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School Kits
The Amish school kits designed by the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center consist of an Amish unit curriculum with literature, books, worksheets, photographs and other supplemental materials pertaining to the Amish way of life. Lesson plans assist teachers in the preparation of the units, designed for Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The units coincide with each grade’s level of understanding. The worksheets consist of crossword puzzles, word searches, and scavenger hunts that students learn, remember, and enjoy. Posters and photographs enhance the kits to aid visualization for students.
Central Illinois is home to the fourth largest Old Order Amish community in North America. These people are known by their buggies, distinctive dress, and abstaining from the use of electricity. By studying their community, students are able to learn about the history of the Amish and local history, enhance their vocabulary, and much more while building cultural tolerance and appreciation. The Amish school kits provide a means for teachers to vary their classroom activities. After the program is taught in the classroom, teachers have an opportunity to take their students on a field trip to Arcola, where the only Amish museum in Illinois is located. Not only will students go through this museum and see an 18 minute introductory video, but they can also tour Amish homes, farms, businesses, and eat a meal in an Amish home. For more information, see Field Trips. Below is an outline of the information contained within each of the kits.
K-1
History of the Amish
History of Quilts
Basic Terminology
Graham Cracker Quilt Squares
Basic Word Search
Matching/Memory game
2-3
Amish and Electricity
Chores
Clothing Comparison
Leisure Time
Amish Quilt Project
4-6
History of the Amish
Education
Religion
Community
Life without electricity
Snicker doodle recipe
7-8
History
Education
Urbanization
Family
Field Trips
The museum and tours offered by the Amish Museum are a memorable educational experience that supplements the school kits that are available for teachers to use in the classroom. Field trips can be customized to the teacher’s lesson plans in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to, history, social studies, and reading. The school kits range from grades 2-8. These kits can be customized for high school students. German classes benefit from these field trips because they are able to interact with the Amish, who speak a form of German, Pennsylvania Dutch. Please see the Amish Country Tours, Sample Itineraries, and Groups pages to view the tours and rates available for field trips, or call 1-888-45-AMISH for additional information and special student discounts.
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