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Come along on a Virtual Field Trip! We've pulled segments from our curriculum-linked School Programs and made them available online for all to enjoy. We're regularly adding videos and resources, so check back often to see what's new!

Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum Virtual Field Trips
 

Suggested Grade Level – Grade 3 and up - Communities in Canada

 

First Nations - Here for 13,000 Years!

Social Studies / Math

Grade 3 and up

Learn about local First Nations settlements. How did they live? What did they eat?

 

Clearing the Land and Establishing European Style Farms

Social Studies / Language / Visual Art

Grade 3 and up

Find out what early settlers in Waterloo Region would have had to do in order to start life on the farm.

Packing a Conestoga Wagon to Move to Canada

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

Have you ever moved to a different house, different country? If you had to move to Canada 200 years ago, what would you have brought?  Find out what local settlers packed.

The Martin House - An Early Settlers Mennonite Home

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

Walk through this historic home and learn all about early Mennonite settler history. Can you keep track of how many ways this home is similar or different to your own?

Blacksmithing - A Vital Trade in the Past

Social Studies / Science and Technology / Language

Grade 3 and up

Watch our blacksmith work the forge and anvil as he explains techniques, as well as the role of technology between 100 and 200 years ago. You will also be invited to think about a new design to solve a problem of your own.

Wampum: What a Picture Says About You

Social Studies / Language / Visual Art

Grade 3 and up

Wampum are a way for First Nations peoples to use pictures to represent agreements.  Using pictures can help when not everyone knows the same language.  Is there a picture that says a lot about you?

 

Mennonite and European Settlers Journey to New Lands

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

Many of us have a story in our family about moving to a new place.  Hear about the early Mennonite and European settlers to Waterloo Region and imagine yourself in their place.

 

Busy Days in the Past: Working Together

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and more

Was it a busier life in the past or today?  Find out what groups were busy with and how they came together to get the job done.  We ask you to think about what your busiest day would look like.

Early Settlers Arriving on the Underground Railroad

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

In the mid 19th century escaped Black slaves were finding their way to Upper Canada via the Underground Railroad.  Their trip was a dangerous one that led them to develop a coded language for fear of being found out.  Learn more about their journey, and be invited to create your own secret code.

First Nations Sharing Knowledge

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

Sharing ideas and resources is an important part of bringing communities closer together.  Different groups of people living in Canada have benefited when they have connected and shared knowledge.  Find out what First Nations people shared with people new to arrive to these lands, and be invited to reach out and connect with someone you haven’t talked to recently.  

Preserving the Food You Grow

Social Studies / Language

Grade 3 and up

Growing your own food was a common practice for people in Canada a hundred years ago, and that food needed to be preserved.  Hear how early settlers survived long winters by keeping a stockpile of food, and be invited to inventory your own kitchen cupboards to see what interesting meal plans you can come up with.

Different Types of Early Settler Breads

Social Studies / Language / Math

Grade 3 and up

Everyone has favourite recipes for foods, and breads are no exception.  Different groups living in early Canada would have had their own types of this stable food, depending on what ingredients they had and what had been taught to them.  Learn about a few kinds of breads and be invited to write down a recipe in order to try making your own Johnny Cakes.

Fun and Simple Games from Early Settler Times

Social Studies / Language / Math

Grade 3 and up

See more of our historic Peter Martin House and hear about what games might have been played in it by the children who lived there.  Compare your house to ours, and be invited to play the game ‘Button Button’ at home.

Suggested Grade Level – Grade 8 and up - Canada: A Changing Society

Shop Local vs. Mail Order

Shop Local vs. Mail Order

History / Language

Grade 8 and more

Ordering from Amazon didn’t exist in 1914, but there were other options besides in-person shopping.  Find out more about what was available for consumers and be invited to take a stand on shopping local vs mail order. 

My First Jobs 1914

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and more

What would your dream job be?  Back a hundred or more years ago, there wasn’t as much choice, especially if you lived in smaller towns.  Find out what sort of jobs might have been your first. 

In Town Transportation Then and Now

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

How long do you think transit has been around in Waterloo Region?  The ION opened in 2019, but you may be surprised to hear what technology has been around for a hundred and more years.

A Tale of Two Businesses: The Post Office and Tailor Shop

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

Businesses have always had to be creative when it comes to providing goods and services to paying customers, village living in 1914 was no exception.  Find out how an inventive merchant capitalized on two essential services, and be invited to make a comparison between these services then and now. 


