Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie

Experience the Hoosier spirit and Indiana heritage with a visit to Conner Prairie. It’s the ideal place to immerse your students in the state’s history with hands-on activities and plenty of opportunities to interact with staff portraying characters from the past. Spend time outdoors, try hands-on activities and get some exercise. Each visit covers academic standards in multiple subject areas including social studies, language arts, and science. For an educational, authentic and entertaining look into the history that shapes us today, come to Conner Prairie!

Areas include the 1823 William Conner House, 1836 Prairietown, Lenape Indian Camp, 1863 Civil War Journey, 1859 Balloon Voyage exhibit, Treetop Outpost and Nature Walk, Create.Connect (combining history, science and design) and Makesmith Workshop (focusing on making things).

EDUCATOR CONTACT INFO

schoolprograms@connerprairie.org

http://www.connerprairie.org

  13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038

Hamilton

317-776-6000

317-776-6014

African-American Museum Theater Outreach Programs

Program description

The following three programs cover various stories from African-American history. See individual listings for descriptions and related standards. You can choose two of these programs for the cost listed below.

 

The Rhodes Family Incident

Little-known historic events that happened in your own community can provide important
perspectives and inspiration that relate to life now. In “The Rhodes Family Incident,” two contemporary college students who grew up in Westfield, Indiana, are surprised to discover a historic racial incident involving escaped slaves that happened in their hometown. This discovery challenges their views of their community and their own identity. The play, written by Crystal V. Rhodes, was inspired by research into African-American history in Hamilton County and can prompt students to rethink what they know about Indiana history, their communities and even themselves. This program includes opportunities for questions and answers with Conner Prairie actors. It can be presented in a variety of spaces. Staging and props are minimal.

 

Willa Brown: Aviation Pioneer

Willa Brown (1906-1992) started her career as a teacher after attending Indiana State Teachers College. Looking for greater challenges, she went on to become the first African-American woman to become a licensed pilot and the first woman in the U.S. to be both a licensed pilot and mechanic. She went on to train some of the Tuskegee Airmen, along with running for Congress and working as an activist.

 

Freedom Summer 1964

Two student trainers from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), one of the most important organizations of the Civil Rights Movement, will introduce audiences to their methods for practicing non-violent protest. This is a participatory theater piece.

 

Booking / scheduling contact

Conner Prairie Guest Services

   317-776-6000

 schoolprograms@connerprairie.org

Program detail
Artistic discipline: History & Heritage, Storytelling, Theatre
Cultural Origin: African/African Diaspora, European
Program type: In-School Performance
Population served: Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 12, Students with Disabilities
Subject: Fine Arts: Theatre, History, Social Studies
Bilingual: No
Available dates:

Contact Guest Services for available dates and times.

Available times:

Contact Guest Services for available dates and times.

Length of program: 30 - 45 minutes
Fees / Ticketing:

$195 plus mileage for two programs

IDOE STANDARDS

Connects to State (IDOE) and/or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes
SOCIAL STUDIES:
Standard 1 - History
FINE ARTS: THEATRE:
Anchor Standard 4 – Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation: Theatre artists make strong choices to effectively convey meaning.
Anchor Standard 6 – Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work: Theatre artists share and present stories, ideas, and envisioned worlds to explore the human experience.
Anchor Standard 9 – Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work: Theatre artists apply criteria to investigate, explore, and assess drama and theatrical work.
Anchor Standard 11 – Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding: Theatre artists understand and can communicate their creative process as they analyze the way the world may be understood.

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes
Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes
Maintains general liability insurance: Yes
Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes
Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes
Provides tools to assess student learning (workshops and residencies): Yes
Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes
Connects to State (IDOE) and/or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes