The Fairfield Museum’s location on the Historic Town Green creates the perfect setting to complement American history curriculum. Studies related to the Colonial period, Colonial Life and the American Revolution come to life through Walking Tours, Hands-On experiences and Living History.
Educators can choose a full-day Colonial Life Program at the Fairfield Museum with a rotation of activities selected from the list below. Lunch facilities are available on site or outdoors on the Museum Green.
Colonial Programs are complemented by a curriculum containing lesson plans and activities developed with a dedicated group of 4th grade teachers from the Fairfield Public Schools.
Please contact the Education Department at 203-259-1598 or contact us here for more information and to schedule a visit.
Colonial Life Walking Tour
The center of Fairfield was burned by the British in 1779, yet elements of this Colonial Village still remain intact, from the Town Green that all colonial New England towns established to the Old Burying Ground, with its oldest grave marker that is dated 1687. Encounter the route taken by the British during the Burning of Fairfield in 1779 and the timeline of events that resulted in the devastation of the town. Highlights of the Walking Tour include:
- Hear Ben Franklin’s “Oyster Story” in front of the 1780 Sun Tavern, where he and George Washington visited.
- See the Beach Road houses that survived the Burning, many of them occupied by the British during their short offensive.
- Have a seat at a real school desk and hear how teachers punished the students in the Academy Schoolhouse.
- View the location of Edward’s Pond, where witch tests conducted in the mid-1600s (before Salem) would determine if you’d “Sink or Swim.”
- See the Town Hall, the location Fairfield County Seat, where lawyers and the accused awaited judgment and settled disputes.
Hands-On Activities
Students create their own unique projects inspired by colonial trades and traditional crafts in the Fairfield Museum’s Education Center. Choose from:
- Corn Husk Dolls
Corn is an important American crop that was introduced to the colonists by Native American tribes. This important plant was not only a source of food, but it’s fibers were used for many purposes, including weaving, bedding and dollmaking. Participants will discover the simple steps to create their own, unique corn husk dolls. - Quill Pen and Ink Writing
Learn about the unique writing styles of colonial times; the intricate flourishes, artistic signatures, strange letters and a lack of grammar! Try your hand at this technique, experimenting with different styles and your own writing skills.
Old Burying Ground Challenge
Learn about the lives of men, women and children through this Scavenger Hunt emphasizing orienteering and math skills along with teamwork. Students learn basic compass and pacing skills while embarking on trails throughout the Burying Ground, answering questions that challenge critical thinking skills. Along the way, discover the patterns that emerge about life expectancy, the causes of death in colonial times and what gravestone imagery reveals about beliefs and values over time.
Meet the Militia – Living History
An educator in period uniform will reveal the challenges of a soldier’s life in the American militia. Students learn about items from the period that soldiers carried and what a wool uniform might feel like when worn. From the powder horn and musket to the haversack and flint, hear engaging stories of how soldiers faced hardships and survived.
