Take a Field Trip
Hands-on, real, unique.
General Information
Whether a large group of professionals or students, we offer a competitive group rate to encourage participation.
With a party of 15 or more, your group will qualify for our special rate of $8 per person (this rate includes sales tax). We recommend making arrangements for a school field trip or large group at least 2 weeks in advance, via our online form. We accept only cash or check for large groups.
For school groups, we recommend one chaperone for every 10 students. Because of the nature of the Farm, chaperones are required to stay with their group at all times and are responsible for the conduct and safety of students.
Unless there is a case of severe weather, programming for field trips and tours will always continue, rain or shine.
We encourage our groups to enjoy the Island Farm environment – picnic lunches are welcomed! There is a grassy lawn available for picnicking, adjacent to the Visitor’s Center. Island Farm has ample space for bus parking and maneuvering, too.
Not part of the public school system? No problem. Each year, Island Farm hosts a Homeschool History Day! Check out our calendar for all of the details.
Educational Programs
Island Farm’s staff is proud to offer programming that is cohesive with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. A basic outline of our programs can be found below. If you have questions, feel free to contact us! Our activities vary seasonally. They are always different, exciting, and memorable!
Math – K.G.1, Science – K.P.1.1, Social Studies – K.H.1.1, K.H.1.3, 1.G.1, 1.B.1.1, 1.G.2.1 2.H.1, EX.K.E.1, 3.H.1.3, 4.B.1, 5.H.1 Writing – W.2.2, W.3.2, W4.2
Students will explore the main house of the Etheridge family. The students will use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast how the items viewed in this house might be similar to and different than those we use today.
Science – 3.E.1, Math – 3.G.1, 4.G.1, Social Studies – 4.B.1
In 19th century America, a blacksmith was an essential member of any community. The smith was the person who made the tools, equipment, utensils, and parts that folks needed for their work and life. Students will learn from the blacksmith about using heat to mold metal into useful tools. The blacksmith will invite student participation if time allows.
Social Studies – K.H.1.1, K.H.1.3, 1.B.1.1, 1.G.2.1, 2.H.1.2, 2.H.1.1, 3.G.1, 4.B.1, 4.G.1, Science – 3.E.1
Students will be introduced to the “kitchen” of Island Farm, known as the cookhouse. A comparison of cooking “now and then” will be demonstrated for children as the interpreter cooks over the hearth. Comparisons will be made between modern cooking and kitchens and how they differ from those in the 1850’s.
Social Studies 4.B.1.1
Students will get active and play a variety of 19th century toys and games near the historic Etheridge homeplace
K.G.2, K.H.1, 1.B.1, 2.H.1, 3.G.1, 4.H.1
Students will learn the multi-step process of doing laundry in the 19th century. This hands-on educational station invite students to compare the practice and ease of laundry today, compared to laundry in 1847. Students will learn about mending, washing, scrubbing, drying, and ironing, and will be invited to help soak, clean and hang laundry.
Science – K.L.1.2, K.P.1.2, 1.L.1.2, 3.E.1 Social Studies – K.H.1.1, 1.H.1.1, 2.G.1.2, 2.H.1.1, 3.G.1, 4.B.1, 4.G.1
Students will interact with the animals on the farm. Students will compare characteristics of animals and will determine how animals move. Interpreters will explain the utility of animals on a 19th century Roanoke Island farm, and how they were essential to everyday tasks. A matching game will help students connect farm tasks to individual animals.
Math – K.G.1, Science – K.P.1.1, Social Studies – K.H.1.1, K.H.1.3, 1.G.1, 1.B.1.1, 1.G.2.1 2.H.1, EX.K.E.1, 3.H.1.3, 4.B.1, 5.H.1 Writing – W.2.2, W.3.2, W4.2
Students will explore the main house of the Etheridge family. The students will use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast how the items viewed in this house might be similar to and different than those we use today.
Science – 3.E.1, Math – 3.G.1, 4.G.1, Social Studies – 4.B.1
In 19th century America, a blacksmith was an essential member of any community. The smith was the person who made the tools, equipment, utensils, and parts that folks needed for their work and life. Students will learn from the blacksmith about using heat to mold metal into useful tools. The blacksmith will invite student participation if time allows.
Social Studies – K.H.1.1, K.H.1.3, 1.B.1.1, 1.G.2.1, 2.H.1.2, 2.H.1.1, 3.G.1, 4.B.1, 4.G.1, Science – 3.E.1
Students will be introduced to the “kitchen” of Island Farm, known as the cookhouse. A comparison of cooking “now and then” will be demonstrated for children as the interpreter cooks over the hearth. Comparisons will be made between modern cooking and kitchens and how they differ from those in the 1850’s.
Social Studies 4.B.1.1
Students will get active and play a variety of 19th century toys and games near the historic Etheridge homeplace
K.G.2, K.H.1, 1.B.1, 2.H.1, 3.G.1, 4.H.1
Students will learn the multi-step process of doing laundry in the 19th century. This hands-on educational station invite students to compare the practice and ease of laundry today, compared to laundry in 1847. Students will learn about mending, washing, scrubbing, drying, and ironing, and will be invited to help soak, clean and hang laundry.
Science – K.L.1.2, K.P.1.2, 1.L.1.2, 3.E.1 Social Studies – K.H.1.1, 1.H.1.1, 2.G.1.2, 2.H.1.1, 3.G.1, 4.B.1, 4.G.1
Students will interact with the animals on the farm. Students will compare characteristics of animals and will determine how animals move. Interpreters will explain the utility of animals on a 19th century Roanoke Island farm, and how they were essential to everyday tasks. A matching game will help students connect farm tasks to individual animals.
Social Studies – 4.B.1
Students will see how the ideas and practices of medicine have changed greatly since the 1850s. But no matter how different the method of treatment, the intention was still the same; to cure the sick, heal the wounded and comfort those in pain. A medicine box with various medicinal roots and remedies and other materials will be shown and explained to students.
Science – 3.E.1.2, Science – 4.E.1, Social Studies – 4.G.1.2, 5.G.1, 6.C & G.1, 8.E.1, 8.G.1
Students will become familiar with the materials and methods used by families to survive and the types of work islanders engaged in to live in coastal regions; farming was not all that families did to prosper. Farming, fishing, and hunting/waterfowling will be discussed.
Writing – W.4.3, Social Studies – 4.H.1.5, English – RF.5.2
Students will write a journal entry from the point of view of someone living on the farm in the 1850s.
Students will hand dip candles as family members may have done in the 1850s. Students will discuss the importance of having candles in the 1800’s.
Students will subtract years on the headstones in the historic Etheridge graveyard to determine length of life. The students will use dates to order headstones from oldest to newest.