hiStory Time (Pre-K)
Youngsters listen to a story with a historical theme and enjoy a simple related craft.
Choose from four historic themes:
- Rufus and His Trees
- Music, Mozart and the Manor
- Rufus and His Dogs
- Little House and the Manor
School Programs
King Manor Museum’s primary mission is history education, serving thousands of local schoolchildren and adults every year. Select a program from our varied list of offerings, or request a custom-designed program to meet your needs.
King Manor Museum is a Department of Education vendor, number 11-2396324
Our programs meet many NYS and NYC Learning Standards, including Soc. Stud. 1, 2 & 5, E.L.A. 1 & 3, and Arts 2 & 4. King Manor's programs can also be used to meet Common Core standards.
King Manor Museum's school programs are
supported, in part, by public funds from the
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the
City Council, especially Councilmembers James F. Gennaro and Leroy G. Comrie;
and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
History Education
Our age-appropriate programs focus on life and work at King Manor in the 19th century and on the roles of Rufus and John Alsop King in the early
anti-slavery movement.
Click here to download school program brochure!
Click here to download school program flier to post in your school!
Click here to download special thematic programs flier to post!
Life at King Manor – grades 1-3
King Manor was the home of statesman Rufus King and his family and is one of our only links to the village of Jamaica in the early 1800s. The stories it can tell are of a home, a farm, a village, and a nation. Your students will learn about the lives of those who once lived and worked here.
Discovering Rufus King – grades 4+
So who was Rufus King? Through the life and work of this Founding Father, your students will learn about the Constitution, the development of the new American Republic, and early opposition to slavery.
Commonplace books – grades 1-3 & 4-6
A tour of King Manor and hands-on activities introduce students to the importance of document analysis in history. Learn about the commonplace books in which Rufus and his granddaughter Eliza recorded their observations and reading. Each student creates his/her own accordion-style commonplace book and makes initial entries in this special memory book as a part of their visit.
Pre- and post-visit materials and activities for use in the classroom are available by clicking this link.
Click here to download program flier to distribute at your school!
Anti-slavery founding father – grades 4+
Learn about Rufus King and his early anti-slavery efforts and hear why southern slaveholders were "seized with cramps" at the mention of his name. Consider adding our new Document Discovery workshop to this program! This program is ideal for middle and high school students and can support the U.S. History Regents Curriculum.
Workshop Options
Add one of the following hands-on activities to your program for an additional $1 per student:
- Historic Fun and Games
Enjoy a hoop-rolling relay race and play catch with colorfully laced “graces” – games enjoyed by children in the 18th and 19th centuries. - Historic Crafts
Make a fun spinning toy called a whirligig, experiment with paper marbleizing, or make a seasonal craft that students can take home as a souvenir. - Artifact Discovery
Students identify and analyze archaeological artifacts typical of those excavated at King Manor, including pipe bowls, ceramic sherds, glass and food remains. - Document Discovery- Grades 5+
A perfect pairing with our Rufus King: Anti-Slavery Founding Father thematic tour! Your students will analyze letters written by Rufus King to his sons in the days before and after his 1820 speeches opposing slavery's westward expansion, read an editorial condemning his anti-slavery efforts, and collectively write a rebuttal.
This program is generously sponsored with funds from ConEdison.
Archaeology Education
Grades 4-6
Available: October/November, May/June
Wednesday-Friday
Introduce your students to historical archaeology without actually digging. We devote nearly three hours to each class, with our education staff and archaeology assistants working closely with small groups of students. This extremely popular program reinforces educational objectives found in NYC/NYS Standards for Social Studies, Environmental Science, and Language Arts.
Pre- and post-visit materials and activities for use in the classroom are available HERE.
Click here to download program flier to post in your school!
During their visit, students:
- examine artifacts excavated at our site;
- learn critical thinking and analytical skills as well as information about local and national history;
- explore the lives of King family members, household servants, and field workers through primary documents and our collections and
- discover that, in historical archaeology, “it’s not what you find, but what you find out” that helps us better understand the past.
To learn more about excavations at King Manor and ongoing archaeological research, click HERE.
Seasonal Programs
Winter Diversions and Celebrations
Learn about 19th century seasonal festivities and how the King family spent cold winter months. Make a pomander — a scented ornament with citrus, spice, and ribbon — for $1 extra.
Rufus King: Anti-Slavery Founding Father
Commemorate Black History Month with this special adaptation of our Discovering Rufus King program!. Listen to the words of Rufus King’s anti-slavery speeches and learn why slave owners were "seized with cramps" at the mention of Rufus King's name
Women of the Manor
Commemorate Women’s History Month (March) with a tour focusing on Mary King, as well as Hannah, Hetty and the other women of the King household! Learn about the hobbies, work and responsibilities of women, as well as the educational opportunities extended to an elite few!
Planning Your Visit
- Two classes may visit King Manor at one time, except for Archaeology. A class is considered a group of up to 30 students. One adult is required for every 10 children.
- Call 718-206-0545 x11 at least 3 weeks in advance of your desired trip date. A tentative confirmation will then be sent.
- To hold your reservation, send in the class program fee (note: this fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.)
- Upon receipt of your payment, a confirmation letter and educational packet containing pre- and post-visit materials will be sent to you.
- Tours start at 10 am and are finished by noon; Archaeology ends by 12:30 p.m.
- The museum gift shop features books, pencils, & historic games & toys. Most items cost between $1 & $8.
- There are no lunch facilities in the museum. Weather permitting, classes may picnic in King Park.
- Programs can be custom tailored to meet your group’s educational needs!!
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King Manor Museum is a Department of Education vendor, number 11-2396324
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Our programs meet many NYS and NYC Learning Standards, including Soc. Stud. 1, 2 & 5, E.L.A. 1 & 3, and Arts 2 & 4.
