The Curriculum Writing Project
The Museum collaborates with K–12 school educators in Milton, Greater Boston, and New England to create interdisciplinary units of instruction based on the Museum and its collection. The Curriculum Writing Project explores topics in history, art history, architecture, science, math, social studies, language arts, and visual arts. Units of instruction can be designed to meet national and/or Massachusetts framework standards or other educational goals/objectives.
Some possible topics for exploration:
• Greek Revival Architecture and Isaiah Rogers
• Architecture of Peabody & Sterns
• Cultivation and Production of Silk and Tea
• Production of Ceramics
• Captain Robert Bennet Forbes and Ship Design
• Captain Robert Bennet Forbes and the American China Trade
• The China Trade Trail: Salem and Boston to Canton
• Houqua and the Cohong
• Chinese Export Porcelain
• American Painting: Thomas Hewes Hinckley
• Chinese Painting: Lamqua
• Dutch Painting: Wynkford Allan Gay
• English Painting: Robert Solomon
• Chinese, American, and European Furniture
• Buddha in Art and Culture
• Chinese and American Sculpture
• Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Collection
• Mary Bowditch Forbes and Local History of Milton
• Food and Cooking in the 1800s
• Textiles and Clothing in the 1800s
• Scottish Culture and History
• American Humanitarian Relief to Ireland in the 1840s
Educators are invited to call Robin Tagliaferri, executive director, at (617)696-1815 or r.tagliaferri@forbeshousemuseum.org to learn more about the project.
The K–12 Outreach Program
The FHM offers educational outreach presentations to K–12 students in the classroom. Presentations explore topics based on the museum and its collection, and encompass art history, American history, architecture, science, math, social studies, language arts, and visual arts. Topics of interest can include exploration in the American China Trade, the China Trade Trail, and President Abraham Lincoln. Presentations will feature transportable works of art when possible and can prepare young people for a visit to the Museum.
Educators are invited to call Robin Tagliaferri, executive director, at (617)696-1815 or r.tagliaferri@forbeshousemuseum.org to learn more about this program.
2013 Lincoln Essay & Drawing Contest
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Release of the 2013 essay topic/question and drawing theme
Friday, 1 March 2013, 5pm
Deadline for submissions for essays and drawings
Sunday, 14 April 2013, 2pm
Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest Awards Ceremony
A prize of $25 will be awarded to the first place winner of each grade level through the generosity of the Milton Village Office of Citizens Bank. Thank you, Citizens Bank!
What is the Lincoln Essay & Drawing Contest?
The Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest was established by Mary Bowditch Forbes, the
granddaughter of Captain Robert Bennet Forbes, in circa 1924. Ms. Forbes greatly admired President Abraham Lincoln, and in 1906 began a collection of Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia, which is now part of the Museum's permanent collection. To promote appreciation for our 16th president, Ms. Forbes requested original essays and drawings from students each year, inspired by the life and work of Abraham Lincoln.
Today, the Museum continues the tradition, and sends an annual request for essays and drawings from students throughout Milton and Greater Boston. Each fall, the FHM Lincoln Committee, comprised of Museum Trustees, K-12 educators, Lincoln historians and Civil War enthusiasts, meets to debate and select a question or topic. This question/topic is then released to the public, and the student must use the question/topic as the subject for her/his essay or drawing.
Individual student submissions are encouraged; The FHM Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest was established as a civic exercise challenging students to excellence outside the scope of their regular school work.
However, K-12 educators are welcome to introduce the essay and drawing question/topic to their students as part of a classroom lesson or unit of instruction. A submission of individual essays and drawings, gathered into one package by an educator, is accepted and encouraged.
A first, second and third place winner is chosen among the entries for each grade level. Essays are accepted from students in grades 4 through 8; drawings are accepted from students in grades Kindergarten through grade 3.
A prize of $25 will be awarded to the first place winner of each grade level through the generosity of the Milton Village Office of Citizens Bank. Thank you, Citizens Bank! All winners will receive a free Family membership to the Forbes House Museum, along with some surprises!
The awards ceremony is held each year at Forbes House Museum. One or two winners of the essay contest are usually asked to read their essays to the guests.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
ON THE BACK of your essay or drawing you MUST include:
Your name
Your grade
Your school
Your teacher's name
Your home address
Your home telephone number
The name of your parent or guardian
An e-mail address for your parent or guardian
Essay word count:
Grade 6-8: 600-word max.
Grade 4-5: 300-word max.
Drawing specifications: Any media is allowed.
Maximum size of the drawing cannot exceed 18" x 24" inches.
Essays can be dropped of at the Museum office or mailed to:
2013 Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest
Forbes House Museum
215 Adams Street
Milton, MA 02186
The FHM will accept essay submissions by e-mail. The essay should be sent as a word (.doc) document or PDF to the e-mail address: info@forbeshousemuseum.org. Scanned hand-written
essays are accepted as long as they are completely legible. The Museum cannot accept a .docx document. The subject line of the e-mail must read: Lincoln Essay 2013.
In the body of the e-mail you MUST include:
Your name
Your grade
Your school
Your teacher's name
Your home address
Your home telephone number
The name of your parent or guardian
An e-mail address for your parent or guardian
Sorry, drawings cannot be submitted by e-mail; original works of art must be sent or delivered to the Museum for judging.
For more information on the Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest, call the Museum at (617)696-1815 or e-mail us at info@forbeshousemuseum.org.
Click here to download the 2013 Lincoln Essay and Drawing Contest Submission Guidelines
(PDF document. Requires Adobe® Reader®.)
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