Hands on History

Recommended for grades 2-3
This program is located at the Campbell Historical Museum and allows students to discover the by gone days of the Santa Clara Valley through four interactive exhibit stations:

  • Four interactive Exhibit Stations
  • Barter at a General Store
  • Use an old fashioned laundry appliance
  • Have an old fashioned tea party
  • Design a Canned Food Label and take home a coin bank
  • Lots of hands-on objects for students to play with and learn from
  • Make-n-take decorative arts and crafts
Pre-Visit and Post Visit Materials for Hands on History at the Campbell Historical Museum: 

Pre-visit:
We have worksheets available to use with your students to generate interest in your upcoming trip:
 KWL Worksheet
 Vocabulary Worksheet
 
Ask your students to write down questions they may have and bring them along so they can ask the Museum staff.

Please review the Museum Rules with students and chaperones prior to coming.

Post-visit:
Print out our post visit worksheets and suggested activities and use them with your students to reflect upon your field trip experience.
 
  Memory Worksheet
 
Review the KWL worksheet to see if their predictions were true and what they learned.

Have students research any issues or questions that came up during the field trip.

Common Core Curriculum is supported through:
Building Strong Content Knowledge:
Expand student's knowledge of social studies through listening, discussion and hands-on-activities.
Comprehending a s well as Critiquing:
Discussions and activities during the field trip allow students to compare and question assumptions about current and historical ideas that provide an engaged and open minded debate.
Valuing Evidence:
Students evaluate primary sources such as artifacts and photographs to support learning across content areas.  This allows students to use their reasoning skills in real life scenarios.
Coming to Understand Other Perspectives and Cultures:
Develop historical empathy-the ability to understand and appreciate what life was like for people who lived in a different time and place.

Arranging your visit
 To schedule a field trip, please contact Kerry Perkins, Education Specialist at 408-866-2718 or email Kerry.

  • Minimum of $120 for 20 students or fewer.
  • $6 for each additional student.
  • Hands on History: maximum student capacity: 48 students
  • History Detectives: maximum student capacity: 36 students
  • Teacher and required chaperones are free.
  • Programs available Mon-Fri and only run 9am-12pm.

Five reasons why school groups should visit museums: 
  1. Museums teach critical thinking, empathy, and other generally important skills and dispositions.
  2. Trips to museums help get kids excited about school subjects.
  3. Museums teach subject-specific content and skills.
  4. Museums expand the general world knowledge of students.
  5. Museum visits increase students’ cultural capital.