The Industrial Revolution
Designed for grades 7-12, the kit is keyed to NH and VT standards and contains artifacts, photos, primary source documents, activities, books, CDs, a video, and lesson plans. It is organized into four modules, each containing a teachers guide and focusing on an essential question.
The kit will help challenge your students to study the world around them, to discover how innovation and hard work transformed a farm and forest-based economy into a world of factories, machines, and mass-produced consumer goods. Much of this transformation originated in New England, in towns and villages where you can still see the evidence of early factories and mills, and where you can study local community records to find out what life was like during early years of industrialization.
Each module also contains a teacher guide which you may view or download. The introductory essay is included in Module I of the kit. Each module contains a teacher guide which you may view or download below, or you may view or download the entire teacher guide here.
Module I - Background, 1750-1850
Essential Questions: What is industrialization? What are interchangeable parts?
Module II - Invention and Technology
Essential Questions: How did new inventions happen? What is “precision manufacturing”?
Module III - Life and Labor
Essential Questions: How did life change during the industrial revolution? How did it change at work, at home, and throughout society?
Module IV - Legacy and Impact
Essential Question: How did factories transform the geography of the town?
For Advanced and High School Students
Kit Rental Information
The kit is available for a three-week rental period and costs $40.00, which includes shipment to your school. Your school is responsible for return shipping costs. The rental fee is $30.00 if you pick the kit up in person from the museum. Please download the Kit Agreement and Payment Form, fill it in and return by mail or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Kit Evaluation Form
We ask teachers using the kit to tell us how they used it. A print copy of the evaluation form will be enclosed with the kit. Click here to download the form.
VT and NH Standards
Click here for NH and VT standards
Using the kit is a great way to prepare for a visit to the museum.