HISTORICALLY SPEAKING NEW JERSEY PATCH PROGRAM
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1. New Jersey was one of the thirteen original colonies. What number was it? Who was the state named after? What is its nickname? Locate New Jersey on a map of the USA. Identify the capital. Identify the State Bird, flower and flag.

2. The Leni-Lenape Native American Indians were one of the first tribes in New Jersey. Research how and where they lived. What skills did they need to survive? What did they eat? What is a dugout canoe and what was it used for? If you can, visit a festival or historical site, such as the Red Hawk Dancers. Choose one of the following: Prepare and complete a skit, conduct a play, make paper dolls dressed in native clothing, or make a pictograph using symbols for words.

3. Learn about several famous people who lived in New Jersey. Why were they important? What did they accomplish? Some examples are: Mary Hays, Molly Pitcher, James Still, John Cabot, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Henry Hudson.

4. Enjoy one of New Jersey’s many outdoor activities Swim or stroll on the beautiful beaches, hike in the Mountains, kayak on the soothing lakes, ride on a paddlewheel river boat, camp in a log cabin or explore on your own.

5. From Victorian villages to lively cities, New Jersey has sites for you to see. Visit or research a historical site or area in New Jersey. Such as: Cold Spring Village, Potter's Tavern, or the A.J. Meerwald ship.

6. Every year, many festivals are celebrated in New Jersey. Such as: Victorian Week, Kite and Harvest Celebrations, Mid Summer Nights Festival, or Sinterklaasfeest. Find out more about a festival in New Jersey. Where it is celebrated, when and why? If you can, visit a festival. For fun, you can have a pretend festival of your own re-creating New Jersey festivals.

7. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center was one of the nation's first major performing arts centers to open in the northeast. There are many spectacular theaters in New Jersey. Enjoy a play, opera, or visit a theater in your area.

8. Learn more about New Jersey during the colonial era. Where were the first settlers from? What foods did they eat? How were the foods prepared? What type of clothing did they wear? What daily chores did the children have? What types of jobs were available? Choose one of the following: Visit a colonial festival or reenactment, make paper dolls dressed in colonial clothing, conduct a skit or play about the colonial era, make a whirly gig or play a colonial game, or draw a colonial picture.

9. Ellis Island was the first place immigrants, seeing a new life in America, landed. It is now a national park. What other sites are there to see on this island? What other state is it near? Visit Ellis Island or another National Park in your area. Explore the history and nature of the park.

10. Cape May has one of the oldest operating lighthouses in America. Choose a lighthouse to learn more about. When was it constructed? What materials is it made from? What color is it? Do they still use it today? How tall is it?

11. New Jersey has many wonderful foods. Try one of their multi- cultural cuisines such as: clam chowder, wienerschnitzel, potato skins, corn beef and cabbage, fried tomatoes, peach pie or blueberry cookie pie.

12. There are more than 3,000 wildflowers in New Jersey and over 25 are rare orchids. Explore more of their wildlife. Look for these objects in a park or field. Find 4 different flowers, 3 mammals, 2 insects, and 4 trees.

13. Learn a traditional craft from New Jersey. For example: Crocheting, embroidery, weaving, pottery, basket making, wood work, or quilting.

14. On June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey, the first professional baseball game was played. What were the teams named? Who invented the game? How did they catch the ball? For fun, play a game of baseball. http://www.mrbaseball.com/history/history_main.htm

 

This patch program will help its participants learn more about the history and sites in this state. If you have the privilege of visiting this state, you can complete some of these requirements there. It would be helpful to learn more about the state prior to your visit. Use the library and the internet to research more.