Orange County Regional History Center, The

The Teach-In program sends museum staff into individual classrooms to bring history to life. The highlight of the program is the use of popular games and toys as the medium for teaching history. Through exploratory play and STEM based challenges, students are learning about historical topics and making connections between past and present. The Teach-In program targets 2nd and 4th grade and meets state standards.

2nd Grade – Florida’s Indigenous Tribes: Students will learn about Florida’s Native American tribes and compare/contrast them with native tribes from other regions of the U.S. They’ll also discover why European explorers came to Florida and how their colonization impacted the culture and livelihood of the native peoples. Students will conduct a STEM challenge using a variety of building materials and have the opportunity to touch replicas and primary sources including conquistador armor, Seminole patchwork, animal furs and more!

4th Grade – Fighting for Florida:  Students will learn about the European explorers’ motives for conquest and the conflict among countries as they fought to gain control over this valuable peninsula. They’ll also learn about the hardships the pioneers endured as they struggled to survive in a new, harsh climate and their continuous conflict for land with the Seminole Indians. Students will play modified versions of Sorry Sliders, do a STEM challenge using Lincoln Logs and various building materials, and explore pioneer replicas. It’s a history lesson they’ll never forget!

4th Grade – Florida’s Fight for Freedom: Students will learn about black leaders in Florida that played an important role in paving the road to equality. From Bessie Coleman to the Highwaymen, they will learn the stories of individuals who broke barriers in the fight for civil rights I Florida. They’ll also learn about the history of black communities in Florida, from Fort Mose to Eatonville, through hands-on interaction with maps. Students will work as a team to complete a town-building STEM challenge, and create their own take-home Florida landscape artwork!