Albany Institute of History and Art Student Programs

"The Albany Institute of History & Art is dedicated to excellence in education.  We offer unique learning opportunities that address NY state and National Learning Standards, integrating Visual Arts, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics through object based learning.  All of the fun and engaging experiences offered are based on the Institute's renowned collections and are led by NY state certified teachers and professionally trained docents."

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"The Beatrix Farrand Garden Association is dedicated to honoring and sharing the environmental and design legacy of Beatrix Farrand. By restoring and preserving her garden at Bellefield and offering educational programs, the association inspires visitors and increases public appreciation of her pioneering work. As the earliest existing example of her private work, the garden at Bellefield is a striking illustration of Farrand's masterful design, presented in an intimate and accessible setting. As a living testament to Farrand's influential horticultural legacy -- not only as a designer, but as the world's first female landscape architect -- the garden provides an ideal platform to tell this pioneering woman's story through lectures, tours and educational programs. Bellefield is located on the property of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, and the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association maintains a close working relationship with the National Park Service."

Boscobel's School Program

"On-site programming utilizes the 30-minute Station Rotation concept. Teachers choose from a menu of themed, guided activities to compose a three-themed schedule lasting up to two hours. Boscobel’s museum educator focuses on activities in an age-appropriate manner which affords a high level of student engagement."

Caramoor House Museum Programs for School Children

"Our Schools & Kids programs focus on making the arts and creativity integral to the educational process. We work with thousands of school children each year, many from underserved schools, and help them open their eyes, ears, and minds through exposure to music and culture."

Clermont State Historic Site Educational Programs

"The Friends of Clermont is a private, nonprofit corporation founded in 1977 to support and supplement the museum, education and historic preservation at Clermont. The Friends of Clermont encourages volunteerism and raises financial support through membership dues, museum store revenue, grants and contributions. For more than 30 years the Friends have effectively collaborated with the State in protecting, enhancing, and promoting this special place."

Dia: Beacon School Programs

"Dia Art Foundation's education philosophy couples experience-based exposure to contemporary art with a rigorous pedagogical approach aimed at engendering creative freedom, authentic thought, and personally meaningful learning. Taking its name from the Greek prefix for "through," Dia approaches education with the idea of art as an active, self-determined experience. In keeping with the innovative and unconventional nature of the collection, the Dia experience fosters inquiry-based and multidisciplinary exploration while providing tools for critical engagement and direct exchange."

FDR Presidential Library and Museum

"Educational Resources on FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt including biographies, online photos and exhibits, and preparation material for a site visit."

Historic Huguenot Street

At Historic Huguenot Street, we help visitors understand the historical forces that have shaped America. At our 10-acre National Historic Landmark District in New Paltz, New York, visitors experience over 300 years of history across seven historic stone-house museums, a reconstructed 1717 French Church, the Huguenot community’s original burying ground, and a replica Esopus Munsee wigwam. Period rooms and exhibits tell the stories of a French Huguenot settlement as it evolved over time, and also reveal the history of the area’s Indigenous and enslaved African peoples and Dutch settlers. 

John Jay Homestead State Historic Site Educational Programs

"The education programs at John Jay Homestead are diverse and appeal to the youngest of audiences to adults. Parents or grandparents can come to share some time with their little ones, kids can enjoy our summer camp, teachers can bring their classes for field trips, and adults can enjoy well-known authors at our Scholars Lectures."

Katonah Museum of Art School Programs

"With more than 100 member schools and service organizations, the Education Department is a rich resource for curriculum based learning.  We encourage collaboration to develop new ways of connecting visual observation to classroom objectives.  Each new exhibition, part of a diverse schedule that explores ideas about art, culture, and society, affords a unique opportunity for the study of fine art, language arts, social studies, and the sciences."

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"The Kendall Sculpture Gardens are a significant part of the National Heritage Areas as well as part of the Hudson River Valley. Created by Donald M. Kendall, the co-founder of PepsiCo, the gardens combine architecture, landscape, and sculpture; sparking creativity in the business world. The grounds feature landscapes including fountains, lakes, courtyards, gardens, and ponds. It formerly was a polo-club, and in 1970 was transformed into the PepsiCo headquarters. When PepsiCo moved its headquarters from Manhattan to Purchase, NY, Kendall wanted to create an environment where business could thrive. He hoped to fashion an ambience of inspiration and serenity for his employees and the public, and from this came the Kendall Sculpture Gardens."

