evolution. Occupying strategic geographic positions, they were used as seats of government, protection from attack, places to rest along routes of trade, and were even homes for some. Like most practical designs, European Castles reflect the style and resources of the regions from which they were built. Learn how different aspects of castle construction come together to serve a wide-ranging purpose.

Ancient Egyptian funerary barges were ceremonial and symbolic vessels used to transport the deceased across the Nile and into the afterlife. They were often decorated with carvings and paintings, and sometimes found in large tombs as part of the burial goods. These boats varied in size and design, representing the deceased's journey to the afterlife and serving as provisions for their eternal existence.

Explore the ancient history and challenging mechanics of catapults. Rubber bands power this model. Experiment with the concepts of force and motion and test your projects out with varying degrees of power by changing the number of rubber bands used and the position of the ping pong balls. 

Safe for people and places when used with the ping pong ball provided.

Use the Charles W. Morgan, (a 19th c. whaling ship now preserved at Mystic Seaport) as a model to understand the Whaling industry. Learn how and why Whaling Ships flourished in New England’s history from the 1700s until the 1930s. Discuss how Whaling took place, why it existed, and how it diminished. Build a Whaling Ship with sails, rigging, barrels, and a whale.