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Why We Do What We Do
On a sunny Monday morning late last spring, Mrs. Kriz’s third grade class from Burton Elementary School bubbled with excitement as they set off in teams, question packets and pencils in hand, for “their” building at Century Village Museum. For the next week, the Museum would be their classroom. The students would become fully immersed as they became experts on one assigned house or building per team, serving as junior historians, tour guides, and student ambassadors to Century Village. |
A group of three eager little girls, studying every detail of the Cook House, from building history to biographies of past occupants to decorative and functional artifacts staged inside, remarked on the wavy old glass in the windows and gave a bemused gasp upon discovering that odd looking contraptions on the walls near the kitchen were actually used for cleaning clothes, a chore that could take a full day of intense labor.
“Having the opportunity to learn in such an enriched environment--with so much to see and explore--prompted in-depth questioning and motivation to research, read, discover, learn, and share,” said teacher Gina Kriz. “Becoming ‘official junior tour guides’ for family and friends provided the catalyst for some of the highest levels of student engagement, excitement, and pride that I have seen in my twenty-three years as an elementary school teacher.”
The results were most notable and impressive for some of the students who typically struggle with academic work and maintaining interest and engagement in the classroom. One such student left one of the on-site research days skipping--and he excitedly exclaimed, “Mrs. Kriz--I really want to be an interpreter for a history place when I grow up!” Another struggling student had his night to shine when he presented his tours. “He was grinning ear to ear the whole night--presented to audiences with confidence and enthusiasm-- and won the hearts of many of the adults on the tours, who later told me he was their ‘favorite’ (surpassing even their own child’s tour!),” said Mrs. Kriz.
Through their work and research at Century Village, the third graders developed a genuine and lasting pride in their community. They learned not only how Burton and surrounding townships in Geauga County came to be and have changed over time, but also about the people, past and present, who have made lasting, significant contributions that make Geauga County the unique and wonderful place we enjoy living in today. Along with the appreciation of the past, these students developed a high level of regard, respect, and gratitude for the efforts of all who have worked to preserve our local history at Century Village.
Even in the bleak fall and winter months, Century Village is a vibrant and sought-after immersive classroom for students as close as the Berkshire School District and as far as surrounding Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit and Ashtabula county schools. In fact, the Museum hosts 2,500 children each year for educational programming
Century Village Museum is Geauga County’s premier cultural institution, representing 22 painstakingly restored and maintained historic structures, over 400,000 cataloged historic objects, and welcoming 10,000 visitors for tours and public programs that connect people to the unique history of Geauga County. And the Museum does so much more than just maintain its extraordinary collection. It continues to grow and reimagine its spaces and objects. In 2019 alone, Century Village Museum introduced 2 new exhibits – The Maple Museum and the Train Depot exhibit.
And remarkably- everything the Museum does, from maintaining and expanding its collection for future generations to delivering programming to the community that illuminates our unique local heritage, is almost exclusively powered by a dedicated army of local volunteers!
Your gift today will truly be stretched to connect people of all ages with the pioneering spirit of Geauga County’s founders, and to inspire a love of history and historic structures, throughout 2020. We simply cannot do what we do without you!
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!
“Having the opportunity to learn in such an enriched environment--with so much to see and explore--prompted in-depth questioning and motivation to research, read, discover, learn, and share,” said teacher Gina Kriz. “Becoming ‘official junior tour guides’ for family and friends provided the catalyst for some of the highest levels of student engagement, excitement, and pride that I have seen in my twenty-three years as an elementary school teacher.”
The results were most notable and impressive for some of the students who typically struggle with academic work and maintaining interest and engagement in the classroom. One such student left one of the on-site research days skipping--and he excitedly exclaimed, “Mrs. Kriz--I really want to be an interpreter for a history place when I grow up!” Another struggling student had his night to shine when he presented his tours. “He was grinning ear to ear the whole night--presented to audiences with confidence and enthusiasm-- and won the hearts of many of the adults on the tours, who later told me he was their ‘favorite’ (surpassing even their own child’s tour!),” said Mrs. Kriz.
Through their work and research at Century Village, the third graders developed a genuine and lasting pride in their community. They learned not only how Burton and surrounding townships in Geauga County came to be and have changed over time, but also about the people, past and present, who have made lasting, significant contributions that make Geauga County the unique and wonderful place we enjoy living in today. Along with the appreciation of the past, these students developed a high level of regard, respect, and gratitude for the efforts of all who have worked to preserve our local history at Century Village.
Even in the bleak fall and winter months, Century Village is a vibrant and sought-after immersive classroom for students as close as the Berkshire School District and as far as surrounding Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit and Ashtabula county schools. In fact, the Museum hosts 2,500 children each year for educational programming
Century Village Museum is Geauga County’s premier cultural institution, representing 22 painstakingly restored and maintained historic structures, over 400,000 cataloged historic objects, and welcoming 10,000 visitors for tours and public programs that connect people to the unique history of Geauga County. And the Museum does so much more than just maintain its extraordinary collection. It continues to grow and reimagine its spaces and objects. In 2019 alone, Century Village Museum introduced 2 new exhibits – The Maple Museum and the Train Depot exhibit.
And remarkably- everything the Museum does, from maintaining and expanding its collection for future generations to delivering programming to the community that illuminates our unique local heritage, is almost exclusively powered by a dedicated army of local volunteers!
Your gift today will truly be stretched to connect people of all ages with the pioneering spirit of Geauga County’s founders, and to inspire a love of history and historic structures, throughout 2020. We simply cannot do what we do without you!
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!