Canada’s Changing Society: Moving Away from Family Farm Life

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

Nearing the end of the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s there were great changes taking place in Canada.  Farm living that was common to many Canadians was shifting to settlement in urbanized centers.  Learn about egg candling; an everyday activity in egg gathering, and be invited to investigate what it takes to have backyard chickens nowadays. 

Hazardous Historical Work

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

The world of work was not as safe in the past.  Many laws have been established to help people stay safe in the workplace.  Watch how one worker acquires injuries as he moves through a series of potentially dangerous jobs and be invited to consider what hazards you can see in your own life.

Interesting Goods from the General Store

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

See and hear about some of the fascinating items that were on offer at your local General Store around 1914.  Think about the goods available to us now, and be invited to write a consumer review awarding up to 5 stars.

Safe Eating at the Turn of the Century - Part 1 - Pasteurizing Milk

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

A safe and reliable food supply has not always been something that Canadians could rely on.  Luckily, governments and agricultural specialists recognized where improvements could be made.  Learn about Adelaide Hoodless’ movement to ensure safe milk for all, and be invited to investigate how the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is keeping us safe today.

Safe Eating at the Turn of the Century - Part 2 - Packaging

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

A safe and reliable food supply has not always been something that Canadians could rely on.  Luckily, governments and agricultural specialists recognized where improvements could be made.  Learn about some early measures that were put in place with labelling, and be invited to survey the food in your cupboards.

The Materials that Made Canada

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

Humans are incredibly talented at making things, and in order to make things we need raw materials.  Over the last two centuries we have gone from using mostly natural materials, to human-made ones like plastic.  Find out more about historic products and be asked to consider what we have in our lives today.

Everything You Need at the General Store

History / Social Studies / Language

Grade 8 and up

Where do you shop for the things you need? Do you have to go to many stores, or can you find everything in one place? In the early 1900’s you might be surprised to find an impressive variety and selection of goods at your local village general store. Find out more about this vital local business and be invited to create a list of items you would need to purchase from the Eaton’s catalogue to set up your new house.

Women and Children in Industry: Early 1900’s in Waterloo Region

History / Social Studies / Language / Social Sciences and Humanities

Grade 8 and up

It wasn’t really too long ago that children working in Canadian factories was an acceptable practice.  Luckily, laws now protect Canadian children and ensure they receive an education.  Hear more about the industries that hired women and children in Waterloo Region, and be invited to learn more about places in the world where child labour is still a reality.

Schneider Haus National Historic Site Virtual Field Trips
 

Suggested Grade Level – Kindergarten to Grade 1 - Feathered Friends

Egg Comparisons - Bird Eggs from Around the World!

The Kindergarten Program, 2016 curriculum 

Kindergarten to Grade 1

Which bird do you think lays the largest eggs? Watch as Schneider Haus staff compare bird eggs from all around the world! 

More information on chickens:

Egg Comparisons - Grading and Sorting Eggs

The Kindergarten Program, 2016 curriculum 

Kindergarten to Grade 1

Follow along as Schneider Haus staff grade and sort different sized eggs. Can you guess which egg will be small, medium, large or extra large?

More information on chickens:

How to Make a Homemade Egg Candler

The Kindergarten Program, 2016 curriculum 

Kindergarten to Grade 1

Farmers use egg candlers to see inside of the egg as a chick develops! Watch as Schneider Haus staff demonstrate a homemade egg candler. 

More information on chickens:

Life Cycle of a Chick - Day 16 and Hatching on Day 21

The Kindergarten Program, 2016 curriculum 

Kindergarten to Grade 1

It takes 21 days for a chick to hatch. See the growth of a chick inside an egg on day 16, with the help of a homemade egg candler. Then see a chick hatch on the final day of the cycle!

More information on chickens:

Egg Experiments: How do you Know if an Egg is Fresh?

The Kindergarten Program, 2016 curriculum

Kindergarten to Grade 1

How do you know if an egg is fresh? How do you know if an egg is too old to eat? Watch as Schneider Haus staff try a fun egg experiment to solve this mystery.

More information on chickens:

Suggested Grade Level – Grade 1 and up - Plants, Animals, and People in the Environment

 

What do Plants Need to Grow?

Science and Technology

Suggested Grade Level: Grade 1 and up

We introduce our exploration of Plants, Animals, and People in the Environment by looking at what plants need to grow: light, air, water, nutrients, and space. 

Starting Seeds at Home

Science and Technology

Suggested Grade Level: Grade 1 and up

Schneider Haus staff demonstrate a few ways you can start seeds from your home. All you need are a few simple items:  an egg carton, newspaper, jar, soil and seeds!

