Adventures in Anthropology!

About Our Programs . . .
T he Haffenreffer Museum houses a fascinating collection of objects and exhibits from cultures all over the world. Situated on a 350-acre historic site associated with the Wampanoags and King Philip, the Museum has led experiential educational programs for more than 30 years. Discover what we have to offer you and your students this year! Join us at the Haffenreffer for “Museum Expeditions”, a series of two-hour, hands-on educational encounters for audiences of all ages. Or let us come to you through our “Culture Caravan” outreach programs.

• Our programs focus on North American Indian/Alaskan Native cultures and other multi-cultural, multi-sensory experiences.
• All of our programs and pre-visit materials can help teachers meet Rhode Island and Massachusetts curriculum standards, goals and frameworks in History, Science, Economics, English Language Arts, Geography, and the Arts.
• We encourage active participation, hands-on discovery and inquiry-based learning.
• We have a tipi and wetu on site, as well as a large indoor space with stimulating hands-on materials.
• All of our programs explore interactions and relationships between human behavior (social sciences) and the physical world (natural sciences) and encourage a deeper understanding of other cultures and tolerance of diversity.

MUSEUM EXPEDITIONS, GRADES K - 12
These in-depth, two-hour programs engage all five senses as students learn about people and cultures, past and present, in a fun and informal format. Most sessions include a craft. There is a maximum of 48 students per session or 30 for “Dig It!”

Museum Expeditions schedule:
Sept. - Dec., 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., weekdays only:
Native People of Southeastern New England
Explore the land, life and activities of the Wampanoag: walk in the footsteps of King Philip; experience life in a reconstructed 17th Century wetu; taste a typical New England Native food, discover the New England Indian Pow-Wow tradition.
For free pre-visit materials, click here!

January - March, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., weekdays only)
Native People of the Arctic: The Alaskan Eskimo
On this tour, students learn about the importance and role of technology for survival in the Arctic, play Yup’ik and Inupiaq games, see a real inuksuk built by Inuit artist Peter Irniq, and visit a replica hunting camp to learn about culture, society and nature in the Arctic!

April - June, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., weekdays only
Native People of the Plains
Learn about the lifeways of the Plains Indians, sit in our onsite tipi and think about what life was like on the Plains in the 1700s. Discover the importance of the buffalo to the Plains people, and gain insights into the reservation system and its impact on Native Americans. Learn about contemporary Lakota community life.
For free pre-visit materials, click here!

September to June - weekdays only
*Culture Connect: People and their Cultures Around the World!
Hands-on explorations of the amazing objects in our exhibits and collections, combined with interactive experiences, allow students to look at cultural expressions around the world to answer the questions – how are we alike and why are we different? Students also make an artifact to take home and learn to think about their own cultures in new ways.

September-November/April - June:
*Dig It: Discovering Archaeology!
In this down and dirty exploration of archaeology, students enjoy hands-on projects in our galleries and education barn, and participate in a simulated dig during which they will find a variety of artifacts that helps them to discover the history of a people, piece by piece. They will record their data in teams and investigate the meaning of the objects they unearth, while learning about scientific inquiry.

CULTURE CARAVAN, AN OUTREACH PROGRAM, GRADES K-12
Let us liven up your day with a visit from the Museum’s Culture Caravan! We bring an assortment of handson materials and projects to your classroom or site. Students can examine natural materials like fur, deerskin, bone and antler, as well as objects and artifacts from our collections. We also come with images and discussion topics tailored to your grade level. Activities might include corn-grinding, making pemmican, making a traditional craft, or using a bow drill. For the K-12 curriculum standards that our Culture Caravan can help you meet, please see the corresponding MUSEUM EXPEDITION programs on the previous sections. There is a maximum of 30 students per session.

September-March:
Native People of the Plains

September-June:
Native People of Southeastern New England

September-December, April-June:
Native People of the Arctic

January-June:
Culture Connect: People and Their Cultures Around the World

September-June:
The Hopi of theSouthwest (NEW!)

Explore Hopi Culture in this interactive hands-on presentation. Students view pottery, baskets, and other materials while learning about Hopi traditions and the modern reservation.

GROUP TOURS OF THE MUSEUM
We offer group tours for all ages, grades and organizations. Tours last from 30 minutes to one hour - it’s your choice. Each tour is tailored to the audience, and tours are available all year long.

BOOKING A PROGRAM?
Please call the Museum at (401) 253-8388.

Book early . . . our programs are popular and space is limited.
A 10% discount . . . will be honored for programs booked in January or February.
Children’s Museum Shop . . . offers interesting and affordable gifts from around the world.
Program combinations . . . may be arranged if these do not suit your needs.
Chaperones . . . are limited to one per every 10 students.
Cancellations . . . a two week notice is required or a $50 cancellation fee will be charged - (except snow days).

HOURS, FEES, and DETAILS . . .
Museum Expeditions
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - noon; $5 per student; $140 minimum; *Dig It! runs on Tuesdays only from September through November, and April 15th through June, costs $6 per student, $144 minimum.

Culture Caravan
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 - 11:30 a.m. or noon - 1:30 p.m. One class of 30, $6 per student, $144 minimum; Two classes of 30 (1 a.m. session/1 p.m. session); $6 per student, $144 minimum per class

Group Tours
$4.50 per person, $3.00 per child 5 and under.; there is a $50 minimum for all tours