Education
Living Heritage
The Museums of Mississauga bring heritage to life by visually narrating the early settler experience and life in the nineteenth century through to the modern era. Education programs offer students a unique opportunity to experience our shared living heritage.
LEARN, FEEL, CELEBRATE, SHARE
The Museums of Mississauga offer a wide range of learning opportunities that engage students of all ages. Through historical artifacts, hands on activities, stories and interactive presentations, the museum's education programs help students immerse themselves into historical experiences that celebrate Canada's cultural heritage.
All programs link to the Ontario Curriculum and include hands-on elements to enhance learning.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
- We offer 90 min and 2 hour programs.
- Two programs can be combined for a full day; we can accommodate up to 75 students per program
- Free bussing for Mississauga schools available
- French Immersion programs available.
- Come to the Museums or let the Museums come to you.
- No charge for up to six teachers/volunteers per program.
Thank you to Petro-Canada Lubricants, Webnews Printing Inc. and the Friends of the Museums, proud sponsors of the bussing program.
English Programs
Early Settler Experience
Travel back in time and explore the daily life and customs of the Bradley family in 19th century Canada. This program will allow students to roll up their sleeves in the home & kitchen. Choose two additional activities: Quilting Bee, Fire and Light, Building a Log Cabin, Pioneer Dress Up, The 'Green' Bradleys, Mississauga People of the Credit.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies
Curriculum Strand: Heritage & Identity
Curriculum Topic: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities (gr. 1), Communities in Canada, 1780-1850 (gr. 3)
Big Ideas: 19th century Canadian communities influence the way we live today. Social and economic factors they faced played a major part in their everyday lives.
Simple Machines
Simple machines have been used for thousands of years and were extremely useful to pioneers. In this program students will discover how levers, pulleys, inclined planes and screws made every day pioneer tasks easier. Participants move around the Bradley museum grounds to complete a series of hands on activities using simple machines. Grade 4 students will also explore compound machines and gears.
Curriculum Connections
Curriculum Strand:
Subject: Science and Technology
Curriculum Strand: Understanding Structures and Mechanisms
Curriculum Topic: Movement (gr. 2), Pulleys and Gears (gr. 4)
Big Ideas: Simple machines simplify a difficult task, making it easier to perform.
Daily Life in the Early 20th Century
How have significant events and developments in Canadian history between 1890 and 1914 affected the Mississauga community? In this program students will explore Benares House and learn about the lives of the Harris family and their staff and how their lives were affected by the Great War.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies, History
Curriculum Strand: Heritage & Identity, History
Curriculum Topic: Communities in Canada Past & Present (gr. 6), Canada a Changing Society (gr. 8).
Lest We Forget – World War I
In this hands-on experience, students learn about Canada on the home front and war front during World War I. They will explore Benares Historic House and the Harris family through letters and stories describing how deeply they were impacted by the war.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies, History, Geography
Curriculum Strand: Heritage and Identity, People and Environments, History
Curriculum Topic: Our Changing Roles & Responsibilities (gr. 1), Changing Family & Community Traditions (gr. 2), Canada's Interactions with the Global Community (gr. 6), Canada 1890-1914: A Changing Society (gr. 8)
Halloween at Benares
Students experience an authentic 1918 Halloween as they tour the decorated house and play games. Activities include preparing a traditional treat and creating Halloween decorations.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies
Curriculum Strand: Tradition & Celebrations, Heritage and Identity
Curriculum Topics: Changing Family and Community traditions (gr. 2)
Maple Sap to Syrup
How is maple syrup made? In this program students discover the magic of maple trees as they explore the process of making maple syrup from start to finish. They will compare syrup making methods, taste maple treats and make a maple craft.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Science & Technology, Social Studies Curriculum Strand: Heritage & Identity, People & Environments, Understanding Matter & Energy
Curriculum Topics: Our Changing Roles & Responsibilities (gr. 1), Properties of Liquids & Solids, Changing Community & Family Traditions (gr. 2), Communities in Canada 1780-1850, Living & Working Ontario (gr. 3), People & Environments, Physical Regions of Canada (gr. 4), First Nations and Europeans, Properties of and Changes in Matter (gr. 5), Pure Substances and Mixtures (gr. 7)
Play Day Fun
Students learn the importance of imagination and cooperation as they play fun traditional games from the 1800-1900's. Team work will be the key to success as they churn homemade ice cream, play games of skill and enjoy handmade toys.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies, Physical Education
Curriculum Strand: Heritage and Identity, Movement Skills and Concepts
Curriculum Topics: Movement Competence (gr. 1-8)
Winter Celebrations
The winter holidays are celebrated in different ways around the world. In the program students explore the wintertime traditions and customs of cultures from around the world while making a treat, hearing a story, creating a craft, playing a game as well as touring the decorated house.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies Curriculum Strand: Tradition & Celebrations, Heritage and Identity
Curriculum Topics: Changing Family and Community traditions (gr. 2) and Communities in Canada 1780-1850 (gr. 3).