 

 

Vermicomposting for Healthy Soil

Science and Technology

Suggested Grade Level: Grade 1 and up

Have you ever heard of vermiculture? Learn how the wriggly animals in our soil can help with composting, and contribute to creating healthy soil for our plants to grow.

 

Science of Soil

Science and Technology

Suggested Grade Level: Grade 3 and up

We dive right into the many different parts that make up soil, looking closely at some of the smallest particles found in healthy soil. Can you identify the mystery particles?

 

 

Using Plants as Medicine

Science and Technology / Social Studies

Suggested Grade Level: Grade 1 and up

Explore the many different plants the Schneider's used to make medicine in the 1850's, and learn how to make your own "home remedy" using plants and other natural materials.

 

 

Suggested Grade Level – Grade 2 and up - Our Canadian Wildlife

 

Our Canadian Wildlife Introduction

Science and Technology / Social Studies

Grade 2 and Up

What did the city of Kitchener look like 200 years ago? Learn about what happens to wildlife and animals as human communities and cities develop.

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

Animals on the Schneider's Farm

Science and Technology / Social Studies

Grades 2 to 4

Early settler families, such as the Schneider's, raised many different domesticated farm animals for their needs.  Take a tour of the historic house to find evidence of just how important animals were to the Schneider’s way of life. 

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

Looking and Listening in a Quieter World

Science and Technology / Social Studies

Grade 2 and Up

Have you noticed an increase in wildlife around your neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic began? What animals have you seen and heard? Pause, look and listen to the wildlife sights and sounds at Schneider Haus. This video features images from the Canadian Museum of Nature’s traveling exhibit, Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year.

We invite you to keep a log or journal of all the animals you see and hear around your neighbourhood while social distancing, and donate your finished journal to our Help Us Make History project! 

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

Comparing Reptiles and Amphibians

Science and Technology / Social Studies

Grade 2 and Up

Learn about some of the differences between reptiles and amphibians. Why do frogs croak? Why do snakes shed their skin? Are there reptiles in Canada that are considered invasive species? This video features images from the Canadian Museum of Nature’s traveling exhibit, Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year.

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

Is it an Omnivore, Herbivore, or Carnivore?

Science and Technology

Grades 2 to 4

The skulls and teeth of a mammal can also show us whether it is an omnivore, herbivore, or carnivore! Watch as Schneider Haus staff reveal how we can recognize the differences between mammals by looking closely at their skulls. 

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

Dissecting an Owl Pellet

Science and Technology

Grades 2 to 4

Have you ever wondered what an owl eats? Watch as Schneider Haus staff dissect an owl pellet and reveal the evidence of its prey inside! What do you think this owl ate?

More information on Canadian Wildlife:

 McDougall Cottage Historic Site Virtual Field Trips

Suggested Grade Level - Grade 3 and up 

 

Welcome to McDougall Cottage

Social Studies

Suggested Grade Level - Grade 3 and up 

Take a tour of McDougall Cottage Historic Site, built in 1858 and lived in by two Scottish settler families, the McDougalls and the Bairds.

Scottish Emigrants in the 1800s

Social Studies

Suggested Grade Level - Grade 3 and up

Learn the difference between the terms immigrant and emigrant, as well as some of the factors that influenced mass emigration from Scotland in the 1800s. We also challenge you to consider what 10 items you would bring if you moved to a new country today. What 5 items would you bring for survival? What 5 personal items would you not want to leave behind?

Unpacking the 'Kist'

Social Studies

Suggested Grade Level - Grade 3 and up

Discover the practical and sentimental belongings a Scottish family would have packed with them in their 'kist' when emigrating from Scotland in the 1800s.

Bouncing Back!: Building Personal Resilience

Health and Physical Education - Social Emotional Learning Skills

Grades 4-6

This program is an extension of McDougall Cottage’s new temporary exhibit, Resiliency: Shared Stories of Strength and Survival. Students will see real life examples of resilience, both from the 165 year- old Cottage itself, as well as from those shared by members of our local community. This program introduces students to a few of the strategies and techniques (including mindfulness, breathing, movement and art exercises) that can help them to build and strengthen the trait of resilience in their own lives in order to be able to bounce back better from life’s challenges.  

Resiliency: Shared Stories of Strength and Survival

Health and Physical Education - Social Emotional Learning Skills

Grades 7-9
This program is an extension of McDougall Cottage’s new temporary exhibit, Resiliency: Shared Stories of Strength and Survival. Students will see real life examples of resilience, both from the 165 year-old Cottage itself, as well as from those shared by members of our local community. Through an exploration of these examples, students will identify and discuss protective factors and strategies that can help to build and strengthen their personal resilience, versus risk factors that limit and hinder it.