Even during lean economic times, nothing replaces the “being there” experience of powerful history field experiences. These include visiting historic sites in or near Cobb County and inviting history interpreters/performers into your school. The list below includes some that Cobb teachers have found successful. Titles of programs are linked to their websites.
In-school Programs
Georgia Educational Programs
Features a wide array of programs tied to 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and HS - U.S. History; will work with schools on partnering with nearby schools to keep costs contained. Programs generally center around an historical interpreter of specific figures or topics tied to the GPS. These programs come to your school for a class or grade presentation.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to:
Kelli Volkman, 2nd grade teacher, Norton Park Elementary, states:
Norton Park really enjoyed hosting Sequoyah. He was prompt, needed minimal attention (a place to change, a couple tables to hold displays, and I offered him a bottle of water), and was very professional. He was dressed for the part in authentic Native American clothing and had dozens of items to showcase. Many items he made himself; traditions passed down through their tribe. He had a great speaking voice and was able to adapt the presentation for second graders. He was very knowledgable and was able to draw the kids in. The kids were focused throughout the presentation, which lasted about 50 minutes. The kids still remember how he could make fire using rocks and some dried hair (he did not actually demonstrate the fire)!!!! The organization with whom I worked to set up the visit were very easy to work with and gave a Title I discount as well. Our "field trip" was very affordable for our students. I would recommend Sequoyah for your in-house fieldtrip!
Root House
See Root House information in next section for details about traveling trunks program.
TellTale Theatre
Currently developing dramatic presentations and workshops to tie to specific historical figures in the Social Studies GPS, which will be available for booking beginning late fall, 2009.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: JoAnn Wood
Off-site Field Trip Destinations
Atlanta History Center Offers educational tours on a variety of topics including Georgia Farm Life, Customs and Cultures, United We Stand (Civil War), The World Comes to Atlanta (esp. appropriate for 3rd grade ,) and Atlanta: Our Changing Community. Special rates for Title I school for some programs. Outreach educators will come to your classroom for a reasonable fee and provide a 30-50 minute hands-on history program on 7 different topics. Travel Trunks on 9 different topics are also available for weekly or monthly rental. Special Black History Month programs are also available on Fridays in February.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: JoAnn Wood
Booth Western Art Museum Cartersville, GA
Westward Ho program meets many 4th grade standards. They also have a special event day in October, called Passport to the West, which focuses on the journey westward and Native American culture.The museum also sponsors a Cowboy poetry contest for students and will come to classrooms to help teach and launch contest, which integrates Language Arts and Social Studies standards.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to:
Kathy Pritchard, Kindergarten teacher at Clay Elementary, states:
This place is terrific. I heard that they are adding a section or something that will be ready by the end of Sept. Any grade that is learning about the Westward Movement or the West in general, back in the day, will love this. It has everything cowboys, Indians, cows and horses. The building and grounds are really nice and kind of modern.
Funk Heritage Center – Waleska, GA (approx. 45 minutes from Cobb)
Programs are on Our Southeastern Heritage, Native Americans of the Southeast, Settlers of Southern Appalachia, and the Art of Native America. Special programs include Georgia History Timeline and Tuesdays Alive, flyers attached.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: JoAnn Wood [e-mail JoAnn if you’d like to share your experiences at the Booth.]
*Root House – Near Marietta Square
Offers tours of the 1840’s Root House and gardens. Especially appropriate for 2nd and 4th grades. Also offers FREE traveling trunks program with docent who will visit your school and help students compare/contrast homelife in the past and present. The Root House is run by Cobb Landmarks, which also sponsors our popular summer course, Talking Walls, a local history feast for the senses and the mind.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: Fran Bollinger, 4th grade teacher at Sedalia Park
*Marietta Museum of History – Near Marietta Square
Exhibits on various periods of U.S. history with a local focus. Especially appropriate for 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades. Will customize tour to grade/group.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: Fran Bollinger, 4th grade teacher at Sedalia Park
* Historic Marietta Trolley Company – Near Marietta Square
Explores historic Marietta via the trolley – most appropriate for 5th grade.
* The three sites above also offer a joint field trip experience, in which students take the trolley tour, and explore both museums.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to about the 3-in-1 joint field trip experience:
Gina McLaughlin, 5th grade teacher at Pitner Elementary states:
All the students, teachers, and parents absolutely loved it! I found out about it from the Social Studies inservice we had during preplanning last year. I wouldn't mind at all if people wanted to contact me to find out more about it. I would recommend it to any teacher. One weekend I even took my own children on it and they enjoyed it too.
I wasn't quite sure how it was going to work with the classes having to be split into three groups and moving from one location to the next. I was nervous walking students from one place to the next, but I must say that they Marietta Trolley Company had everything well organized and set up. Everything went so smoothly.
I found this field trip to be a unique experience. Students got to visit a variety of different places on this one field trip. They were excited to get to take a ride on the trolley, but what they learned while on the trolley was really interesting and educational. They were shown around the city of Marietta and got to see different landmarks that were important sites during the Civil War. Students, parents, and teachers were surprised to learn about the many historical landmarks that they are surrounded with. The Trolley Tour, Root House, and Marietta History Museum was a great learning experience. It captured everyone's attention and we all left with having had a great time and learning so much about the Civil War and Marietta, Georgia.
Cobb County Youth Museum – Off Whitlock Avenue, Marietta (Booked for 09-10 already)
Offers students three scenes from history in which they dress in costume and participate in historical vignettes. Generally tied to 4th grade curriculum. Begins to book in March of each year for the upcoming school year. "Fun and interactive," says Deborah Rowland of Varner Elementary.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to: JoAnn Wood [e-mail JoAnn if you’d like to share your experiences at the Cobb County Youth Museum.]
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
Major exhibits center on the Civil War and locomotives, especially related to Cobb County and The Great Locomotive Chase episode, with special exhibits featured short-term. Can be used with industrialization, railroads, and Civil War, mainly 4th and 5th grades.
Cobb teacher whom you can talk to:
Connie Perry, 5th grade teacher at Mt. Bethel, who states:
A real gem of Civil War history can be found right in Kennesaw at the Southern Museum of the Civil War. From its beginning as home of “The General”, the museum has grown into an excellent source of not only Civil War history, but also the history of industry in
Marietta
. This is an outstanding resource for fifth grade teachers in particular. Well trained docents will take your students on a scavenger hunt, as well as a tour through the various exhibits. Finally, you are able to see a film about the Great Locomotive Chase, and see the “General” up close and personal!
We have taken our classes here many times, and each year it gets even better. Extra added attraction is a picnic lunch at the Kennesaw National Battlefield, only a few minutes away.
