Educational School Programs

Westfield offers unique and hands-on curriculum driven education programs at various times throughout the year.   The dynamic programs provide the opportunity for teachers and students to experience life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Available on weekday, Monday, Wednesday through most Fridays, groups can pick, choose and sample a variety of programs to create unique educational adventures.  Morning sessions run 9:30 am to 11:30 am and afternoon sessions run 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.  All are curriculum-driven, hands-on, and come complete with teacher's kits and many take-home craft components. Each program is 2 hours in length.  To make a full day program you can combine two programs or add a one and a half hour tour to one program.

Programs are $5.50 each  per student.  Two programs are $11.00 each student.  With an added tour instead of a second program, $9.00 per student.  Accompanying supervisors are free.  Westfield follows a 3 week cancellation policy.  Students over 13 years of age add GST.    

Watch a video on Westfield’s education program.

PIONEERS

A Child's Village:
Children will experience everyday life during the 18th and/or 19th century by participating in hands-on activities that examine home-life, education and skilled trades.  Available year round except Dec. and March.  Capacity 80 students.

Down on the Farm:
Through a series of hands-on and co-operative activities, students will experience pioneer life through the changing seasons; and life on the farms as a United Empire Loyalist.  Available Spring, Summer and Fall.  Capacity 80 students.

NATIVE CANADIANS

The Trail to Brant's Ford:
An adventure exploring: Joseph Brant's settlement of Brantford; the fur trade; native folklore; survival techniques; and bannock-making.  Available Spring, Summer, Fall. Capacity 40 students.

MEDIA STUDIES

Hollywood North:
Tour actual film locations from Anne of Green Gables TM and Road to Avonlea.   Students will develop and learn specific techniques of movie production from screen writing to videography when they produce their own heritage feature at Westfield.  Available in April- Nov.  Capacity 40 students.

CHRISTMAS

A Child's Christmas in the Country:
Students can experience a Victorian Christmas in the home, school or Inn, and Church.  It's the time of year when baking ginger cookies and putting on a Christmas play bring traditions alive.  Available in late Nov., and Dec.  Capacity 120 students.

SPRING TIME

The Sweet Taste of Spring, Maple Syrup:

Students can experience the Native Canadian, Pioneer and Modern production of Maple Syrup production.  Available in March.  Capacity 80  students. 

Discover ARCHAEOLOGY & PALEONTOLOGY

Module One:

Archaeological  Survey and Test Excavation:  Students will participate in a stimulated archaeological excavation, recording, and analyzing of artifacts covering Native and European settlement periods. Available in May. Capacity 40 students.

Module Two:
Archaeological Excavation and Interpretation:
Students will further analyze and interpret artifacts recovered from the ground and find out how archaeologists learn about the past.  Available in May.  Capacity 40 students.

Dr. Westfield's Dinosaur Dig:
Students will learn the principles of paleontology and excavation, and they will interpret their finds in the context of prehistoric ecology.  Available in May.  Capacity 40 students.

A minimum of 20 students is required. $5.50 per student, supervisors are free of charge. Fee includes a detailed teachers' kit including in-class activities.  To add a tour (1.5 hours) to your program, $9.00 per student.

Discover Summer Camp - “Living it up at Westfield”

Available in July & August.  2 hour duration.  Capacity approx. 40 students.  There are morning and afternoon session choices.  Each individual session is $5.50 per student.  Both are only $9.00.

Morning Session
Fun with Print will orient participants to printing processes of the past highlighting shadow puppets, two penny theatres and trading cards.  Kids will watch and put on a play with the two penny theatre and take home their very own cut out theatre and figures.

Teacher's Pet will put kids to the test as they go through the actual lesson in the old school house.  They will be inspected for cleanliness,
.taught manners and conduct recitations with the old school master scrutinizing their every move. Now that's entertainment!

Old Macdonald had a Farm and on that farm he had a ploughing match!  Participants will be harnessed to a plough and work the soil in a fun filled group race sure to have them in stitches.  Role playing and outdoor fun are the two crops that will grow from this activity.

The Barn Dance will teach and entertain as they enjoy a refreshment and music at the party and shake a leg doing line dances from a by gone era.

Afternoon Session
The Bucket Brigade will engage participants in a wet and wild mock fire department challenge as they try to save the pioneer village from a conflagration of amusing proportions.  Bring a towel!

The Show of Shows takes participants back to a good old fashioned traveling circus with a Punch and Judyesque puppet show that kids can participate in.

Clothes Make It when participants learn about period costuming and make their very own "Gorgette" as a craft.

The Shopping Spree can't happen unless some one gets down to the general store to dress windows, stack shelves, grind coffee and deliver flyers to the post office.  It's the kid's very own retail extravaganza!