Smith's Castle is an award-winning historic site, providing an opportunity for adults and children to experience nearly four centuries of Rhode Island history. School Tours and Programs We provide special programs for school groups. Presentations on colonial life and history, including options for hands-on craft activities, are available. Docents also travel to schools and conduct focused programs for students in their own classroom. The school tour season runs from mid-April through the first week of December. We'll tailor an on-site program to meet your needs. We can also bring a Trunk Show to your classroom. For all programs, children work in small groups with costumed docents. Following are the basic lesson options. There is an additional charge for craft activities. Programs for grades 3–8 require approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Call for information about our special focus programs: primary documents, archaeology, apothecary, garden, textiles, and foodways. Kindergarten–grade 2 Everyday life and the colonial kitchen Colonial cooking and food preservation. Compare and contrast old and new kitchen utensils. Role play carrying water and wash day. Hear a story or play a game. Craft/snack Options: Make butter or string apples for drying. 45 minutes to one hour. Trunk show option: Same program as above. Grades 3–8 17th Century Rhode Island Trading Post The Narragansett Tribe. Roger Williams' and Richard Smith's trade and interactions with the Native people. King Philip's War and the Great Swamp Fight. Activity: make a Native American bead pouch craft, Depth of program varies by grade level. Video available for loan. 1-1/2 to 2 hours Truck show option: Primary document investigation. Grades 3–8 What Was It Like to Live in Colonial Days? Lifestyles, rooms and their uses, furnishings and equipment. Food preparation and preservation. Children's chores Activity: Children's education with quill pen writing. Depth of program varies by grade level. 1-1/2 to 2 hours Trunk show option: Development of a colonial village. A child's life Grades 3–8 Plantation Life in Rhode Island How did a plantation differ from a farm? What was life like for owners and slaves? Activity for grades 3 and 4: Design a quilt block to make a class quilt. Activity for grades 5–8: Make a runaway slave poster. Depth of program varies by grade level. 1-1/2 to 2 hours Trunk show option: Primary document investigation.