School and Group Tour Directory
Tours of the plantation enable visitors to compare and contrast lifestyles of the wealthy Dickinson family with those of tenants, poor whites, enslaved individuals and free Blacks residing in Kent County during the 1700s and early 1800s
School tours complement Delaware’s Social Studies Standards. A special thematic demonstration (weaving, hearth cooking, etc.) can be scheduled for tours.
Tours and other interpretive programs take place during normal operating hours. However, large groups that are interested in a tour must make reservations in advance by e-mailing the site supervisor or calling 302-739-3277.
Politics and Plantation
This tour reviews the life of John Dickinson and the people whom he interacted with (tenants, enslaved individuals, tradesmen, merchants) by utilizing the mansion, outbuildings and primary resources.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 3-12)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
In the Best Manne
Compares and contrasts social differences in ownership of items and stylistic changes in architecture and decorative arts.
Appropriate For: Adults
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
A World Apart
Synthesizes historical data about enslaved individuals and free Blacks residing in Jones Neck.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 3-12)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
Then and Now
Compares and contrasts historical information about the lifestyles of the Dickinson family, children, tenants, and slaves with modern times.
Appropriate For: Students (Grades K-3)
Length of Time: 1.5-2 hours
Dickinson Plantation Profiles
Explains the use of primary and secondary resource materials to interpret the plantation’s history.
Appropriate For: Adults & Students (Grades 5-12)
Length of Time: 2 hours
Then and Now at the Johnson Victrola Museum
While examining everyday objects, students will learn about the history of recorded sound by comparing and contrasting historical items with their modern counterparts at the Johnson Victrola Museum.
Grade Level: Pre-K – 3rd
Length of Time: 30 minutes
The Man and His Machines
Students will examine the history of recorded sound through developing a chronology, participation in interactive activities and watching demonstrations at the Johnson Victrola Museum.
Grade Level: 4th
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
The Wonderful Talking Machine
Students will examine the development of recorded sound, its social effects and the technologies involved at the Johnson Victrola Museum and will be able to watch demonstrations of authentic talking machines.
Grade Level: 5th-12th
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Johnson and the Golden Age of Music
Students will examine musical artists and their social and political impact. They will compare and contrast contemporary and modern musicians’ viewpoints.
Grade Level: 6th-12th
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Visitors to the New Castle Court House Museum learn about Delaware’s colonial and state history, early European settlements, development of the systems of law and government, and the Delaware Underground Railroad right where these events happened. Group tours of 10 or more visitors must make reservation for museum tours in advance by emailing the site supervisor or calling 302-323-4453. There are no admission fees for tours
Court House Museum Tours
Museum Tour: A guided tour of the Court House featuring an overview of Delaware’s European settlers, colonial settlements, statehood, Delaware’s laws and government, and Delaware’s place in the development of the nation.
Underground Railroad Tour: A guided tour of the Emeline’s Journey exhibit and background on Delaware’s Underground Railroad.
Walking Tours (Reservations Required)
New Castle Walking Tour: One half to one hour walk around the historic district noting important colonial and federal public buildings, historic churches, and residences. (Students and adults – 30 or 60 minutes)
School Tours
Delaware History
Delaware 1st Tour
A program that presents “first facts” and significant events that first happened in New Castle and Delaware, including early “technology”. Students participate in hands-on activities that review Delaware history from the Native Americans to the beginning of the United States.
Grade Level: K-3
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards:
History Standard One K-3a: Student will use clocks, calendars, schedules, and written records to record or locate events in time.
History Standard Four Students will develop historical knowledge of major events and phenomena in world, United States, and Delaware history.
Essential Question: Why does when matter?
Where the State Began
An overview of Delaware Native Americans, European colonization, colonial settlements and hand-on exploration through art, objects, artifact, historical documents, and maps. There is an emphasis on the significance of the Court House in early government and the establishment of the state boundaries.
Grade Level: 3-5
Length of Time: 60 minutes
How the Native Americans Lived
Using models, artifacts and replicas, students will learn about Native American life along the Delaware River before Europeans arrived. Tools, hunting weapons, clothing and shelters will be discussed during the session. Native life will be compared and contrasted to the way we live today.
After demonstrating how Lenapes made items from natural resources including shells, bones, sinew and stones, students will have hands-on activities including grinding corn.
Grade Level: 3-5
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Standards:
- History Standard Four: Students will develop historical knowledge of major events and phenomena in world, United States and Delaware history.
3 Forts Tour
Students will explore the history of Fort Casimir and the colonization of the area that would become New Castle by the Swedish, Dutch and later English.
