Our collections of contemporary Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) art and archeological artifacts open a window to Haudenosaunee culture and society. The Museum provides a stimulating object-based learning environment that engages visitors on visual, tactile, and intellectual levels. ​

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Program Length: 2 - 2.5 hours, depending on the size of your group.

Program Fee: $9/student; 1 free adult for every 10 students; all other adults are $6.00 each.

Grade Level: 3rd - 5th grade

Class Size: 10 students minimum; 50 students maximum

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All programs are scheduled between 10:00am - 12:30pm

You may extend your visit by eating lunch in our outdoor amphitheater or hiking our nature trails. Please schedule lunch for AFTER your visit and remember to take all trash with you.

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​​​To schedule a program, or if you have questions, contact tina@iroquoismuseum.org

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Program Options for School Groups​

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Introduction to the Haudenosaunee 

• Discussion of Haudenosaunee history & culture

• Storytelling

• Scavenger Hunt 

• Activity Center

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Cornhusk Dolls 

• Legend of the No Face Doll

• Cornhusk Doll craft

• Scavenger Hunt 

• Activity Center

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Tools of the Hunt* 

• Discussion of traditional hunting tools

• Scavenger Hunt 

• Activity Center

*available on Thursday only

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Storytelling connects the past, present, and future simultaneously.  For Native American nations, oral history was never just a substitute for writing; it was and remains the sacred backbone of their culture.  It is a living system that carries the weight of law, religion, science, and history. 

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Scavenger Hunt is an in-depth look at the museum's historical section.  Students will learn about the history, traditions, and contemporary lives of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people.  Discover what makes the Haudenosaunee Nations unique and how men, women, and children share the responsibility for keeping their communities strong.  Foundational teachings and ancient concepts will inspire day-to-day action and greater understanding of the differences and commonalities between cultures.  Students' interaction within this program is key to learning.​​​

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Cornhusk Doll making offers each student an opportunity to create their own cornhusk doll (no face doll) to take home, similar to those made as toys for early Haudenosaunee children. ​The gifts of nature were treated with respect and transformed into items that were useful, beautiful, or both.   Students will gain an understanding of the role of storytelling in Native cultures while listening to the Haudenosaunee No Face Doll story, with its timeless lessons about vanity and the importance of following instructions. This program requires manipulating natural materials and tying knots and is especially good for tactile learners.

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Tools of the Hunt explores the genius and creativity of the first peoples in adapting their lives, tools, and skills to the challenges they faced in a changing world. These new inventions and technologies help us to recreate a story of the people and their past. Through the study of stone, bone, wood, and metal tools, we can discover where they traveled on Great Turtle Island and try to reconstruct why. This ever-changing “toolbox” also provides us with clues to the fluctuating social and physical environments that they relied upon for food, clothing, and shelter. (This program is presented on Thursdays only, when a Native (Haudenosaunee) educator is available. In the event your group is scheduled for this program but our Native educator is unavailable, "Introduction to the Haudenosaunee" will be substituted.)​​​

 

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​​Our programs align with the following NYS Learning Standards:

English Language Arts

• Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• Comprehension and Collaboration (Speaking and Listening)

• Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas (Speaking and Listening)

• Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Science

• Use Scientific Inquiry to Pose Question, Seek Answers, Develop Solutions

• Apply Scientific Concepts, Principles, and Theories Pertaining to Physical Setting & Living Environment

Social Studies

• History of the US and NY

• Geography

The Arts

• Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts

Technology Education

• Tools, Resources and Technological Processes

• History and Evolution of Technology​