The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) offers educational programs conducted in the museum’s galleries, schools, libraries, and summer camps. FAM’s programs cover the history of our region including the Virginia Indians, 18th-century life, the American Civil War, Civil Rights, and the importance of the Rappahannock River to our community. These cross-curriculum field trips connect Fredericksburg’s past to what students are learning in school and encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and communication within the classroom.
The FAM’s Early Adventurers program encourages preschoolers to use their instinctive nature to investigate and explore the world around them in an environment designed for this age group. Our Museum on the Move traveling program brings the museum experience and our educators to you. Students will learn more about Fredericksburg’s history through listening to local stories, handling reproduction artifacts, analyzing primary sources and hands-on activities. Our FAM Gallery Programs programming allows students to explore our ever-changing galleries to discover current and past local stories!
Contact:
Theresa Cramer
Education & Public Programs Coordinator
tcramer@famcc.org • 540.371.3037 ext. 138
Costs*:
*FREE for all Fredericksburg City School students
FAM Gallery programs:
$3.00 per student (1 chaperone for 10 students is FREE. Additional adults $3.00)
Museum on the Move programs:
$4.00 per student
EARLY ADVENTURERS (PRE-SCHOOL, HEAD-START)
*This program is held either on-site at the FAM OR in your facility
The Powhatan People
Using artifacts and pictures, Early Adventurers will use their senses to learn about the Powhatan Indians. Incorporating hands-on activities, students will learn about traditional Virginia Indian food ways, shelter and clothing.
MUSEUM ON THE MOVE (K-5)
*These programs are held either on-site at the FAM OR in your facility
The Powhatan People (K-5)
Discover what life was like for the Powhatan people along the Rappahannock River. Through discussion of artifacts, photographs and drawings, students learn about the Virginia Indians’ traditional food ways, shelter and clothing as well their reliance on natural resources. English SOLs: K.1a-f, 1.1.a-l, 2.1.a-e, 2.1.g, 2.1.h-i, 2.1.l-m, 3.1.a-h, 4.1.a-g, 5.1.a-h History and Social Studies SOLs: K.1.a, K.1.g, K.2.a, K.7, 1.1.a, 1.1.g, 1.3.a, 1.3.b, 1.6.a, 1.6.b, 1.8, 2.1.a, 2.1.g, 2.3.a, 2.4, 2.7.a, 2.8, VS.1.a, VS.1.b, VS.2.c, VS.2.e, VS.2.g, USI.1.a, USI.3.b, USI.3.c, USI.4b, Science SOLs: K.11.a, 1.8.a, 3.10.b, 4.9.a-d
Life in a Port Town: 18th-Century Fredericksburg (K-5)
What would life have been like in colonial Fredericksburg? Using interactive hands-on activities, this program teaches students about the development of Fredericksburg as a port town, the colonial market place and residents. English SOLs: K.1.a-j, 1.1.a-h, 1.1.j-l, 2.1.a-j, 2.1.l, 3.1.a-h, 3.6.b, 3.6.d-j, 4.1.a-I, 4.6.b-e, 4.6.i, 5.1.a-h, 5.6.b-e History and Social Studies SOLs: K.1.a, K.1.g, K.7, K.8, K.9.a, K.9.b,.1.1a, 1.1g, 1.2.b, 1.6.b, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1.a, 2.1.g, 3.1a, 3.9, 3.10, VS.1a, VS.1g, VS.4d, VS.4e, USI.1a, USI.1g, USI.5b Mathematics SOLs: K1.a, K.1.b, K.2.a, K.2.b, 1.1.a, 1.6, 2.4.a, 2.4.b, 2.4.c, 3.2a, 3.3a, 4.2a, 4.3.d, 5.2.a, 5.2.b
Faces of The Civil War (4-5)
Explore the lives of soldiers and Fredericksburg civilians during the American Civil War. Students will utilize primary sources and artifacts to understand the war through personal experiences. English SOLs: 4.1.a-i, 4.6.b-e, 4.6.i, 5.1.a-h, 5.6.c-d, 5.6.g, 5.6.i, 5.6.i History and Social Studies SOLs: VS.1a, VS1d, VS1e, VS1g, VS.7b, VS.7c, USI.1a, USI.1c, USI.1e, USI.9a, USI.9e, USI.9f
Bridging the Past (K-5)
Explore the history, engineering and economic decisions behind Fredericksburg bridges. This program uses primary sources, and inquiry-based activities to further understand how and why bridges were built over the Rappahannock River. English SOLs: K.1a-f, 1.1.a-l, 2.1.a-e, 2.1.g, 2.1.h-i, 2.1.l-m, 3.1.a-h, 4.1.a-g, 5.1.a-h History and Social Studies SOLs: K.1.a-b, K.3, K.7, 2.1.a-b, 2.2, VS.1.a-b, USI.1. a-b, USI.8. d Mathematics SOLs: K.10.a, K.10.b, K.10.c, 1.11.a, 1.11.b, 3.12, 3.13, 4.11, 4.12, 5.13.a, 5.13.b Science: K.1.a-k, K.4.b, K.4.d, 1.1.a-j, 1.2.c, 2.1.a-m, 3.1.a-m, 3.3.a-c, 4.1.a-m, 5.1.a-k
FAM GALLERY PROGRAMS (K-12)
*These programs are held on-site at the FAM
Our Past, Our Present (K-12)
This guided museum tour explores the rich stories of the Fredericksburg region! FAM’s exhibits cover a wide variety of topics like the Virginia Indians, Colonial era, Great Depression, Civil Right Movement to current immigrants. Using primary sources, historic objects, and artwork, students will examine the area’s past and present. The Museum is happy to work with your group to create an exhibit tour that fits your class’ needs. Please plan this tour at least one month in advance to give staff appropriate time to prepare. SOLs will vary depending on grade level and topic of exhibits
A Walk in Their Shoes (6-12)
*This program is a downtown Fredericksburg walking tour
The Civil Rights Movement played out on the streets of Fredericksburg. Young and old participated in rallies and sit-ins right here in our streets! This WALKING tour takes students to areas in downtown where these activities played out. From the property auction block of pre-Civil War era, to where students participated in Sit-Ins on Caroline Street, this tour explores this turning point in our country’s history. English SOLs: 6.1a-e, 7.1.a-e, 8.1.c-f, 9.1.g-I, 10.1.e-g, 11.1c-f, 12.1.c-d, 12.1.f History and Social Studies SOLs: USII.1. a, USII.1.d, USII.1.i, USII.3.a, USII.4.c , USII.9.a, VUS.7.e, VUS.8.d, VUS.13.b, VUS.13.c, , GOVT.11.a, GOVT.11.c, GOVT.11.d, GOVT.11.e