Grade Level : 3-5
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Swedish Trunk
Students will explore what Swedish colonists would have brought over to the Americas and the thought process behind bringing those objects. This is a hand on activity as students will be able to handle replicas of objects. This will assist them in discovering the similarities and difference between the Swedish colonists and people today.
Grade Level: 3 -5
Length of Time: 60 minutes
Law and Government
The 1787 Manslaughter Trial of William White
Students role play an historic adaptation of the Delaware manslaughter trial of William White. After hearing the witnesses, the jury will have to determine the guilt or innocence of Mr. White remembering that they do not have the benefits of modern forensics.
Grade Level: 4-6
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Standards:
- Civics Standard Two 4-5a: Students will understand that a society based on the ideals of individual liberty requires a commitment in the part of its citizens to the principles of civic responsibility and personal civility.
- Essential Question: What makes a good citizen? How do I know if I am one? What happens if enough people are not good citizens?
- History Standard Three 4-5a: Students will explain why historical accounts of the same events sometimes differ and will relate this explanation to the evidence presented or the point-of-view of the author.
- Essential Question: How could there be different explanations of the same event in history?
- History Standard Three 6-8a: Students will compare different historians’ descriptions of the same societies in order to examine how the choice of questions and use of sources may effect their conclusions.
- Essential Question: Why might historians disagree about the same historical event?
- Essential Question: To what extent does history change?
- History Standard Four: Students will develop historical knowledge of major events and phenomena in the world, United States, and Delaware history.
The 1848 Federal Trial of Thomas Garrett
Students role-play the 1848 Federal trial of Thomas Garrett, accused of helping the Hawkins family escape slavery on the Underground Railroad.
Grade Level: 7-12
Length of Time: 40 minutes
Standards:
- Civics Standard Three 6-8a: Students will understand that civil rights secure political freedom while property rights secure economic freedom and that both essential protections for United States citizens.
- Essential Question: In what ways are citizens protected from the government? From each other?
- Essential Question: To what extent do property rights define an individual’s freedom?
- History Standard Four: Students will develop historical knowledge of major events and phenomena in world, United States, and Delaware history.
Large groups that are interested in a tour must make reservations in advance by calling the First State Heritage Park Reservation Line at (302) 739-9194.
A Balancing Act: Delaware and the Constitution
Students will participate in and understand the legislative process through participating in an interactive program at The Old State House based on the process of passing a law though the branches of government.
Grade Level: 5th – 12th
Length of Time: 45 minutes
Minimum Amount of People: 20
Then and Now
While examining everyday objects used by people in the colonial period, students will be able to compare and contrast historical items with their modern counterparts within the context of The Old State House.
Grade Level: Pre-K – 3rd
Length of Time: 30 minutes
Freedom
Students can experience the fight for and against freedom by enslaved African Americans and those who knew them through stories, artifacts, documents and the examination of Delawareans in history, in the location where the events took place, The Old State House.
Grade Level: 4th – 12th
Length of Time: 45 minutes
The People’s House
Students will explore Delaware’s historic capitol, The Old State House, and its many functions through the years including a view of Delaware governments in the past. The locations where the branches of government historically conducted business will be pointed out on the building tour.
Grade Level: 4th – 12th
Length of Time: 30-45 minutes
Virtual Tour of the New Castle Green
Not able to make it to New Castle to view all of the stately trees and historic buildings? No problem, check out the virtual tour of the historic New Castle Green.
Historic Georgetown Self Guided Walking Tour
A self guided tour map of downtown Georgetown provided by the city. (links to an external site)
“Serenity on the St. Jones: A Formal Garden Restored”
Take a look into the restoration of the formal garden at the John Dickinson Plantation, including photographs of the garden during the restoration process, and a plant list that you can take to your local garden center
Discovering Shipwreck Secrets
Throughout the 18th century, Lewes was a port town at the center of international trade. Using the Roosevelt Inlet Shipwreck, archaeological illustration and analysis, students will draw their own conclusions about this history and the ways that archaeologists and shipwreck artifacts can help us better understand the past.
Grade Level: Grade 4-5
Length of Time: 20-45 minutes
Maximum Students: 25
Standards: History 2 4-5a, Economics 4 4-5a
Life at Sea
During the 18th century, international trade and wars between nations made ships and their crews more important. Students will learn more about this history by standing in sailors’ shoes through interaction with artifacts recovered from the DeBraak, a British Royal Navy ship, which sank off the coast of Lewes in 1798. By seeing, touching, and using the food, tools, and clothing that would have made up a sailor’s daily life students will gain a better understanding of Delaware’s history and Lewes’ place in that more globalized world.
Grade Level: Grade 4-5
Length of Time: 20-45 minutes
Maximum Students: 25
Standards: Geography 4; Economics 4 4-5a; History 4 4-5a