Chaperone Guide

Chaperones, boy are we glad to see YOU!
Here are some helpful reminders about your visit today...

You are responsible for your students and their behavior.
At Plimoth Plantation we have a MANDATORY CHAPERONE POLICY: you must be with your students at all times during your visit. This policy applies to student groups of all ages, including high-school students.

Be sure your students are careful of Native stereotypes at the Wampanoag Homesite.
Please remember to monitor your students' behavior when they are talking with museum staff. This is especially important at Hobbamock's Homesite,where all the staff they will meet are Native People. Many children are unaware that behavior like using war whoops or saying "How!" is disrespectful and offensive to Native People. Please remind your students that such behavior is not welcome at Plimoth Plantation.

Museum rules allow students to handle and examine objects on the museum's sites, as long as they are carefully supervised. Do not allow students to touch, feed or tease the animals or to chase the chickens.

Lost and found is located at the front desk in the Visitor Center.

Restrooms can be found near the front entrance of the Visitor Center, and close to the cafeteria. There are also facilities at the Crafts Center. At Mayflower II there are restroom facilities located on the pier.

Food and drink are available for purchase at the Visitor Center. If your group brought lunch you are welcome to eat wherever there is room. In fair weather groups often picnic on the grass (your site map shows some great picnic areas). Although indoor seating is not guaranteed, in rainy or cold weather the Guest Services staff will make every effort to find an indoor location for you to enjoy your bag lunch.

Museum shops welcome school groups provided that students remain with their chaperones. We have a children's shop in our Visitor Center. There are also gift shops on the waterfront near Mayflower II.

In case of an emergency, such as an injury or a lost child, notify the nearest staff member, even if they are in costume.

And finally, have fun and learn something with us today! Ask a lot of questions of the staff you meet, and explore all that Plimoth Plantation has to offer. You will find some hints on asking questions and other fun activities for your group below.

Important hints for asking questions

• In the 1627 English Village, the people your group will meet are back in 1627! Please ask modern questions at other places in the museum.
• At the Wampanoag Homesite, your group will be meeting modern-day Native People who are not back in the past Ï even through they are dressed in traditional Wampanoag clothing.

The following are some other fun ways to focus your students during their visit to the outdoor sites of the museum.

What is that used for?
Have students look for objects the English or Wampanoag used in their daily lives. Try to find out what these objects were used for, how they were made and compare them to objects we use for the same purpose today. If students have paper and pencil they can make a sketch of an object to show back at school.

Take a whiff of this!
Take a moment to have your students close their eyes and identify the many smells and sounds they are encountering. Do this periodically as you travel through the museum sites. How do the sounds and smells change at different places in the museum? Do you have those smells/sounds at home? Why or why not?

Learn to make some really old food!
At the Wampanoag Homesite, the 1627 English Village or Mayflower II, have your group find out how to make a common food item that people ate in the 17th century. Write down the ingredients and how it was made. How would you make it at home? Do you eat anything like it already?

Questions, comments or concerns, please contact kcurtin@plimoth.org or kvanwormer@plimoth.org or call (508) 746-1622 extension 8281.

Education Programs

hours: from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, 7 days a week March 22 through November 30, 2008
address: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360 USA
telephone: 1 + 508 746 1622