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American Village School Programs 2010-2011
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Tom Walker
Chief Executive Officer |
The American Village just celebrated its tenth anniversary. We are grateful to
educators around Alabama and the Nation who have brought students to this unique
campus this last decade. During that time almost a half million students have
discovered the power and drama of America's journey for independence, liberty, and
self-government.
We are pleased to present this catalog of our educational programs for 2010-2011.
We hope this guide will be a useful overview of how you can participate in one of
the many exciting and engaging school programs offered by the American Citizenship
Trust at its American Village education campus.
Chartered by legislative act 15 years ago, the Trust and its American Village operate as
a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational foundation.
We believe American Village is a national treasure, serving as an innovative American
history and civics educational center. Located in Montevallo near the geographic
center of Alabama, this 113-acre campus is just about a half hour south of
Birmingham. Our mission is to strengthen and renew the foundations of American
liberty and self government through citizenship and leadership education.
We consider it a great privilege to welcome school groups. Our talented staff enjoys
educating and inspiring young people to explore the remarkable foundations of our
country, and to consider the obligations of being good citizens.
Please contact our staff to plan your visit. Call toll-free at 1-877-811-1776 (or 205-665-
3535 in the Birmingham calling area) or check us out at www.americanvillage.org. We
stand ready to make your visit to American Village a revolutionary educational
experience!
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SECURING THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY
K - 12 SCHOOL PROGRAM SCHEDULE, 2010-2011
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Make sure you reserve space now for the upcoming school year for your students to
experience American Village's award-winning program in American history and civics.
Students from every grade level participate in experiential learning. American Village
is unique in its mission to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty
and self-government through citizenship education. More than a field trip,American
Village educational programs are tied directly to objectives in the Alabama Course of
Study in history, citizenship (civics) and government, and to graduation standards.
Register now to request the time you prefer to visit -- many days are already fully
booked. Call immediately for available dates. Reservations are taken in the order they
are received and are confirmed upon receipt of deposit.
Fee: $9 for students and chaperones who sign up by the registration date; free for teachers and
school administrators.
REMEMBER: Give yourself plenty of time to travel back to the 18th century and
other historical eras. Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. for the 9:30 program start
time. (Please arrive at 11:00 a.m. for the B Block of Living America’s Story, which begins
promptly at 11:30) Lunch for Liberty! is at the end of all programming. Students will go
through five vignette rotations and then eat lunch at approximately 12:30 p.m.
We regret that we cannot delay the start time of your confirmed program time due
to scheduling and transportation concerns of other schools. That is why we strongly
encourage your group to plan to arrive at least one half hour (30 minutes) prior to
the program start time.
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KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 3
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LIVING AMERICA’S STORY: Designed for the young student,American Village offers a
popular and exciting early childhood program:
Students might travel with Miles Standish on the Mayflower and later meet a Native
American tribal chief for Thanksgiving. They might encounter George Washington and
King George III during Presidents’ Days. They experience the excitement of events
surrounding Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride in the Patriots program. The exciting
historical adventures change with each program.
Program time:
(A) 9:30 - 11:00 (B) 11:30 - 1:00
Program dates:
November 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, and 22-23 (Thanksgiving);
February 14-18 and 22-25 (Presidents’ Days);
March 21-25 and 28-29 (Patriots).
Fee: $9 for students and chaperones who sign up by the registration date; free for teachers and
school administrators.
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INTERMEDIATE, GRADES 4 - 5
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For intermediate grades, LIBERTY! is the best choice of programming. This program
correlates to the Alabama Course of Study for the 5th grade.
For intermediate, middle, and high school students, LIBERTY! is the premiere program
of American Village.Visitors are active participants in the Stamp Act Rally, experience
unrest in the streets of Boston in 1775, vote on independence in the Virginia
Convention, are on the scene in the siege of Yorktown, serve as delegates in the
Constitutional Convention, and are witnesses to history in Washington’s Presidency.
Appealing to all learning styles, LIBERTY! employs reading, listening, seeing, speaking,
and physical engagement as it connects students in the immediacy of great moments
of American history and civics.
Program time: Begins promptly at 9:30 and ends at 1:00 with time for lunch included
Program dates: September 2-3, 7-10, 13-15, 20-24, 27-30; October 1, 4-8,
11-15, 18-22, 25-29; November 29-30; December 1-2, 6-10, 13-16; January 31;
February 1-4, 7-11, 28; March 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 30-31; April 1, 4-8, 11-15,
18-21, 25-29; May 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27.
Fee: $9 for students and chaperones who sign up by the registration date; free for teachers
and school administrators.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADES 6 - 8
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For middle school students, we recommend LIBERTY! which correlates to the Alabama
Course of Study for the 7th grade.
