Season's on the Farm: A Scavenger Hunt
Armed with maps and clues, your class will learn teamwork, map reading, and organizational skills as they set out on their own discovery of the Davis farm. This is a unique way to see the outbuildings of the farm and learn about nineteenth century life. Social Studies Standards: 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, & 6.0
Pre and Post Activities >
Located in historic Smyrna, Tennessee, the Sam Davis Home stands as a monument to the unselfish courage of a young Confederate soldier. Faced with the choice of freedom or death on the gallows, the twenty-one year old Davis chose the latter. The Sam Davis Memorial Association has been dedicated to educating the public, especially children, about the plantation life of the Sam Davis family in Tennessee between 1850 and 1877. Your class can relive a day in the life of a 19th century Middle Tennessee farm family, with unique tour experiences and enrichment activites designed for all ages and ability levels. With our mission in mind, we have created activities on the web which you the teacher can use to enhance your students learning prior to and after the programs have been taught at the Sam Davis Home (found below under programs).
Basic Tour:
A visit to the state-of-the-art museum and viewing of “Sam Davis: His Life, Legend, and Legacy” video.
Tour of the 1850s historic home and original outbuildings (overseer’s office, kitchen, smokehouse, and privy).
A self guided tour of cemetery and slave quarters.
Basic Tour Length:
Basic Tour Length: 60-90 minutes
Minimum/ maximum: 10/100 students
Cost:
$3.00 per student for grades K-6
$5.00 per student for grades 7-12
Days on the Farm and Heritage Days
Generations of school children have experienced mid-nineteenth century farm life at Days On The Farm and Heritage Days. These two events (fall and spring) allow students to expereince over twenty living history activities including blacksmithing, candle making, wash pot, quilting, food preparation, story telling, farm animals, 19th Century toys, music, and Civil War soldiers. Bring your class to see these along with a limited tour of the Sam Davis Home and museum.
Enrichment Activities
Add to your experience by including one of our supplementary programs to your itinerary. Groups with over 60 students will be required to add at least one activity to their tour. All activities meet state and local curriculum guidelines. Most programs come with supplemental pre & post activities to enhance the students’ experience. These activities are found by clicking on the link that follows each program description below.
Enrichment Program Cost:
$1.00 per activitiy per student
Add 30-40 minutes to tour length
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Grandmother's Trunk
In this activity, your students will explore the objects found in an old trunk. You class will learn about travel and clothing in the mid-nineteenth century and experience a connection to the past through hands on exploration of artifacts. Social Studies Standards: 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, & 6.0
Pre and Post Activities >
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From Boll to Bolt:
The Story of Cotton
This activity gives students the opportunity to explore the history and impact of this vital crop. They pick the seeds out of the cotton, card it, see a demonstration of spinning and weaving. Social Studies Standards: 1.0 2.0, 3.0, & 5.0
Pre and Post Activites >
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What? No Batteries! 19th Century Toys
What did children do for fun in the 1800's? A picture of children's life in the 19th century is painted as students enjoy games and reproduction toys that require no battereies in this engaging program.
Pre and Post Activities >
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Life Under the Gun
Did Civil War soldiers have toothbrushes? What did the soldiers do when they weren't fighting? Students will discover through common items carried by the soldiers on both sides what life was like in a Civil War camp. Uniforms and equipment from both armies are presented for examination in this hands on program.
Pre and Post Activities >
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The Hidden Soldier: Spies and Scouts in the Civil War
Was Sam Davis a scout or a spy? The difference between spies and scouts will be discussed highlighting the story of Sam Along with other scouts and spies. Secret codes, disquises, and other strange and fascinating facts are presented. For on-site classes, a scavenger hunt for the items that Sam was carrying when arrested is part of the learning fun. Social Studies Standards: 1.0,2.0,3.0, & 5.0
Pre and Post Activities >
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Hogs, Hens & Hominy
Through hands-on exploration of kitchen artifacts, students will gain insights into how food products were grown, prepared and preserved in the nineteenth century. Social Studies Standards: 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, & 6.0
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Life and Limb: Civil War Medicine
The Civil War marked incredible advances in the field of medicine. Your students will learn about battlefield medicine and the many advances in health care that came during the war. Students will explore surgical procedures through reproduction artifacts and bits of herbal lore used to treat patients. Social Studies Standards: 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, & 6.0
Pre and Post Activitites >
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Recovering Their Story: African Americans at the Davis Plantation
Primary Documents are a road map to the past. Meet some of the slaves that called the Davis farm home. Students will learn how the stories of slaves were discovered through research at the county archives and through an archaeological dig.
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Patting Juba: The Music of African American Slaves
"Patting Juba" was the term slaves used to call the rythm made using hand clapping and patting feet. In this special program, students will explore the origins of African American culture through the music they created.
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Petticoats in Peril
Through vignettes of women whose compassion and patriotism led to new roles in the Civil War, students will meet a character or two straight from the pages of history. Students will meet ladies who broke the rules of society to serve as spies, doctors, nurses, and soldiers.
Sam Davis Goes to School (Outreach Programs)
Perfect for large groups or during the winter months when it is difficult to take field trips, the Sam Davis Home’s outreach programs allow you the freedom of an on-site activity within the structure of your classroom environment. Most programs come with supplemental pre & post activities to enhance the students’ experience Outreach Program Cost: $4.00 per activity per student. Outreach programs are available in a 30 mile radius of Smyrna, TN (includes Rutherford, Willamson, Davidson, Wilson, and Cannon counties).
Three Painless Steps to Plan Your Visit:
Teacher Guidelines:
Bus Drivers and one adult per every ten students are admitted at no charge.
Additional adult chaperones are welcome; they will be charged the same price as students.
Buses should park at the Visitor Center parking lot. Your guides will meet you there.
One teacher should go to the Visitor Center entrance to check in and bring the following: an accurate count of students, paying adults, free chaperones, and one payment for the group.
Dress appropriately for weather conditions. The main house is not heated or cooled.
Feel free to picnic on the grounds; however, we have few picnic tables. A blanket is always a good idea!
The Gift Shop welcomes students. Time to shop may be scheduled as part of your visit.
The minimum group size is 10 students. To receive the group rate, the program fee must be made with a single payment. All children participating must pay the program fee.
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