An in-house field trip with the New York State Historical Society taught students enrolled at Dayton Avenue, Eastport Elementary and South Street schools how to analyze historical objects, toys and games to learn about history.

Society teachers Dita Carhart, Terri Daly and Leah Charles Edouard first informed the students that researchers analyze artifacts, readings, paintings, books and documents in making assessments on how objects were utilized through history. The students were then able to examine toys and objects to determine how they were made and used.

Some of the objects included old cellphones, a fire rattle, corn doll, and old-fashioned toys. The students were then instructed to perform an artifact analysis by writing down their observations.

Ms. Edouard said the goal of the program was for students to learn how to observe historical objects and to determine how society can learn from the past.

Click here to view the Artifact Analysis is a Key to the Past slideshow.

Date Added: 4/2/2025