Christmas Celebrations
Where did Christmas holiday traditions come from? In this program students explore the traditions and customs of either an 1830 or a 1918 Christmas as they tour a decorated house, bake a traditional treat and create a seasonal craft.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies
Curriculum Strand: Tradition & Celebrations, Heritage and Identity
Curriculum Topics: Changing Family and Community traditions (gr. 2)
Early Settler Adventures
Members of our staff will visit your classroom with interactive hands-on pioneer activities like butter making, old fashioned games and toys and a heritage craft.
Curriculum Connections
Subject: Social Studies
Curriculum Strand: Heritage & Identity
Curriculum Topic: Our Changing Roles & Responsibilities (gr. 1) Communities in Canada 1780-1850 (gr. 3)
Big Ideas: 19th century Canadian communities influence the way we live today. Social and economic factors they faced played a major part in their everyday lives.
Programmes en Français
Expérience des premiers colons
Les eleves exploreront la vie quotidienne et les coutumes d'une famille de colons des annees 1800 a l'aide d'une serie d'activites pratiques interactives. Les activites principales presenteront la famille Bradley sa maison et sa cuisine. Lors de votre visite, vous pourrez choisir deux activites additionnelles. Les choix d'activites additionnelles sont notamment: la corvee de piquage de courtepointe, le feu et la lumiere, la construction d'une cabane en bois rond, s'habiller a la maniere des colons, les Green Bradley, la premiere nation des Mississaugas de New Credit.
Liens avec le programme
Matiere: etudes sociales
Domaine du programme: Patrimoine et identite; Relations, regles et responsabilites Collectivites du Canada.
Theme du curriculum: Evolution de nos roles et responsabilites (1re annee), Les communautes du Canada de 1780 a 1850 (3e annee)
Grandes idees: Les differentes collectivites du debut des annees 1900 influent sur la maniere dont nous vivons aujourd'hui. Les defis sociaux et environnementaux
Souvenons-nous Première Guerre mondiale
Les eleves apprendront a connaitre l'experience canadienne au front et a la guerre en explorant la maison, les lettres et les histoires de la famille Harris qui ont subi les graves repercussions de la Premiere Guerre mondiale.
Liens avec le programme
Matiere : etudes sociales, histoire, geographie
Domaine du programme : Patrimoine et identite Peuples et environnement; Histoire
Theme du curriculum : Evolution de nos roles et responsabilites (1re annee), Transformation des traditions familiales et communautaires (2e annee), Le Canada dans la communaute mondiale (6e annee), Le Canada de 1890 a 1914 : Une societe en evolution (8e annee)
Grandes idees : L'importance, la continuite et le changement.
De la sève au sirop d’érable
Les eleves decouvriront et apprendront a connaitre la magie des erables alors qu'ils exploreront le processus de fabrication du sirop d'erable du debut a la fin. Ils pourront egalement comparer les methodes de production des colons et les techniques modernes de production, ils pourront gouter une gaterie au sirop fait maison et faire de l'artisanat en erable.
Liens avec le programme
Matiere : Science et technologie, etudes sociales
Domaine du programme : Changement et continuite, energie et matiere, communaute locale, traditions communautaires, les Premieres Nations et les Europeens, le Canada : passe et present
Themes du curriculum : Evolution de nos roles et responsabilites (1re annee), Proprietes des liquides et des solides, Transformation des traditions familiales et& communautaires (2e annee), Les communautes du Canada de 1780 a 1850, Vivre et travailler en Ontario (3e annee), Les personnes et les environnements, les regions physiques du Canada (4e annee), Premieres Nations et Europeens, Proprietes de la matiere et changements (5e annee), Substances pures et melanges (7e annee)
Grandes idees : Les caracteristiques naturelles influencent l'utilisation des terres et repond aux besoins des peuples, les traditions que nous celebrons aujourd'hui ont ete eveloppees au fil des generations et l'interaction entre les gens.
