King Manor Museum

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.

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.

Life at King Manor

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.

Workshop Options

Add one of the following hands-on activities to Life at King Manor or Discovering Rufus King 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.

Archaeology Education

Grades 4-6
Available: October/November, May/June

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.

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!

hiStory Time (Pre-K)

Photograph of a child attending hiStory program

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

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!!

  • 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.