Real Life Learning in Williamsburg, VA

Make it REAL!

For young children, make Williamsburg come alive by reading some books ( aloud as a family) about the colonists.
Go to the places you read about, pretending to be the characters or talking about it. "This is where..."
Have the children copy quotes or information from the books you read together onto note cards and take them with you.
When you arrive at the Visitor's Center, get the Daily Newspaper, and be prepared to live like it is actually THAT DAY in history.
Read the Daily Newspaper and mark all the events your family will enjoy participating in.
Participate in all outside activities.
When you go inside a building, LISTEN to the conversations. The tour guides dressed in costume will TALK like it is that day in history. It is so much fun to LINGER and LISTEN and LEARN!
Go to the Bakery at snack time and the Tavern restaurants at lunch or dinner. Prepare your children ahead of time to try something different.
Spend some time in the common green area and choose a special, comfortable place there to meet if you decide to go separate ways for a little while.
Dressing the part is fun for the children or the whole family. You won't be the only ones! Here are some ideas:
For females: colonial dresses, aprons, blouses and skirts from the thrift shop with an apron, bonnets or just a doily for heads, comfortable walking shoes
For Males: knickers or make knickers from old pants, blouses or shirts from a thrift shop and of course a three cornered hat, comfortable walking shoes
( you can buy 3 cornered hats and bonnets and aprons as souvenirs in Williamsburg) Everyone NEEDS these in their dress up closet at home, anyway. See more ideas below in tip #13.

Williamsburg Homeschool Weeks

RE: Williamsburg Homeschool weeks
The 2011 Homeschooler Experience dates are February 26-March 5 and September 10-25. Special rates are available during this period for homeschoolers. Groups or individuals are welcome. Sample itineraries are available.
helpful posts from spice-line discussion group:
We visited Wiliamsburg during homeschool days this past fall. Went also to
Jamestown and purchased tickets there. I told them we were homeschoolers
and the lady said they had their own "homeschool days" that went along with
Williamsburgs. The passes were super cheap and included all of Jamestown
and Yorktown. We got a 5 day pass and it was good on any day - it didn't
have to be consecutive like Williamsburg so we were able to fill in our time
with visiting both these places as well. If you can find them online - they
are the real deal - or you can purchase them there. I would highly
recommend them - it was a nice break from Williamsburg and jamestown is all
hands on if you have younger kids (i.e. you can actually relax and let them
run around and jump on things :) ).
Rachel W
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Folks!
I would encourage every family to find some way to take advantage of these
homeschool days. They are SOOOOOO cheap! 'Back in the day' when we went, there
were no discounts. I well remember dishing out the $50 for a few days. YOU can
go for 5 days for less than $15!
True, not every place is open but you get special treatment at the places that
are. During the regular season you are just one of the crowd.
Sharon

Click Here for more info about Homeschool Weeks: learn more

Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center

Homeschool programs will be offered February 26-March 5, 2011 September 10-25, 2011

HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM
February 26-March 5, 2011
September 10-25, 2011

Jamestown Settlement

Family Guided Tour
Visit re-creations of a Powhatan Indian village and James Fort, replica 1607 ships, and a riverfront discovery area on this 2-hour hands-on tour guided by a trained museum educator.
Tour dates: February 28, March 2 and 3
Tour times: 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2 - Powhatan Indian World
Students handle and analyze clothing, bone tools and pottery of the Powhatan Indian culture.
Program dates: February 28, March 2 and 3
Program times: 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Grades 3-6 - Cultures at Jamestown
Students compare and contrast the Powhatan Indian, English and African cultures that came into contact during the 17th century.
Program dates: February 28, March 2 and 3
Program times: 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Grades 7-12 - Voyage to Virginia
Students learn about the 1607 voyage to Virginia by exploring period navigational tools.
Program dates: February 28, March 2 and 3
Program times: 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Yorktown Victory Center

Family Guided Tour
Visit the re-created Continental Army encampment and 1780s farm on this 2-hour hands-on tour guided by a trained museum educator.
Tour dates: March 1, 2 and 4
Tour times: 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2 - Colonial Life
Students examine tools and materials used on a small Virginia farm to explore life of a typical Tidewater farming family.
Program dates: March 1, 2 and 4
Program times: 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Grades 3-6 - Revolutionary Virginia
Students analyze primary sources and reproduction artifacts to learn about lives
of ordinary 18th-century Virginians.
Program dates: March 1, 2 and 4
Program times: 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Grades 7-12 - Life of a Private
Students explore a Continental soldier's haversack, clothing and weapons to relate to the experiences of people during the American Revolution.
Program dates: March 1, 2 and 4
Program times: 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The fee is $10.50 per family member (youth or adult) for general admission to both museums from February 26-March 5, 2011 and September 10-25, 2011. Children under age four are free. Homeschool ticket holders can visit both museums as many times as they like during the date range. The fee also includes one optional hands-on program and one optional guided tour of Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center. Classroom capacity is limited to 25 people for hands-on programs. Please register in advance to ensure a place in the program. Walk-ins will be accepted if space is available. Please call group reservations at (757) 253-4939 as soon as possible if you are unable to attend the program for which you registered.

Please register in advance to ensure a place in the program by calling group reservations at (757) 253-4939 or at the visitor services desk at either museum. Purchase your tickets online. Once you have purchased tickets, please preregister for hands-on programs and guided tours. To do this, call group reservations at (757) 253-4939. The pre-registration deadline for hands-on programs and guided tours is 5 p.m. three business days prior to the program/tour.

Plan time to see the introductory film, visit the museum galleries, have lunch and visit the gift shops at Jamestown Settlement before or after your program and tour. At the Yorktown Victory Center, visit the museum galleries, view the film and visit the gift shop.

Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia history and culture, and the Yorktown Victory Center, a museum of the American Revolution, are administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Association of Museums.

For more information about homeschool programs, contact Group Reservations at:
group.reservations@jyf.virginia.gov
(757) 253-4939 FAX (757) 253-4997 (888) 868-7593 toll free
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, P.O. Box 1607, Williamsburg, VA 23187

Great Books

Start with these books before you go

These are great to read aloud and learn together. Have the children copy quotes or information from the books you read together onto note cards and take them with you to bring history to life.

Real Life Learning in Williamsburg, VA

Make History Come Alive In Historic Colonial Williamsburg!

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Make it REAL!

Williamsburg Homeschool Weeks

More Great Links

to help you plan your trip

Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center

Homeschool programs will be offered February 26-March 5, 2011 September 10-25, 2011

Great Books

Start with these books before you go

Tips from others who've been to Colonial Williamsburg

taken and edited from discussion groups

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for the walk

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planning

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pretend

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places to go

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things to do

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Felicity 's map of Williamsburg

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saving money

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Homeschool Groups

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Things to not miss

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How many days?

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Linger, Listen and Learn!

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Costumes

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Ideas to make your own costumes

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Food

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Books

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Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Settlement

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FELICITY

The American Girl in Williamsburg

Felicity Products

Great Gift Ideas For Birthdays or Christmas!

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Colonial Costumes for Girls and Women

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