Program Details
Programs at the Thomas Paine Cottage consist of three elements: a Theme, Activities, and Crafts. You may customize your own program by picking the theme you wish to experience and the activity and craft you wish to learn about. The complete program -- theme, activies, and crafts -- MUST be booked ahead of time to ensure we have supplies on hand. Also, if time allows and/or at your request, we can include additional lectures.Themes: You may select your program based on one of following three themes:
- A Child's Life: Live life in Colonial America as a child would experience it
- A Soldier’s Life: Living in Westchester Coounty during the Revolutionary War, which was fought in our own backyards
- The One-room School House: School for all ages in a building with only one room--the classroom--long before computers!
- Child’s Play: Students get to take a break from their “studies” and experience using the toys and games of the time. Toys and games like Graces, Roll the Hoop, Lobsterback Tag, Three Legged Races are played outside (weather permitting), while Jacob’s Ladders, Cup and Ball, Tops and others are played indoors or outdoors.
- Bucket Brigade: During a warm weather visit to the Cottage, students can try their hand at 18th Century firefighting, and compete with others to see who can move the most water and so be the first to put out the imaginary “fire”. Plan to get wet.
Crafts: You may select one of the following crafts to explore during your program. We will provide all materials and instruction.
- Candle Making*: Learn what it took to provide illumination in the days before electricity. Each student will hand-dip a candle to bring home (Grades 2-5).
- Pen and Ink*: Before word processing, typewriters, or ballpoint pens, writing was done using a quill pen. Students will make their own quill pen and paperback journals and try writing in the 18th Century way (Grades 3-6).
* Additional $15.00 materials fee required.
Return to the main Programs page.
See our fee schedule for these programs.