Community Classroom

The Classroom Community initiative builds on our Travelin’ Classroom model. Hermitage educators go to organizations to deliver hands-on, interactive programs. Each class is designed to teach two primary objectives and two secondary objectives. Topics include “I Spy the Past” a look at the “technology” of the nineteenth century; “Trail of Tears” which discusses the causes and effects of the Indian Removal Act; “Slavery at The Hermitage” which brings to life the people who worked on the plantation, while placing their experience in the larger story of American slavery; and “Clover Bottom General Store” in which educators use primary sources, Google Earth and math to discuss Jackson’s life as a business owner. Each class will include discussion and dialogue, audiovisual resources, manipulatives, individual and group work, and takeaways. Each student is provided with a bibliography and project ideas for future study. All classes conform to the curriculum standards of Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Tennessee Department of Education. Because these classes will take place outside of the typical school setting, the librarians, recreation center directors, and hospital activity directors will have an opportunity to personalize the activities and learning. The program will unite the objectives of both the museum and the host site. Our evaluation strategies will include qualitative and quantitative measures. In addition to participation figures, we will assess mastery of concepts through written work, dialogue, and application. Because each partner site will host this program twice, we have an opportunity to collect feedback from partners and apply that learning to future sessions. Typically, the cost for the program is $4 per student.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage will conduct these classes in partnership with the Nashville Public Library branches, the Metro Parks & Recreation centers, and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Each partner will have the opportunity to suggest additional activities to each program, provided it meets the educational objectives of the class.