School Programs

Students will discover life in the rural communities and towns of east central Alberta in the 1920s. Visits to a variety of community institutions will help students learn about services available in rural communities in the past, how people contributed to their communities, and how communities enhanced individual lives. Through the stories of our first-person interpreters, students will personally connect with an Alberta community in the past.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Total time: 4 hours

Grades 1, 2, 4

Cost: $10 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Appreciate how belonging to communities enriches an individual’s identity and enhances their quality of life
• Appreciate other cultures, languages, and experiences within their communities
• Appreciate how stories and events of the past connect families and communities to the present
• Investigate how early Ukrainian settlers developed and contributed to rural communities
• Examine services, goods, institutions, and resources of a rural prairie community from the past
• Explore daily life for individuals in a prairie community from the past
• Demonstrate respect for places and objects of historical significance

Program Activities

Visits to a variety of community institutions (homes, businesses/services, church) will help students learn about services available in rural communities in the past, how people contributed to their communities, and how communities enhanced individual lives. Various indoor and outdoor activities such as food preparation and tending to animals or other farmstead chores create memorable experiences for children to understand the lifestyles of early Albertans. Specific program activities will be chosen based on weather and season, providing your students with the best possible experience during their visit.

Program Duration and Delivery

A Community in the Past begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. The program schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break for each group. Teachers will divide students into smaller groups for the program. Each group will have a different schedule to follow but will complete the same activities.

A half-day of activities presenting pioneer life through a child’s perspective. Role players in a 1920s interactive setting create experiences where students are given the opportunity to do farm chores, household cleaning, and simple cooking tasks in a farmstead kitchen using a wood-burning stove.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Total time: 2 hours

Grades: Pre-K, K

Cost: $10 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Awareness of the beliefs and traditions of other groups and communities
• Knowledge of the daily activities and lifestyle of 1920s children
• Demonstration of positive social skills and manners
• Display of attentive listening and participation skills

Following pre-visit readings and activities, students assume roles of prospective European immigrants to North America. Immigration policies and economic issues at the turn of the 20th century are discovered when students debate reasons for leaving their homeland. Living history interaction with costumed interpreters is the research base for learning about pioneer achievements in Alberta.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Total time: 4 hours

Grades 6-12

Cost: $10 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Appreciation for the stories, experiences, and values of Ukrainian immigrants to rural Alberta
• Application and development of decision-making and debate skills
• Comprehension of the factors that led to Ukrainian cultural retention in east central Alberta
• Knowledge of a variety of factors that affected settlement patterns in western Canada
• Knowledge of the various reasons for eastern European immigration to Canada

Program Activities

The first Ukrainian pioneers arrived in Alberta in 1891. Between 1891 and 1914, roughly 200,000 Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Canada from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 1920s another 60,000 Ukrainian immigrants entered this country.

Human emigration is a gamble. “Should we stay or should we go?” was a historical question that was discussed by thousands of individuals. Why did such a question surface? What caused the massive human migration? Was it famine, over-population, disease, persecution, or something else? These questions are at the heart of the examination of the pre-1930 Ukrainian immigration to Canada.

This education program focuses on the Ukrainian migration from Galicia and Bukovyna (part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Using provided profiles of prospective immigrants, students take on a role and debate the question of “Should we stay or should we go?” After the debate, students visit several historic buildings to discover the realities of life in Canada after immigration. Through interactions with the costumed interpreters in each building, students witness the quality of life of the first Ukrainian settlers and experience the results of the choice to immigrate to Canada.

Program Duration and Delivery

Emigration Gamble begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. The program begins with an interpreter-led introduction and debate in the morning. After a 30-minute lunch break, students will visit a variety of buildings in smaller groups with a supervisor or teacher. 

Centred on our historic schoolhouse restored to represent school life before 1930, students are given a glimpse into a time when being a child was much different than it is for most Albertans today.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Total time: 4 hours

Grades 1, 2, 4-6

Cost: $10 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Appreciation for the stories and experiences of Ukrainian immigrants to rural Alberta
• Awareness of the beliefs and traditions of other groups and communities
• Appreciation for how events of the past relate to and connect families to the present
• Knowledge of traditions from the past that continue today
• Understanding of the pressures placed on Ukrainian immigrants and their children
• Familiarity with features of Ukrainian-Canadian rural communities

Program Activities

This program exposes students to 3 historical environments. They will be introduced to the home, the church, and will be immersed into a simulated school day of 1927. By stepping back in time, students learn how the home and community perceived Canada and the rest of the world of the 1920s.

