East Martello Museum
Elementary Student Activities

OBJECTIVES:

  1. To expose students to the historical significance of the East Martello Tower.
  2. To expand students knowledge of Florida Keys history.
  3. To introduce students to local folk art.
VOCABULARY:
  • Citadel
  • Calusa
  • Civil War
  • artifacts
  • Cayo Hueso
  • turtling wrecking sponging
  • Mario Sanchez
  • Stanley Papio
 PRE-VISIT ACTIVITIES:
  • Engage students in a discussion of prior knowledge about history of the Florida Keys and the Civil War.
  • Research Florida Keys history (*See Book List/Web Site List).
  • Create a map of the Florida Keys historic sites and forts.
  • Introduce students to folk art and local artists.
 MUSEUM VISIT:
At the museum, students will learn a general background history of the East Martello Tower before exploring the history rooms and art gallery. The group will be exposed to photographs, artifacts, folk art, and life in Key West's early years. The students may also enjoy the playhouse (Junior Museum) and courtyard exhibits before climbing the stairs in the center of the Citadel to the lookout tower. Throughout the fort, the students will see the folk art sculpture of Stanley Papio and can then view the hand-painted woodcarvings in the Mario Sanchez Gallery. A "Scavenger Hunt" is available for students or groups to challenge them to a paper-and-pencil quest of collecting information by answering questions about artifacts while touring the fort.

POST-VISIT ACTIVITIES:

  • Challenge students to an East Martello Museum Crossword or Word Find Puzzle (*See Teacher Resources), or encourage them to create their own puzzles.
  • Write a news article about your trip. Be sure to include the "5 W's": Who? What? When? Where? Why? A photograph with caption can complete the headline news!
  • Compose friendly letters or postcards for a friend or relative to share their field trip learning experiences.
  • Design a brochure telling about the many interesting artifacts and history learned at the East Martello Museum. Students can then be encouraged to add colorful drawings with informative captions.
  • Have groups of students design "East Martello Board Games", complete with Florida Keys historical questions, answers, and rules!
  • Encourage the group to collaborate on a "History Quilt". Students can draw their favorite exhibit and write what they learned on squares of paper or cloth. Add color and a distinguishing border before assembling the "quilt".
  • Choose from among the many creative writing East Martello story starters (*See Teacher Resources).
  • Have students collect "found objects" to create their own Recycled Art Sculptures as an extension of the Stanley Papio folk art.
  • Have students capture their local surroundings and neighborhoods by sketching the scenes on brown paper bags, as Mario Sanchez once did. Add colorful paint to finish the folk art!
  • Create an Acrostic Poem using the letters from the museum site:
E
A
S
T

M
A
R
T
E
L
L
O

WEB SITES:
Historical Chronology for Key West and Florida Keys
A Short History of Florida
Florida Kids
Best of the Florida Keys

BOOK LISTS: If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War by Kay Moore
Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Civil War by Catherine Clinton
Civil War Days: Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes by David C. King
Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymore Reit
Fort Life (Historic Communities) by Bobbie Kalman and David Schimpky
Old Sea Forts of Florida by Dale Manuel (*Teacher Reference)
Key West Companion by Christopher Cox (*Teacher Reference)
Yesterdays Key West, Yesterdays Florida Keys by Stan Windhorn and Wright Langley
This site maintained by Key West Art & Historical Society
All contents copyright. All rights reserved.