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"Lasdon Park and Arboretum is located in Somers, New York however it has a Katonah mailing address. Both towns and the county of Weschester take great pride in this garden. Lasdon Park and Arboretum is important to Westchester County servicemen and women from various branches of the military. Located at the park are four memorials to honor military service. They are The Trail of Honor, The Korean War Memorial, The Westchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and The Merchant Marine Memorial. Other memorials located at Lasdon Park that honor the local area include the William and Mildred Lasdon Memorial Garden, The Chinese Friendship Pavilion and Cultural Garden, Ongoing Botanical, and The Mildred D. Lasdon Bird and Nature Sanctuary."

Lyndhurst Education Programs

"Overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, is Lyndhurst, one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. The architectural brilliance of the residence, designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, is complemented by the park-like landscape of the estate and a comprehensive collection of original decorative arts."

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"The glamorous Montgomery Place is located in Annandale-on-Hudson in northern Dutchess County just off Route 103 in the Town of Red Hook. Apple and other fruit trees are still being grown on the property and are a significant part of Hudson Valley agriculture. The fruit from these trees can be purchased in season at the farm stand on Route 9G."

Olana Educational Programs

"Olana’s programs provide an opportunity to engage the imagination, encourage creativity and explore the tenets of art, architecture, language arts and the environment. Explore the lives of the people who lived at Olana, the history of the 19th century and the Hudson River School."

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"Opus 40 is located in Saugerties, New York. It lies between Kingston and Woodstock. All three of these towns have unique attractions as well as many links to one another. While in Woodstock you may be tempted to visit the site of the Woodstock Festival, however, no such site exists! Woodstock ‘69 actually took place in Bethel, but was originally scheduled to take place in the Town of Woodstock and the name stuck. Saugerties is home to Opus 40, but the Historical Society of Saugerties has information on other attractions in the area. Kingston also has a number of historical and entertainment attractions including the Old Dutch Reformed Church, where New York State's first Governor, George Clinton is buried, and the State Senate House, where New York State's Constitution was written!"

Philipsburg Manor School Programs

"Tour the 300-year-old manor house. Its dairy, kitchens, bedchambers, warehouse rooms and parlor attest to its significance as a place of work, business, trade, leisure, and repose. Period artifacts and touchable reproductions give you an understanding of the people who lived and worked here.

Visit the activity center and explore the foodways, textile production techniques, and medicinal practices of Philipsburg Manor's inhabitants. Shell some beans, work flax into linen, or produce a tray of ship biscuits. Nearby is the slaves' garden, with vegetables and herbs for consumption, market, and medicinal purposes.

Enter the new world Dutch barn and help thresh some wheat. With its pastoral setting, rich social history, hands-on activities, and demonstrations of colonial life, Philipsburg Manor provides everybody with an unforgettable experience."

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site Educational Resources

"Philipse Manor Hall offers standards-based education programs that encourage students to analyze history using primary sources, including place, objects, and photographs. Students of all ages use the Manor Hall and its rich history to develop an enthusiasm for the past and a greater understanding of important movements and turning points in history."

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"Poet’s Walk Park is a beautiful garden that is located between a country road and the Hudson River in Red Hook, New York. Poet’s Walk is considered to be a romantic landscape, intended to celebrate the connection between landscape and poetry. (Hudson River Heritage) Poet’s Walk is 120 acres of gentle hills, creeks, woodlands, and river views that are hard to find today. “The classic wooden vistas, sunlit fields and thick forest were the main focus of the landscape architect Hans Jacob Ehlers vision for the property in 1849.”

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"The town of Pawling, located roughly 20 miles from the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College, was once home to the largest community of Society of Friends (Quakers) in the Mid-Hudson River Valley region. The Quakers of Quaker Hill and Pawling brought with them a conservative Christian view, a unique perspective on society and culture, and a long tradition of close community. Nathan Birdsall moved to the Pawling area in 1728, bringing with him his family and Quaker religion. Over the next several years more Quakers followed suit and established a community on what is known as Quaker Hill."

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Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born on April 27, 1791, in Charlestown, just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Jedidiah Morse, a pastor who was as well known for his geography as Noah Webster, a friend of the family, was known for his dictionaries.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site Educational Programs

"The elegant mansion, restored to its turn-of-the-century appearance, is open for tours and the house and grounds offer special events throughout the year." 

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture Student Programs

"Students will dig in to discover the sustainable farming methods used at Stone Barns and better understand how the farm works as an ecosystem. Seasonally relevant explorations of our vegetable growing areas and live-stock habits will help students to get closer to the sources of their food, and a hands-on chore will give them a tactile way to get involved in sustainable agriculture."

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"Located in Cold Spring, New York, Stonecrop Gardens is a public garden that is the headquarters of the Garden Conservancy, a national nonprofit organization. The Garden was the home of Anne and Frank Cabot, who founded the Garden Conservancy in 1989 hoping to “preserve America’s finest gardens for posterity and to enhance public appreciation of gardens as part of our artistic and cultural heritage” (Casal 2007)."

