Taking Tea
Taking Tea introduces fourth graders to 19th-century life in the Finger Lakes region through an interactive field trip. They will visit two historic houses and meet costumed interpreters who introduce them to the families who lived in the houses in the 1800s. Through hands-on experiences at Rose Hill Mansion and the Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum, students will explore changes in cooking technology, women’s work, and the differences between rural and village life in Seneca County. At Rose Hill they will churn butter and explore farm life and kitchen work. At the Becker House, they will visit Mrs. Becker as if it were the 1890s and sit down with her for a formal tea.
- Grade Level: 4
- Pre-registration and an in-classroom previsit session are required.
- Fees are $5 per student, teachers and chaperones free
- The maximum number of students per session is 25.
- 2024 registration begins January 29. For more information or to add your name to the distribution email list, please call Historic Geneva at 315-789-5151 or email Anne Dealy at educator@historicgeneva.org.
New York State Standards
4.6a After the Revolution, New Yorkers began to move and settle farther west, using roads many of which had begun as Native American trails
4.6b In order to connect the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, the Erie Canal was built. Existing towns expanded and new towns grew along the canal. New York City became the busiest port in the country.
4.6c Improved technology such as the steam engine and the telegraph made transportation and communication faster and easier. Later developments in transportation and communication technology had an effect on communities, the State, and the world.
4.6d Farming, mining, lumbering, and finance are important economic activities associated with New York State.
4.7a Immigrants came to New York State for a variety of reasons. Many immigrants arriving in New York City were greeted by the sight of the Statue of Liberty and were processed through Ellis Island.
Supplementary materials
- 2024 Taking Tea information flier
- Preparing for your visit
- Information on manners and calling cards
- Rose Hill and the Swan Family
- 1850 and 1890 Compared
- Basic facts about life in 1850 and 1890
- Clothing of the 19th century
- Tea Cake Recipe (if you wish to make one before or after the program. No longer made on site.)
- Vocabulary List