Journée de jeux amusants
Les eleves apprennent l'importance de l'imagination et de la cooperation en jouant a des jeux traditionnels amusants des annees 1800 et 1900. Le travail d'equipe sera la cle du succes lorsqu'ils apprendront le processus de barattage de la creme glacee faite maison et qu'ils s'amuseront avec des jouets faits maison.
Liens avec le programme
Matiere : etudes sociales, education physique
Domaine du programme : Patrimoine et identite
Themes du curriculum : Competence motrice (de la 1re a la 8e annee)
Grandes idees : Les traditions du patrimoine que nous celebrons aujourd'hui ont ete developpees au fil des generations.
Year Round
Early Settler Experience
Step back in time and connect with the Bradley family who immigrated here in 1811 and settled in what is now Mississauga. Explore their daily life and local community through an interactive tour and hands on activities including, cooking over the open hearth and playing with pioneer toys. Finish off the program with a mystery artefact game where participants get to be museum detectives.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Fleece to Fibre
Learn how the pioneers turned fleece from sheep into fibre used for clothing and household items in an interactive tour which includes a spinning and dyeing demonstration and hands on carding activity. The tour will also include a hands on cooking activity.
Badge Connections
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage, Heritage Home Skills
Weaving Back Through Time
Learn how pioneers used looms to weave their own fabric and clothing on an interactive tour which also covers how fleece was spun into fibre. Participants will get to weave their own piece of fabric on a cardboard hand loom. The tour also includes a hands on cooking activity.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Brownies: Super Crafts
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage, Heritage Home Skills
Fire & Light
Explore the importance of fire to the Bradley family on an interactive tour which covers how fires were started with a flint and steel and the different types of lighting and heating devices the pioneers had. Participants will make a fire spill and beeswax candle. The tour will also include a hands on cooking activity.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Letters Back Home
In a time before email, text messages & telephones, just how did people communicate with each other? How did you talk to family and friends who lived far away and who you might never see in person again? Learn how to write a letter with a quill pen and ink and discuss the many challenges that staying in contact involved. The tour will also include a hands on cooking activity.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Sparks: Exploring and Experimenting
Brownies: Write On
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
How Mississauga got its Name
Learn about the First Nations peoples who lived in Mississauga and how they interacted with the pioneers like the Bradley family on an interactive tour which highlights the differing ways of life of the First Nations and pioneers. Participants will make either a corn husk doll or ball and cup toy. The tour will include a hands on cooking activity.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Aboriginal Awareness Badge, Canadian Heritage Badge
Scouts: Cultural Awareness, Heritage
Sparks: The World Around Me
Brownies: Aboriginal People in Canada, Super Crafts
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Seasonal
Halloween at Benares
Experience an authentic 1918 Halloween as you tour the decorated house and participate in Edwardian Halloween games and activities. Participants will have a traditional Halloween snack and make an Edwardian Halloween decoration.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Brownies: Super Crafts
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Lest We Forget at Benares
Learn about the Harris family and their local community in 1918 in an interactive tour which focuses on the experiences of World War One for those on the Home Front and those in the trenches. Learn how soldiers were recruited, try on a World War One uniform and put together a comfort box.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
A Long Ago Christmas at the Bradley Museum or Benares
Discover how Christmas was celebrated by the Bradley family in the 1830's or the Harris family in 1918. Take an interactive tour of the decorated houses, help prepare and taste a Christmas treat and make a Christmas craft.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Brownies: Super Crafts
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Winter Celebrations at Benares
Explore the wintertime traditions and customs of cultures around the world with an interactive tour and hands on activities.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Scouts: Cultural Awareness
Sparks: The World Around Me|
Brownies: Special Days
Guides: Heritage, Cultural Awareness
Pathfinders: Around the World at Home
Winter Fun
Learn about Old Fashioned winters and how settlers dressed to stay warm. Prepare a winter meal, make a tin can lantern and play a traditional snow game.
Badge Connections:
Brownies: Winter is Great
Pathfinders: Winter Wonderland
Old Fashioned Play Day Fun at the Bradley Museum
Participate in old fashioned fun with a series of children's games and activities from the past. Participants will also churn and sample their own ice cream. Add a self guided tour of the nearby Rattray Marsh for a full day of fun activities.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
Maple Sap to Syrup at the Bradley Museum
Learn all about the magic of maple syrup as you tour the sap line to learn all about what sap is and how it becomes maple syrup. Learn how the natives and pioneers made their maple syrup and what they used it for. Participants will sample a maple treat and make a craft.
Badge Connections:
Cubs: Canadian Heritage Badge
Guides: Folklore, Heritage, Provincial/Territorial Heritage
