A Civil War program, written by the late Nancy Ashkar in conjunction with the Wayland Historical Society,  was used for many years by fifth graders in the local school system. It has been adapted by Bobby Robinson of the Massachusetts Study Project as a model for use by other schools planning a study of the Civil War from the perspective of their own community.

 Click here to learn more about the program.

In October, twelve girls from Wayland third, fourth and fifth grades took part in an after-school program, “Antique Dolls and the Stories They Tell.” Our toy collection provided a different doll from a different era for each session.  In each, the girls learned about a local and a national history issue from 1775, 1850, 1880 or 1900.  For each session, activities, crafts and even snacks were tailored to the time period of the day!

In November three third grades from Happy HollowSchool came to the Grout-Heard House. Over two days of visits, the children rotated in small groups through a mapping lesson with Jane Sciacca, a Native American artifacts session with Marney Ives and Kathy Heckscher and a Colonial Life session with Joanne Davis.

 In March, the Grout-Heard House was the scene of the four-session "Living in Long Ago Days" program for first and second graders.  Whenever our ten youngsters put on their mobcaps they could pretend they were living in Early American times, working on their tape looms, stringing apples for drying, learning their letters at dame school and using their very best manners to eat an Early American meal. They loved playing Colonial games!

In May, two third grade classes from Claypit Hill came to the Grout-Heard House for a program about Wayland’s role on April 19th, 1775.

Kathy Heckscher and Marney Ives are co-chairs of Education.