Children will be given an opportunity to see outside of their contemporary lives by preparing for school and participating in subject learning such as English, Citizenship, and Arithmetic. Students will interact with a costumed, role-playing teacher who orchestrates the entire school time assuring that students exhibit the expected behaviour in entering the school, pledging allegiance, and departing exercises. In addition to the demands of schooling, children will experience the home lifestyle of children in the 1920s by assisting interpreters with activities and visiting a Byzantine church, one of the most important community institutions to Ukrainian families in east central Alberta.

Program Duration and Delivery

Golden Rule Days begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. The program schedule includes a lunch break for each group. Teachers will divide students into smaller groups for the program. Each group will have a different schedule to follow but will complete the same activities. 

Help your students experience “distance learning” the old fashioned way! By corresponding with one of our museum characters, students will have an opportunity to inquire and learn about topics of their choice. Teachers will receive character profiles of the individuals students can write to, including suggested topics and questions for each character. Every student will receive a personalized response crafted by our museum interpreters.

Grades: 1-9

Dates available: October to February (letters must be received prior to the end of February)

Program Cost: $75 per class up to a maximum of 30 students

This program can also be offered in Ukrainian upon request.

Participate in a customized workshop tailored to meet your learning objectives, followed by optional guided or self-guided tours of the museum. Can include outcomes based not only in history or social studies, but also arts, career and technology studies, tourism, business, agriculture, and more.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Grades: 10-12, Post-secondary

Explore traditional Ukrainian-Canadian food patterns and lifestyle. Through preparation of seasonal Ukrainian-Canadian foods, students will discover the customs, practices, and development of the Ukrainian-Canadian diet.

Season available: November to April (some exceptions)

Total time: 3 hours

Grades: 7-12

Cost: $12 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Knowledge of culinary traditions that came to Canada with the first Ukrainian settlers at the beginning of the 20th century
• Understanding of how knowledge and traditions are transmitted from generation to generation
• Knowledge of culinary techniques and practices in use during the settlement era in east central Alberta
• Appreciation for the stories and experiences of Ukrainian immigrants to rural Alberta

Program Activities

Students will participate in an exploration of traditional Ukrainian-Canadian food patterns and lifestyle. Through preparation of Ukrainian-Canadian foods, students will discover the customs, practices, and development of the Ukrainian-Canadian diet. At the end of this interactive hands-on program, students will have a greater appreciation for this unique cultural cuisine and will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to reproduce the meals of their own. Furthermore, students will discover how the early pioneers managed to survive through mercilessly harsh living conditions with minimal resources at hand.

Program Duration and Delivery

Ukrainian Heritage Foods is a 3-hour program. The program schedule includes a break. Students will actively participate in the preparation of a meal that can be enjoyed at the end of the program. The types of food prepared will be determined by the season in which the program is delivered.

Share in the rich celebrations and traditions of the Ukrainian Christmas season as they are brought to life. Participate in the church services and celebrations, interact with role-players, and partake in hands-on activities.

Dates available: Jan. 19 (In the event this is on a weekend, information can be found on our Special Events page. The program will be available for schools to book for Jan. 19, 2021.)

Grades 1-12

Program Cost: $10 per student

Students experience customs and traditions for the entire Rizdvo or Ukrainian Christmas season as they are brought to life by costumed interpreters. In this full day of activities, groups will help with preparations for Rizdvo, learn how the holiday was celebrated, and experience traditions associated with the New Year and Iordan.

Dates available: Nov. 25 to Dec. 19, 2019

Total time: 4 hours

Grades: 1-9

Cost: $12 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Awareness of and respect for the beliefs and traditions of other groups and communities
• Understanding of specific Ukrainian cultural and religious traditions related to the Christmas season
• Knowledge of traditions and customs from the past that continue today
• Appreciation for the stories and experiences of Ukrainian immigrants to east central Alberta
• Appreciation for how events of the past relate to and connect families to the present

Program Activities

This school program aims to teach students the meaning and significance of the Christmas season to early Ukrainian-Canadian settlers in east central Alberta. As part of the program activities, religious themes and information will be presented to the students as they pertain to the Ukrainian Christmas traditions and activities students are learning about. This program also includes an educational visit to one of our museum’s consecrated churches. UCHV staff endeavour to create a learning atmosphere that is respectful and inclusive while educating students about these cultural beliefs and traditions. If you have any questions or concerns about the content and activities related to the Rizdvo-Christmas program, please feel free to contact us.

This program patterns Ukrainian pioneer lifestyle as it occurred during the festive season in east central Alberta prior to 1930. The program activities will span the Ukrainian Christmas cycle from the lenten period (pist), to Christmas Eve (Sviatyi Vechir), to post-Christmas celebrations of New Year’s Eve (Malanka) and Epiphany or the Feast of Jordan (Iordan). During the program, students will be involved in home and meal preparation, indoor and outdoor chores, and in learning about special religious customs and traditions like caroling. Through hands-on activities and interactions with costumed interpreters, students will acquire significant information and images of a Ukrainian Pioneer Christmas in Alberta.

