Classroom Programs

Starting A Colony

Starting a Colony is a hands-on lesson that asks students to apply important economic concepts to the colonial Delaware experience. Students will explore gains from trade, choice, scarcity, and specialization in this historical context. They must choose people with the necessary skills. They will bring the supplies and trade goods that allow them to establish a new colony in the Delaware Valley.

Program Details

Starting A Colony is a free educational resource that is easy to schedule.

• Kalmar Nyckel Foundation educators will bring our kits to your classroom and lead the program.
• This lesson is part of Delaware’s Recommended Curriculum (DRC). As part of the Thinking Economically Unit for 5th-Grade Social Studies, Starting A Colony is a “learning with objects” simulation that addresses Economics Standard 4 – International Trade.
• The entire lesson is prepared ahead of time and ready for the classroom.
• Your students will not only learn to apply basic economic concepts, but also have fun learning about Delaware’s colonial history.

This award-winning program was designed by Sam Heed, KNF Senior Historian & Director of Education. He received the 2013 iEducate Delaware Award.

To learn more about Starting a Colony, please contact us at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation office or call 302.429.7447.

Five Ways To Freedom

Five Ways to Freedom: Navigating Delaware's Underground Railroad Network is a new experiential program that emphasizes critical thinking and analysis while teaching students about the important roles that modes of transportation and the Delaware abolitionist network played in the Underground Railroad.

• Learn about five significant heroes of the Underground Railroad who operated in Delaware and beyond.
• Discover why Delaware was such an important part of the "Eastern Line," with routes on the Underground Railroad.
• Explore five modes of travel including the lesser-known but vital maritime Underground Railroad, using ships and boats locally and nationally.
• Engage critically with real-life stories from the Underground Railroad in Delaware. 

Thanks to generous grant funding from The Chichester duPont Foundation, we are offering this program free of charge to Delaware students.

Request A Visit

• Your school: our education team will facilitate this lesson in your classroom with a traveling display and printed materials. Request a date.
• Field Trip to Fort Christina Park: Your class or group can meet our team at Fort Christina Park, next door to our maritime campus in the spring, summer, and fall. This park is a confirmed National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site, operated by the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in partnership with Delaware Historical & Cultural Affairs.
• To schedule a Five Ways to Freedom program: please contact Kat Peterson, Assistant Director of Education, by email or call the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation at 302.429.7447 on weekdays.

Custom Classroom Programs

We offer classroom lessons on a variety of topics related to Delaware’s colonial and maritime history.

We are ready to work with you to design a custom lesson plan for your class. Applied STEM concepts are especially relevant to our material. 

Plan A Lesson

To schedule a custom program please contact us at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation for details.

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation thanks these supporters which allow us to offer unique programs to Delaware schools free of charge:

• Discover®
• State of Delaware's Financial Literacy Education Fund

Kalmar Nyckel Curriculum Units

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation partners with the Delaware Department of Education to provide Curriculum Units that reach up to reaching 12,000 students each year.  We have supported the creation of the following units:

• 4^th grade - History
• 5th grade - Economics
• 5^th grade - Geography
• 12th grade - Literacy Through History