Educational Programing

Adventures in Agriculture

Teachers and volunteers collaborate in sessions to instruct students in grades K-5 on the history and importance of the farming industry while at the same time including valuable math skills. These sessions were created to help meet the need of the new agricultural mandate within the school’s curriculum.The agricultural industry also plays an important role within the following organizations who present at this event:

  • Cargill – their largest soybean refinery in North America is housed in Sidney. They present on the different uses of processed soybeans.
  • Koenig Equipment – a major retailer in Shelby County, they bring a small commercial tractor display for the children to view.
  • Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District – tell the importance of nutrients in our soil pertaining to agriculture.

At the end of the day, students are more knowledgeable about where the food they eat comes from and the importance of the agricultural industry within our community. This program was in place from 2014 until 2016.

For one day in the month of May, an elementary school in the City of Sidney school district transforms into a taste of the country. Local farmers bring a variety of animals to meet while members of the Antique Tractor Association drive their tractors into town to give hay rides.

 

Civil War Day

 

On the first Friday in May, all 8th graders within Shelby County are invited to gather at the Shelby County fairgrounds to learn firsthand about the War Between the States. They are divided into the following sessions: 

  • Living History Characters including President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis
  • Union Encampment by the Ohio Valley Civil War Association
  • The game of Cricket presented by Tom Melville
  • Southern perspective of the Civil War

Reenactors from the Ohio Valley Civil War Association end the day by firing a period cannon.

Civil War Day was established as an enrichment tool in order to help meet the social studies guidelines for the eighth-grade curriculum. In 2009, this event won its first award from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums (now OLHA) and received an award again in 2015 from the Ohio Local History Alliance as part of the activities commemorating 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.

 

Coming to America: Immigration Exhibit

At the beginning of each year in February, 5th grade students from across Shelby County embarked on a journey back through America’s history to learn about how their ancestors came to the United States of America. This program was guided by volunteers who spoke on the following subjects:

  • Native American History
  • Early Transportation
  • Ellis Island & Registry Rooms
  • Nazi Persecution
  • Shelby County Timeline

Each presentation was based off of the requirements needed to meet the State of Ohio curriculum for elementary education. At the end of their journey, students were given a bag of apples provided by Freshway Foods (now owned by US Foods).

The Immigration Exhibit was open to the public to view from the end of January until the beginning of March for visitors to see. This children’s program received an Excellence Award in 2007 from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums (now known as the Ohio Local History Alliance). In 2016, the “Coming to America” exhibit was a feature article in the iN75 insert for the Sidney Daily News. This children’s program and exhibit was in place from DATE until 2020.

 

Fishing Day in Tawawa Park

This program first got its start in 2016 as an activity included with the Native American Experience. In 2021, the Bent Finger Foundation approached the Society eager to provide another children’s program for local students.

Fourth graders from Northwood Elementary School get to spend the morning and afternoon at Tawawa Park learning about stream conservation from the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District and of course how to fish from area fishermen! Each student then receives a brand-new pole and tackle box graciously provided by the Bent Finger Foundation.

In 2023, our Fishing Day grew to also include all of the Fourth Grade students from Anna Elementary School.

 

Manufacturing Day

In this special educational program in May, an elementary school within Shelby County is turned into a manufacturing facility for an entire school day. Students from kindergarten through 5th grade are grouped together and split into 12 hands-on sessions to learn about different processes and departments that operate within an industry including:

  • Engineering
  • Forestry
  • History
  • Human Resources
  • Manufacturing: Sawing, Drilling & Labeling
  • Marketing
  • Packaging
  • Payroll
  • Purchasing
  • Quality Control
  • Transportation
  • Warehousing

This program was created in 2017 and debuted at Longfellow Elementary School in Sidney. It provides a hands-on learning experience to educate local youth about the importance of industry within Shelby County by request from the school district and has serviced several schools across the county. Manufacturing Day received an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018 from the Ohio Local History Alliance.

 

Native American Experience

This special program is presented in May to an elementary school in the City of Sidney School District that occurs only by request. It was implemented to reinforce the students' knowledge on Native American culture and history in this region. Classes visit Tawawa Park where they spend their afternoon participating in many hands-on sessions including:

  • Antique Tractor Ride
  • Bean Counting
  • Constructing a Wikiup
  • How to use a Fishing Pole
  • Native American Folklore
  • Native American Bingo
  • Stream Composition
  • Traditional Music
  • Uses for Common Herbs

At the end of the day, students leave with a better understanding of the history of the Native Americans and the earliest inhabitants of Shelby County along with a greater appreciation for all of the nature which surrounds us. This program received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Local History Alliance in 2013.

 

Pioneer Day

Each October, 4th grade students from all across Shelby County converge at the fairgrounds in Sidney to experience a day in the life of a pioneer. Volunteers from the Teacher Academy program at the Upper Valley Career Center, retired teachers & passionate locals help guide these young minds on a journey back through time to an age where survival was much more difficult than today.

These students are able to learn about antique farming practices and tools, Native American culture, the Ohio wetlands, one-room schoolhouses, and various trades pioneer settlers might have used. Students are also encouraged to participate in several hands-on activities such as:

  • Churning butter
  • Cooking apples into cider, applesauce & apple butter
  • Quilting
  • Native American Music and Jewelry-making
  • Tin-smithing
  • Native American Hunting

Pioneer Day helps supplement the Ohio state curriculum for the fourth grade. This program received an Excellence Award in 2005 from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums (now OLHA).

 

Third Grade Tour of Downtown Sidney

Every fall, third grade students from Northwood Elementary School gather in downtown Sidney for a guided walking tour around the court square. Volunteers take the students into several prominent buildings downtown, including the Monumental Building, the Louis Sullivan bank, and the Shelby County Jail. After their tour is over, students gather on the steps of the courthouse to eat cheeseburgers provided by the Spot Restaurant, one of Ohio’s oldest hamburger joints!

 

Our Just For Kids Programs are provided through gracious donations from the following organizations:

  • The Bent Finger Foundation
  • The Emerson Charitable Trust
  • The Monarch Foundation
  • POWER (Passionate Optimistic Women Encouraging Results)
  • Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Sidney/Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
  • Sidney/Shelby County Community Foundation
  • Sidney City Schools

Thank you to all participating students from both the public and private schools within the county along with any children who are homeschooled. Also, a very special thank you to all of our volunteers within the community for giving their time to help children within the county learn and grow!