Program Duration and Delivery

Rizdvo begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. The program schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break for each group. Teachers will divide students into smaller groups for the program. Each group will have a different schedule to follow but will complete the same activities. 

The lifestyles of rural Ukrainian settlers, spring preparations, and Velykden' celebrations are brought to life for students by costumed interpreters. Through the program, students see the religious and cultural importance of Easter within the lives of early Ukrainian settlers in east central Alberta. A hands-on session provides students with the opportunity to learn about the symbolism of the traditional pysanky.

Dates available: Feb. 24 to April 9, 2020

Total time: 4 hours

Grades: 1-9

Cost: $12 per student

Intended Outcomes

• Awareness of and respect for the beliefs and traditions of other groups and communities
• Understanding of specific Ukrainian and Byzantine Rite cultural and religious traditions related to the Easter season
• Knowledge of traditions and customs from the past that continue today
• Appreciation for the stories and experiences of Ukrainian immigrants to east central Alberta
• Appreciation for how events of the past relate to and connect families to the present

Program Activities

This school program aims to teach students the meaning and significance of the Easter season to early Ukrainian-Canadian settlers in east central Alberta. As part of the program activities, religious themes and information will be presented to the students as they pertain to the Ukrainian Easter traditions and activities students are learning about. This program also includes an educational visit to one of our museum’s consecrated churches. UCHV staff endeavour to create a learning atmosphere that is respectful and inclusive while educating students about these religious and cultural beliefs and traditions. If you have any questions or concerns about the content and activities related to the Velykden’-Easter program, please feel free to contact us.

This program patterns Ukrainian pioneer lifestyle as it occurred during the Easter season in east central Alberta prior to 1930. During the program students will be involved in home and meal preparation, indoor and outdoor chores, and in learning about special religious customs and traditions such as making pysanky and preparation of an Easter basket. Through hands-on activities and interactions with costumed interpreters, students will acquire significant information and images of a Ukrainian Pioneer Easter in Alberta.

Program Duration and Delivery

Velykden’: Ukrainian Pioneer Easter begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. The program schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break for each group. Teachers will divide students into smaller groups for the program. Each group will have a different schedule to follow but will complete the same activities. 

The culmination of a year’s work in east central Alberta, the harvest is brought to life by costumed interpreters. Students are immersed in the historic processes of a pre-1930 harvest. They are asked to think critically about the sacrifices that pioneers made to bring in the harvest on time, and are engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that demonstrate the need for hard work and help from the community to prosper in a new land.

Dates available: October 2019

Total time: 4 hours

Grades: 1-9

Cost: $10 per student

End the school year with a bang by participating in this fun-filled day which helps students experience the lifestyle of the sons and daughters of east central Alberta's Ukrainian pioneers. In self-guided groups led by adult supervisors and teachers, students will visit interpreter-led stations and try a variety of hands-on activities such as butter churning, farm work, historic games and races, and much more.

Dates available: Friday, June 19 and Monday, June 22, 2020

Full Day of Activities: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Grades: K-6

Cost: $15 per student

New for 2020, all adult supervisors will receive complimentary admission to Children's Pioneer Day. Regular student-supervisor ratios are in effect for all other programs.

Complement your tour with a half-day visit to one of our pioneer classrooms! Our teacher will welcome your class into his or her classroom and provide an immersive 1920s schoolroom experience.

Only available as an add-on to a guided or self-guided tour.

Dates available: May 19 to June 29, 2020 (some exceptions)

Times Available: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Grades: 1-9

Cost: $120 per session up to a maximum of 30 students

Take an immersive trip back in time to our village full of real historic buildings that have been restored and furnished with artifacts from the period. Groups will complete your time travel experience by meeting real characters representing different phases in the Ukrainian-Canadian settlement of east central Alberta.

Two-hour Guided Tours are customized to each grade's curriculum to provide students with the most meaningful and appropriate learning experience. Teachers may also choose to take their students on a self-guided tour, where the focus will be more on cultural landscapes and less on interacting with interpretive role-players.

Dates available: May 19 to June 29, 2020 (some exceptions)

Times for Guided Tour: 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m. - 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Grades: K-12

Cost for Guided Tour: $11 per student

Cost for Self-Guided Tour (K-12): $10 per student

Race to complete a variety of hands-on activities and challenges that will take you to every corner of our museum and teach you about all aspects of pioneer life. All ages will be challenged and entertained by this fun event.

Dates available: May 28, June 5, 24, 25, and 26, 2020

Duration/Time: 4 hours from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Grades: K-6

Cost: $12 per student