Available January – February only

Grades 2-12 $3.00/student

2 hours, 50 students max

The Ice Harvesting program allows students, accompanied by Museum staff, onto the Mill Pond to harvest ice and then load it in our ice house. Students will learn about the science of ice, and understand why ice harvesting was important to farms and homes in upstate New York in the nineteenth century. This program incorporates the use of historic tools, documents, and other materials from the Museum’s collection. Early booking is recommended because the number of times it can be offered is limited and this program is dependent on weather.

New York State Learning Standards:

• Social Studies—1
• Math, Science, Technology—1,4, 5
• ELA—1

COMMON CORE Standards:

• ELA—RI, RF, SL
• Math—OA, MD

To register for this program, contact Ryan Jones, Education Coordinator.

If you would like to find activities related to the Ice Harvest program and its themes, click the links below:

• Pre-Visit Activities to help prepare for your visit to Hanford Mills Museum:
  • Diary Entries
  • The Ice Business
  • Keeping Accounts

• Post-Visit Activities to expand your experience after a visit:
  • Create Your Own Ice House
  • Making Ice Cream
  • Ice Tool Match
  • Ice Harvest Resources

• Extra Activities to extend your learning experience:
  • Natural Resources (Pre-Visit)
  • Natural Resources (Post-Visit)
  • Reading and Analyzing Diaries

Try any of these activities even if you don’t plan a visit to Hanford Mills Museum. Used in your classroom or with your family, they are a great way to extend your Hanford Mills Museum learning experience.