Schedule an ATHM educational program for your students, and help them discover the many aspects of the history, science, and art of textiles in America. Textiles have influenced our lives from the hand-mades of earliest times up through the mechanized Industrial Revolution, and into the extreme science of the cutting edge present. The American Textile History Museum’s educational programs help students and life-long learners alike connect to America’s diverse textile heritage with engaging interactive experiences, objects, and displays that stimulate creativity, problem solving skills, curiosity, and excitement for this vibrant field.
ATHM offers a series of interactive school programs that help tell America’s textile story utilizing the Museum’s extensive collections and expertise. All programs address specific curriculum standards with age-appropriate activities, and are designed to complement and enhance classroom learning. Students will remember the day, the sights and sounds, and the concepts they engage.
Grades K-2
Silk, spiderwebs, and rayon are produced in a similar way. Learn about the science, technology, and culture of silk, and other extruded fibers. They identify the anatomy of a silkworm and spider, build a spider web, and reenact the legend of the discovery of silk in ancient China, and experiment with unraveling a silk cacoon. Explore the museum with a silk scavenger hunt.
2.5hr (includes tour).
Grades K-3
Experience the tradition of Navajo hand-weaving as you hear the story of Geraldine the Goat and how her mohair is transformed into a rug. The story, demonstrations and group activity are followed by a weaving project.
1 hour program followed by a self-guided tour.
Elementary 1-3
Learn appreciation and respect for traditional dress from around the world, and learn about immigrant experiences by creating a costume for a cardboard figure. The costumed figures can be strung together to create a great classroom display.
1 hour program followed by a self-guided tour.
Elementary 3-5
Travel the Silk Road with us! You will be introduced to the history of The Silk Road, using our life-sized game board to test your trading & bartering skills as you learn about the purpose and challenges of this historic route. Touch and feel samples of silk at various stages of processing. Identify the anatomy of the silkworm and the spider. Experience unraveling a silk cocoon. Discover how science has imitated nature by comparing this process to the synthetic version, rayon.
Tour and silk scavenger hunt through the Museum included.
2.5 hours (includes tour)
Grades 3 and Up
Experience life in a 1770's village as you try weaving, flax processing, toy-making, and dressing in period clothing. Learn how colonists turned raw wool into clothing, and learn about the social and political climate of the time.
2.5hr (includes tour)
Grades 3 and Up
Learn about life in a colonial, wool-producing village. Act out a "worker's web" to learn about the connections between different jobs in the village, and see how the village fit into the national economy. Process wool as it was done in the time period, and create a poster to explain the process.
2.5hr (includes tour)
Grades 4-6
Design and make a woven item. Learn about textile terms, industrial history, and loom preparation. Notched cardboard looms and yarn are provided.
1 hour program followed by a self-guided tour.
Ages 8+
Students will begin this program by defining and discussing textile terminology and the importance of textiles in our lives today. We will then move on to identifying characteristics of textile fibers, and learning about how they are processed, as well as the ecological concerns surrounding them. We will present modern career options related to the field. This program includes plenty of hands-on activities such as weaving on a table loom, knitting, and examining fibers with a magnifying glass.
Note: All programs can be adapted to the specific needs of homeschool groups. Teachers and homeschool patents with identification always receive complimentary admission to the museum.
To learn more, or make a reservation call 978-441-0400 ext. 250, or email reservations@athm.org.