Sunnyside School Programs

"A gently curved path leads to gorgeous views of the Hudson River and reveals the allure of Sunnyside's unique design, its intimate setting, its bucolic grounds, and its association with a beloved man of letters.

The grounds reflect Washington Irving's romantic view of art, nature, and history. He arranged garden paths, trees and shrubs, vistas, and water features to appear natural, and planted an exotic wisteria vine (still growing) to envelope the house."

The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame School Programs

"Take lessons out of our book and race to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame for an educational adventure your students will always remember. Our innovative school programs use the American Standardbred horse and the sport of harness racing to illustrate concepts in mathematics, history, science, language arts and more."

Union Church School Programs

"The enthralling story of the windows, and how they came to be here, is the story of relationships among distinguished patrons and collectors of modern art, two great 20th-century artists, and the leading connoisseurs and tastemakers of the day."

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"At Van Cortlandt Manor, explore the stone manor house and brick ferry house, wander through the heritage gardens, and stroll down a quiet country road along the Croton River."

Van Cortlandt Manor School Programs

"At Van Cortlandt Manor, explore the stone manor house and brick ferry house, wander through the heritage gardens, and stroll down a quiet country road along the Croton River."

Watershed Education Resources

"This website provides professional materials and information for educators including Field Trip suggestions, cultural programs, and information about classroom-based science programs."

Library of Congress - Teachers' Resources

Index page for millions of primary documents. Collections include The Learning Page, American Memory, Today in History, I Hear America Singing, and Community Roots. Everything from Colonial to Contemporary culture.

NPS - Battle of Oriskany Lesson Plan

What were the consequences of the the Battle of Oriskany for both European Americans and American Indians? The lesson could be used in U.S. history, social studies, and geography courses in units on the Revolutionary War and American Indian history. It also could be used in courses on conflict resolution, cultural diversity, and art.

Oriskany Historic Site

NPS - First Lady of the World: Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill

This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site" and other source materials. The lesson could be used in American history courses in units on efforts to achieve world peace during the Cold War in the 1950s, or on human rights and civil rights issues. Students will learn about Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions as a humanitarian.

Val Kill: The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

NPS - Martin Van Buren's "Return to the Soil"

This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Lindenwald" and other sources related to Van Buren. This lesson complements classroom study of early 19th-century politics by tracing the life of Martin Van Buren and examining his retirement home. It could be used in U.S. history courses and in civics or government classes. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the man who played an important role in the Jacksonian Era.

Visit Lindenwad: The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site for a virtual tour of Lindenwald, an article on domestic servants at Lindenwald, and images of artifacts and documents in the site's museum collection.

NPS - Saratoga Battlefield Activities

The Battles of Saratoga: Student Reading Activity

This activity gives a summary account of the Battles of Saratoga. Using a short reading passage, students will answer several questions.

On Hallowed Ground

While Saratoga National Historical Park is unable to send rangers out with school groups to conduct guided tours, ready-to-use materials for teachers can greatly contribute to a meaningful educational experience for students and teachers alike.

Saratoga Battlefield Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Many schools will never be able to visit Saratoga National Historical Park, but teachers can still conduct a virtual tour of the battlefield on the park’s website, either during a computer lab, through a classroom computer connected to a projector, or on a Smart Board. This worksheet accompanies the virtual tour.

Why Here?

This Middle School activity is designed to be reviewed by the teacher, photocopied, and distributed to students.  It is intended to be a simple exercise in analyzing and understanding how geography influenced American and British decision making in the Battles of Saratoga.

The Crucial Hour

This Upper Elementary activity is intended to be a simple exercise in analyzing and understanding how geography influenced decision making by both American and British armies in the Battles of Saratoga.

Building An Army

This Math/Social Studies worksheet can be used to help students learn about the three basic organizational levels of an army during the American Revolution.

Dear Diary

The Battles of Saratoga not only had significant effects on national and world history, but also deeply affected those directly and indirectly involved. “Dear Diary” uses primary source documents—journals—to examine this crucial event through the eyes of participants.

NPS - Springwood: Exploring the Roosevelt Waters

This program focuses on FDR and his interest in conservation of natural resources. 

NPS - Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site: Monument to the Gilded Age

This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file for the "Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site" and other source materials. The lesson could be used in U.S. history, social studies, and geography courses in units on the Gilded Age or America's industrial and economic growth. Vanderbilt Mansion will help students understand the possibilities for wealth in an age before income taxes and government regulation of business and industry.