History hunters philadelphia

Click here to support the work of History Hunters. Philadelphia has a rich and storied history however some stories are not as well-known as others. Read more from the Citizen about the life of Paul Robeson and his life as a talented thespian and political activist. Elsewhere you can read all about the Fierce and Fashionable Female Labor Fighters of Philadelphia who were a force to be reckoned with in the s and 30s.

You can also learn more about the Lenni-Lenape Native American tribe who were the first Philadelphian settlers. Two groups of fifth grade students, eager to be outdoors again after the recently terminated summer vacation has confined them to classroom desks, gather on a grassy lawn outside the historic Stenton house in Germantown.

One group represents the Delaware Indians who once lived in this region; the other acts as the colonial agents of John and Thomas Penn sons of Pennsylvania founder William Penn and James Logan, the provincial secretary of Pennsylvania who built Stenton as his home in The year is , and these year-olds are about to enact the Walking Purchase. As the colonialists quickly beat the Delaware Indians to the finish, the modern-day student reenactors learn an important lesson: History is not always fair.

What was supposed to be an equitable demonstration of the boundaries of land sold by the Delaware Indians to the colonialists—listed in an agreement as the territory that a man could walk not run in a day and a half from a particular location—ended up as a one-sided race in which the British cheated their way into over one million additional acres, alienating their neighbors in the process.

Social Studies is the subject with the least emphasis in school these days, for one disheartening reason: Unlike math, reading and science, there is no standardized test for social studies.

This 18th century scene has been repeated every fall for the past 16 years by students participating in History Hunters, a unique experiential learning program that provides free workbooks, admission, and transportation for 4 th and 5 th grade Philadelphia School District students to five historic Germantown sites throughout the year.

History Hunters was piloted in by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America, who own and manage Stenton, with the support of local partners, including several foundations. Since then, over 15, students have experienced History Hunters.

Each of the sites uses a different voice to tell the story of our collective American, and Philadelphian, history—a history that speaks to the issues we all face today. Stenton shares the experiences of the Native Americans; Cliveden, a Revolutionary War battle site, pins British sympathizers against patriots; La Salle University exposes students to artist Charles Wilson Peale, and how images can shape our understanding of history; Johnson House, a station on the Underground Railroad, delves into the hardships of slavery; and lastly, Wyck House explores Quaker values, including gender equality.

Your browser does not support iframes. Social studies, it could be argued, is the most important of all subjects. It teaches students not just where they come from, but how their country came to be, what is required of good citizens, and how real change can come about through the efforts of a dedicated group of people.

But it is, also, the subject with the least emphasis in school these days, for one disheartening reason: Unlike math, reading and science, there is no standardized test for social studies. When social studies is taught in Philadelphia, it is usually from outdated textbooks that often fail to capture the imagination of students—both because the material can be dry, and because it is often one-sided. History Hunter organizers aim to present a more kaleidoscopic view of history that ensures each student can find his or her place in it.

The program is particularly devoted to sharing this perspective with students at schools that would otherwise lack the funding to go on field trips. Over 3, students participated in the program last year, many from schools with 92 percent economically disadvantaged population. Then, they can write what they learned during or after reading the workbook. After they take notes, they can pull out main points from their notes and summarize what they learned in a few sentences.

Standards 4th Grade: CC. A; CC1. A; CC. Remaining Questions - Encourage students to write 1 or 2 questions that they still have after reading the workbook and watching the VR tour. Teachers can email their students' questions to the Program Director before their Live Session, so the Educators can answer them live.

Stenton VR Tour. Make sure students watch the house tour prior to your scheduled live meeting with History Hunters Educators. How to view : This video was recorded with a degree camera. Click and drag the video around to look all over the room! English Tour. Spanish Tour. Assignment options: If time allows, you can assign the entire video Here are suggestions on how to assign the video in segments:.

Option A. Intro: First Floor: Second Floor: Garret: Option B. Intro and First Floor: Second Floor and Garret Stenton Barn Activity - interactive photos of the Stenton Barn.

Students can explore the barn and learn about how 18th century tools were used. The question sheets students usually use on site in the Barn are available here in Google Doc and Google Forms formats.

Google Forms questions available here. How to Make Wampum at Home - Simple instructions to make wampum like students usually do during the in-person field trip to Stenton. Answer Sheet. Questions available in Google Doc and Google Forms. Object Analysis: Different Perspectives- What can objects tell us about the people who used them? Students will choose an object found in Stenton and answer the questions.

The rich soil and rivers support a peaceful civilization, but in the 's Dutch settlers assert their rights to the territory, and a bloody confrontation erupts. Swedish farmers arrive next, but their colony is torn apart by the tyrannical rule of Governor Johan Printz. By the late 's, persecuted English Quakers seek a safe haven in the area just as outbreaks of European disease devastate the Lenape. Remember My Name: Dinah's Story. This 22 minute performance, written by Robert Branch, brings Dinah's story to life as a conversation between younger Dinah and older Dinah.

Based on primary source research, storyteller Irma Gardner-Hammond and theatre artist Marissa Kennedy recount Dinah's life at Stenton from slavery to freedom. Excerpts from Franklin's Spark-. Philadelphia: The Great Experiment. Follow the life of Sampson, enslaved to Governor James Logan, who strikes out for freedom, forcing Quaker power brokers to wrestle with the great evil of their times.

Get an up-close look at some objects in Stenton. Can you decide how they were used? Stenton 1 - Take a look at this box behind James Logan's desk. What is it?

What was it used for? Find out in this video! Stenton 2 - Take a look inside Stenton's Parlor. Where does this door lead? Who used that door? What is that object on the table? Stenton 4 - Find out what happened to Deborah Norris Logan's original portrait.

Stenton 5- Did you know there are two sets of stairs in Stenton?