LIBERTY! is the premiere program of American
Village.Visitors are active participants in the
Stamp Act Rally, experience unrest in the streets
of Boston in 1775, vote on independence in the
Virginia Convention, are on the scene in the
siege of Yorktown, serve as delegates in the
Constitutional Convention, and are witnesses to
history in Washington’s Presidency.Appealing to
all learning styles, LIBERTY! employs reading,
listening, seeing, speaking, and physical
engagement as it connects students in the
immediacy of great moments of American
history and civics.
Program time: Begins promptly at 9:30 and ends at 1:00 with time for lunch included
Program dates: September 2-3, 7-10, 13-15, 20-24, 27-30; October 1, 4-8,
11-15, 18-22, 25-29; November 29-30; December 1-2, 6-10, 13-16; January 31;
February 1-4, 7-11, 28; March 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 30-31; April 1, 4-8, 11-15,
18-21, 25-29; May 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27.
Fee: $9 for students and chaperones who sign up by the registration date; free for teachers and
school administrators.
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HIGH SCHOOL
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For High School students, we highly recommend LIBERTY!
LIBERTY! is the premiere program of
American Village.Visitors are active
participants in the Stamp Act Rally,
experience unrest in the streets of
Boston in 1775, vote on
independence in the Virginia
Convention, are on the scene in the
siege of Yorktown, serve as
delegates in the Constitutional
Convention, and are witnesses to
history in Washington’s Presidency.Appealing to all learning styles, LIBERTY! employs
reading, listening, seeing, speaking, and physical engagement as it connects students in
the immediacy of great moments of American history and civics.
Program time: Begins promptly at 9:30 and ends at 1:00 with time for lunch included
Program dates: September 2-3, 7-10, 13-15, 20-24, 27-30; October 1, 4-8,
11-15, 18-22, 25-29; November 29-30; December 1-2, 6-10, 13-16; January 31;
February 1-4, 7-11, 28; March 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 30-31; April 1, 4-8, 11-15,
18-21, 25-29; May 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27.
Fee: $9 for students and chaperones who sign up by the registration date; free for teachers and
school administrators.
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THE AMERICAN VILLAGE'S REPORT CARD
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American Village's educational programs seek to overcome what national leaders
call "large and disturbing gaps" in student knowledge of history and civics.
An educational assessment in collaboration with the University of Montevallo
College of Education found American Village's school program to be a winner. This
evaluation examined the educational effectiveness of the program, using pre-and posttests,
including written narratives. Students from rural, suburban, and urban systems
were part of the study. The report cited "highly significant gains on post-test scores."
(The summary noted the probability of these gains being due to chance range from
less than 1 in 100 to less than 1 in 10,000.) Teachers report students demonstrate not
only gains in content knowledge, but also show interest in reading about and
discussing these content areas. Moreover the study noted that after the experience
students demonstrated in the writing assessment a "passionate commitment to
freedom." |
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THE AMERICAN VILLAGE YOUTH PROGRAMS
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18th Century Alive! Junior Interpreter Program
Only 25 students in middle and high school (grades 6 through 12) are chosen each
year for this program available to students interested in fine arts performance and
history. During the summer, the Village is host to thousands of visitors. Junior
interpreters assist our professional educational interpreters to help immerse visitors in
customs and times of the 18th Century by participating in puppet shows, colonial
games, and various historical vignettes."
Program time: Begins promptly at 9:30 and ends at 1:00 with time for lunch included
Program dates: Training is set by the Coordinator and is usually the last of May and the first
week or two in June, for which attendance is mandatory. Participants must commit to a minimum
of two days per week over the summer. Auditions are held during the second week of February so
please inquire early.
Fee: No fee; purchase of 18th Century costume required.
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TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP
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Wear appropriate clothing for the weather; some vignettes are outside, rain or shine.
FOR RAIN: Ponchos are preferred over umbrellas for movement.
FOR COLD DAYS: Please don’t forget the jackets or coats!
FOR SUNNY DAYS:Wear plenty of sunscreen.
ALL DAYS:Wear comfortable shoes; you will be walking much of your visit.
HELP PRESERVE THE VILLAGE:We ask that you do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew
gum inside the buildings; place trash in wooden barrels. Picnic tables may be used at
any time for your eating enjoyment.
NECESSARIES OR REST ROOMS: These are located in small buildings on either end of
Constitution Green, beside the Courthouse and behind Washington Hall.
STILL PHOTOGRAPHS ONLY, PLEASE: Once our vignettes begin, we ask that
absolutely no videotaping or audio recording take place. Electronic devices (radios,
Walkmans, iPods, etc.) are not allowed at American Village. Please turn off cell phones.
You are welcome to take still photos at any time. |
 
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