Long Island History Homeschool Curriculum
This curriculum is based on a college course I took on the History of Long Island. I did not include books, with each unit, due to the nature of homeschooling and different levels your children may be at. Most of the places listed have gift shops with books on each place or topic, some of the libraries also carry some local history books, these two places will be the best spots to choose a book or books that are appropriate for your children, I did include a list of suggested reading.
There may be other places that go along with each unit, I did not want to create an overwhelming list, the goal was to organize it into a easy timeline to organize your school year. The Suffolk County Historical Society has an excellent book store if you need a starting place.
Please check the websites for admissions fees, events and hours of operation.
The Birth of Long Island
Geological Creation of Long Island
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove, NY
garviespointmuseum.com
The Hicksville Gregory Museum
1 Heitz Place, Hicksville, NY
gregorymuseum.org
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge- National Forest Jr. Ranger
340 Smith Road, Shirley, NY
The First Long Islanders
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove, NY
garviespointmuseum.com
Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum
shinnecockmuseum.com
Southold Indian Museum
1080 Main Bayview Rd, Southold, NY
southoldindianmuseum.org
Dutch and English Settlement
The Thomas Halsey Homestead
4826 249 S. Main St, Southampton, NY
Southamptonhistory.org
The Old House
cutchoguenewsuffolkhistory.org
Brewster House
18 Runs Road, Setauket-East Setauket, NY
wmho.org
Conscience Point Historic Site
1640Conscience Point Rd, Southampton, NY
southamptonhistory.org
Revolutionary War On Long Island
Ketcham Inn
81 Main St, Center Moriches, NY
Ketchaminnfoundation.org
Sagtikos Manor
677 Montauk Highway, West Bayshore, NY
sagtikosmanor.org
Manor St. George
Mastic, NY
brookhavensouthaven.org
William Floyd Estate- Jr. Ranger Badge
245 Park Drive, Mastic Beach, NY
nps.gov
Three Village Historical Society- Culper Spy Ring Walks
93N. Country Road, Setauket, NY
tvhs.org
Battle Pass- New York Freedom Trail
nyfreedom.com
Long Island Industry
Sag Harbor Whaling Museum
200 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY
Sagharborwhalingmuseum.org
Southampton Historical Museum
Rogers Mansion
17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton
Southamptonhistory.org
Stonybrook Carriage Museum
1200 Route 25A, Stonybrook, NY
longislandmuseum.org
Old Bethpage Restoration Village
1303 Roundswamp Rd, Old Bethpage
obvnassau.com
Lighthouses
Fire Island National Seashore- Jr Ranger Badge
Montauk Point
Horton's Point- Southold, NY
Transportation on Long Island
Stonybrook Carriage Museum
1200 Route 25A, Stonybrook, NY
longislandmuseum.org
Rail Road Museum of Long Island
Riverhead and Greenport
rmli.us
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Garden City, NY
cradleofaviation.org
Suffolk County Historical Society
300 west Main Street, Riverhead, NY
suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org
1900-1970
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site- Theodore Roosevelts Home- Jr. Ranger
20 Sagamore Hill Rd, Oyster Bay, NY
NPS.gov
Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
180 Little Neck Rd, Centerport, NY
vanderbiltmuseum.org
Gold Coast Mansions of Long Island
goldcoastmansionsoflongisland.com
American Airpower Museum- World War II
1230 New Hwy, Farmingdale, NY
americanairpowermuseum.com
Museum of American Armor- World War I- World War II- Korea- Vietnam
1303 Round Swamp Road, Plainview, NY
museumofamericanarmor.com
** Local History**
Many towns have their own Historical Societies and museums, I encourage you to check these out, their exhibits change, they may fit into any of these units. Many towns also have books that they have written that are specific to their history.
Suggested Reading List
Depending on your child's reading level, these may be 7th Grade and Up.
Long Island; Our Story; The Celebrated Series. Newsday 1998
The American Revolution on Long Island. Dr. Joanne S. Grasso. Arcadia Publishing
Mayday: Shipwrecks, Tragedies & Tales from Long Island's Eastern Shore. Van Field. Arcadia Publishing
Long Island and the Civil War; Queens, Nassau, & Suffolk Counties During the War Between States.
Harrison Hunter & Bill Bleyer, The History Press
Long Island Women & the Suffrage Movement. Antonia Petrash. Arcadia Publishing
For the Younger Ones:
Upon Secrecy. Selene Castrovilla. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2009.
Helpful Websites
Live-brary.com
This is the Suffolk County Library website, they have a link for Local History and Genealogy, this includes Historic Newspapers which are a great source for articles about historic events from when they were current events. This can be used to write research papers on a topic using primary sources.
**Happy Learning**
I have visited many historic sites with my children as part of our learning, check out As The Homeschool Travels on Facebook for ideas on other places to take field trips to, not all of them are on Long Island.
