Education Programs

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE:

Indoor Programming: 

Then And Now | 1 Hour

GRADES 1-5

How did people listen to music in the 1920s? How did people send messages before email and text messages? What did they use to brush their teeth? This program explores the museum’s education collection and compares the daily life of children in the Edwardian era to the students of today. 

The program is delivered at the museum. Students will be given a short introduction to each artefact and then have an opportunity for hands-on activities.

PROGRAM FEE | $40 per class (30 students and adult chaperones)

Fernie Walking Tours | 60 Minutes

GRADES 1-10: THE GREAT FIRE

On August 1, 1908, a massive forest fire swept through the town of Fernie, destroying almost the entire town in an hour and a half. Discover how this devastating event unfolded, the conditions that led to it, and how Fernie’s rise from the ashes influences us to this day.

GRADES 4-12: RUMRUNNERS!

Learn about Prohibition in the Elk Valley and the “entrepreneurs” who schemed and bribed their way around it! Hear the stories of temperance campaigners, speakeasies, undercover police, and the case of the Picariello murder which shocked the nation. 

GRADES 7-12: FERNIE AT WAR AND THE MORRISSEY INTERNMENT

In Canada during WW1 thousands of men, women and children were branded as “enemy aliens”, and many were imprisoned at one of twenty-four internment camps located from Nanaimo to Halifax. Morrissey, an abandoned coal mining town thirteen kilometers south-west of Fernie, served as a prison for over 800 “enemy aliens” were detained during Morrissey internment operations from September 1915 to October 1918, including 290 men from the Elk Valley.

The Fernie at War walking tour highlights Fernie’s role in Canada’s war effort during the Great War, and the creation of the Morrissey internment camp. The presentation is 60 minutes long and follows a short loop of the downtown and river. 

Tours are at an easy walking pace and make several stops. It is recommended that students wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket or sweater.

PROGRAM FEE | $40 per class (35 students and adult chaperones)

 Classroom Resources for Grades 7-12 

The Museum has following resources for use in the classroom free of charge for up to three days. Resources can be booked by contacting Visitor Services at 250.423.7016, extension 1.

  • CD | Freedom Had a Price (NFB, 1994, 55 minutes. Winner of the Bronze Apple Award, National Educational Media Network)

Teachers have access to the following free online resources to download for classroom use:

These resources have been created by the Critical Thinking Consortium with the support of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund. 

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Education Collection

The Museum has a Community Education Collection of items available for teachers to borrow free of charge.
Objects in this collection do not have a documented provenance related to our mandate and are suitable for hands-on use and/or exhibition in a non-museum environment.
Please call us on 250-423-7016, extension 1 or by emailing info@ferniemuseum.com to arrange a loan of items.

Using Artifacts And Primary Sources In The Classroom

Primary sources are the pieces of evidence that historians use to learn about people, events, and everyday life in the past. Students can use primary sources, too. By focusing on the resource itself —documents, objects, photographs, and oral histories—students can get a glimpse into the past beyond what a textbook can provide.

Object-based learning promote active, open-ended, student centred learning in the classroom as part of the general learning plan. Using real objects and other primary sources enhances understanding and develops analytical skills.

  • They provide a direct link with a topic or ‘the past’ and can really enhance young people’s interest in and understanding of a topic/subject.
  • They encourage learners to use all their senses – especially touch, sight and smell.
  • They help to develop the important skill of drawing conclusions based on an examination of evidence, together with an understanding of the limitations and reliability of evidence.
  • They are ideal for generating group and class discussion.
  • They promote the value of museums and encourage young people to visit museums and galleries with their families to further their learning.

For practical advice of how to introduce object-based learning into your teaching, the following free online resources from the Smithsonian Institution will provide assistance:

  • Engaging Students With Primary Sources | A guide for teachers, includes brief introductions to using documents, photographs, oral histories, and objects for classroom learning. The guide includes student handouts, sample lessons, recommendations for finding primary sources by type, and more support materials for teachers. Developed by the Smithsonian Institution.
  • Guide to Doing History With Objects | An essay written by Museum curators to introduce teachers to the variety of stories objects can tell. The site includes links to other resources for interpreting primary sources.

BOOKING A PROGRAM

How do I book a school program?

For all booking inquiries, please call Fernie Museum Visitor Services staff at 250-423-7016, extension 1, or email info@ferniemuseum.com.

What do I need to book a school program?

Please have the following information ready at the time of booking:

  • Title of program
  • Preferred date(s) and time(s) – when planning the time required for a school program, add at least fifteen minutes for arrival and fifteen minutes for departure
  • Grade, number of students, number of special needs students, number of adult supervisors, and any special requests.
  • Payment can be made by cheque (payable to the Fernie & District Historical Society), cash, or credit card the day of the program.

When should we arrive for our program?

Please arrive on time and ready to start your scheduled program. If delayed, contact 250.423.7016, ext 1 as soon as possible. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, your program(s) will be cancelled unless we are notified in advance.

How do I cancel or reschedule a program?

Any cancellations or changes to your booking(s) must be made through Visitor Services 250.423.7016, extension 1, or through info@ferniemuseum.com.

How many students can participate in a program?

In order to ensure program quality, a maximum of 35 students per program is allowed. Please do not combine classes as it compromises the program quality.

What should we bring to the museum?

Please bring lunch bags and necessary supplies only. If sketching or writing, please provide students with a hard surface to write on (journals, notebooks, pencils, etc). 

Can we visit the museum without participating in a guided program?

Yes! We encourage educators to use the Fernie Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibits as an educational resource. There is no fee to access the Museum for a teacher-led visit or program. We do ask that teacher call and book the Museum to ensure that they have sole access to the museum galleries.

How many adult supervisors do we need?

We strongly request a ratio of one supervising adult to every ten students. Participating teachers and adult supervisors are required to remain with their groups at all times. Additional adults accompanying the group are required to pay the adult group admission fee, except when required for special needs students.

What do I need to prepare before our visit?

Please discuss museum rules with your students. Museum Educators like to refer to students by their names! An Educator Welcome Package detailing these rules and a name tag template is available at http://dev.glenbow.org/programs/school/resources.cfm. Please copy these rules and distribute to your adult supervisors.

How do we pay?

Full payment for guided programs is due upon arrival. We accept cash, cheque, debit or credit card payment. See program descriptions for cost of each program and maximum number of students included.

Where can we eat lunch?

Groups may also eat lunch outdoors in the park next to the Fernie Heritage Library. The park has a number of picnic benches that can accommodate one class with adult chaperones.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

It is essential that adult supervisors familiarize their group with proper museum conduct to ensure the safety of the displays and the comfort of other visitors. Fernie Museum visitors come from all around the world and are of all ages. All visitors appreciate the opportunity to view the museum’s collections in a safe, quiet environment, for this reason all visitors must follow the guidelines listed below.

Adult Supervision Requirements

A ratio of 1 adult supervisor for every 10 students aged 15 and under is required. One supervisor is required for every fifteen students aged 16 to 18 years. Please divide your group into smaller sub-groups each with an adult supervisor. Please make sure your small group stays together at all times.

Program Guidelines

  • Food and drinks are not allowed in the museum.
  • Respect other classes and visitors in the museum.
  • Please use quiet, indoor voices.
  • Please listen to Museum staff as they are providing your program. If students disrupt a program, they may be asked to leave the group with an adult supervisor.

These rules help make everybody’s visit an enjoyable experience and at the same time help protect the artifacts for future visitors.