Educational Opportunities are Available at the Heritage Museum!

Children's Legacy Centre, follow up activities for the classroom, informal learning opportunities, and opportunities for historical research.

The Heritage Museum also offers formal programs which compliment school curriculum.

Kindergarten
My Pioneer Home and Community (Social Studies)
In our Children's Legacy Centre the students have an opportunity to examine a pioneer community and home.

Grade 1
A Blast From the Past (Social Studies)
Students will have an opportunity, in the Children's Legacy Centre, to experience how changes over time have affected families, particularly through the use of hands-on items. They will also be able to compare and contrast their home today with a turn-of-the-century town home, while viewing exhibits of some early Wetaskiwin businesses.

Grade 2
How Times Have Changed! (Social Studies)
Students have an opportunity to explore pioneer life through hands-on learning. Through viewing our Swedish, Hutterite, and First Nations History exhibits, students will develop an appreciation for how geography, culture, language and heritage have shaped Canada's communities. A Plains Cree tipi visit is included in the Native History, as well as a history of Wetaskiwin's Early Businesses and our Moving West exhibit.

Grade 3
Rocks and Minerals (Science)
In the Archaeology Exhibit, students can become amateur archaeologists to learn how rocks were used as tools by the local Cree people, as well as how rocks are formed. Students will be permitted to handle some artefacts, and examine real stone tools. A demonstration of wool-carding and types of wool is available.

Grade 4
Alberta: A Sense of Land (Social Studies)
In the Archaeology Exhibit, students will see evidence of early human activity, as well as dig for real fossils in our archaeological dig. Additionally, the interactive Geography Exhibit shows the recession of ice and lake formation during the Ice Age through the use of interactive geology panels.

The Stories, Histories & Peoples of Alberta (Social Studies)
The Native History Exhibit allows students to recognize the presence and influence of the Plains Cree as inherent to Wetaskiwin's identity, while demonstrating that oral traditions, narratives and stories are valid sources of knowledge about the land, culture and history. The Swedish Exhibit shows an aspect of the diversity of immigrants from Europe and how they have enriched the Wetaskiwin district. Additionally, our exclusive Hutterite Exhibit allows students to learn and appreciate a different culture which has largely avoided assimilation, and allows students to experience the art of wool carding.

Paleontology (Science)
Come learn about the history and study of dinosaurs, as related to this area. See and touch real dinosaur fossils.

Grade 5
Early Canadian Exploration and Settlement (Social Studies)
How did the Plains Cree, explorers, missionaries, fur traders and settlers affect each other in Wetaskiwin's early history? Students can attempt to answer this question through the Origins and Christian Heritage exhibits. As well, we have available a trading post, an archaeological dig with real fossils, and an educational scavenger hunt around the museum. Information about David Thompson, the famous Canadian explorer, and the Great Depression are also included as part of the curriculum-based program.

Grade 6
China: A Pacific Rim Nation (Social Studies)
The Chinese Exhibit can compliment your study of this nation by providing a glimpse of early Chinese involvement in Canada, while highlighting the influence of local families.

Evidence and Investigation (Science)
Discover an early first nations dig site, learn about archeology, and learn about how archeologists work.

The average program length is 2 hours, but can be flexible depending on the need.

Download the School Tour Request Form here.