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 The Wenham Museum galleries are open to the public Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Monday, Closed.  On Sundays (and select weekday afternoons), the museum is open for private museum rentals only – click here to book. Face coverings and advanced ticket purchase are required to visit the galleries.  Click here to reserve tickets.  Snow in the forecast?  Read our Weather Closing policy here.

Poppets Playdates & M is for Museum

m-is-for-museum

EDUCATIONAL FUN For Young Children at Wenham Museum

On the 2nd Friday of the Month at 9:30 AM  and 10:30 am
Sponsored by EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERS

Included in Admission | Free for Members
Free for Residents of Hamilton, Wenham, Essex, and Manchester with RSVP to Paige Menchini, Early Childhood Partners, to be on the list for free admission.

Poppets Playdates: Ages 18 months – 3 years 

Poppets Playdates – a new offering this fall, “poppets” are what the colonial children called their little cloth dolls and what adults lovingly called the children themselves.  This program for toddlers 18 months to 3 years will be a sensory-rich, socialization experience. Offered from 9:30 – 10:00 am on the same days as “M is for Museum”.  Location within the museum will be dependent on the activity.

M is for Museum: Ages 3 years and up

M is for Museum – Wenham Museum educators introduce young children to the world of museums in a fun interactive way, combining early literacy and socialization. Targeted to children 3 years old and up, each session will focus on a particular part of the collection, an exhibit, or a seasonal theme.  Offered from 10:30 – 11:00 am on the second Friday of most months.

Upcoming Programs

January Program:  All About Owls!

Poppets Playdates, 18 mos. +
M is for Museum, 2.9 years +
Friday, January 8, 2021
At Home Program
Register for Access >>

Join in this month’s M is for Museum and Poppets Playdates VIRTUAL at-home program! You can participate in the program on your own time and at your own schedule.

This month is all about owls. Our Poppets friends will read “Owl Babies” by Martin Waddell. In this story, three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can’t help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? When the mother owl returns, the owl babies joyously flap their wings and dance and bounce. Beautiful illustrations capture the story of little ones who miss their mother and are overjoyed at her return.

Our M is for Museum friends will read “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen. In this classic, award-winning story, a little girl and her father go owling on a late winter night. They keep quiet, as they listen for owls and hope to find one during a beautiful moonlit night.

After reading those stories, we have some at-home art activities for you to enjoy! We will make an owl with things we already have at home. We will also share some information about seeing real owls right here near where we live.

After registering, you will receive a link to the program page with storybook readings and directions for the activities.

Past Programs

December Program:  Gingerbread Fun!

Poppets Playdates, 18 mos. +
M is for Museum, 2.9 years +
Friday, November 13, 2020
At Home Program 

Join in this month’s M is for Museum and Poppets Playdates VIRTUAL at-home program! You can participate in the program on your own time and at your own schedule.

This month is all about gingerbread. Our Poppets friends will read “Gingerbread Mouse” by Katy BratunJan Brett. Our M is for Museum friends will read “Gingerbread Pirates” by Matt Tavares.

After reading those stories, we have some fun activities for you to enjoy! We will provide a recipe for you to make gingerbread play-dough at home.

November Program:  Get Ready for Winter!

Poppets Playdates, 18 mos. +
M is for Museum, 2.9 years +
Friday, November 13, 2020
Online Program 

This month is all about getting ready for winter. Our Poppets friends will read The Hat by Jan Brett. In The Hat, a child named Lisa is hanging up her winter clothes outdoors to air out. They have been stored all spring and summer, and she is getting ready to wear them in winter. A little hedgehog named Hedgie comes along, and puts on one of Lisa’s socks as a hat! Do you have different clothes that you wear in winter time?

Our M is for Museum friends will read Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows. In this story, many animals are riding a make-believe train that takes them to hibernation. Hibernation is a fascinating way that some animals survive in winter when food is scarce. Hibernation is like being asleep for a long time. To get ready for hibernation, some animals store food to eat from time to time when they wake up. Other animals build up body fat all spring, summer, and fall so that they can sleep all winter. What kinds of things do you do to get ready for winter?

After reading those stories, we have some fun art activities for you to enjoy! We will paint a hedgehog just like Hedgie from The Hat. We will also make a cozy cave for our favorite bear or stuffed animal to use for hibernation.

October Program:  All About Leaves!

Poppets Playdates, 18 mos. +
M is for Museum, 2.9 years +
Friday, October 9, 2020
Online Program 

Join in this month’s M is for Museum and Poppets Playdates VIRTUAL at-home program!  You can participate in the program on your own time and at your own schedule.

This month is all about leaves.  Our Poppets friends will read Leaves by David Ezra Stein and our M is for Museum friends will read My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington.

After reading those stories, we have some fun leaf-related activities for you to enjoy!  We will find leaves outside for a leaf book and do some leaf printing with fall leaves and paint.

After registering, you will receive a link to the program page with storybook readings and a free leaf book printable.  Registrants can also pick up leaf printing supplies and a printed copy of the leaf book printable at the Wenham Museum.

August Program:  Breathe by Scott Magoon

Poppets Playdates, 18 mos. +
M is for Museum, 2.9 years +
Friday, October 9, 2020
Online Program

Join us online for this month’s M is for Museum & Poppets Playdates program by reaching “Breathe” by Scott Magoon! The timeless message of this story is even more apt today for children and caregivers alike. Follow the link below to watch Scott Magoon read his wonderfully digitally illustrated book and learn how to draw a whale.

For some fun at home during these final days of summer, the Wenham Museum is giving away a free “Under the Sea” Water Wow to those who complete the registration link located within this event. Supplies are limited! Registrants may pick-up their free Water Wow this Friday, August 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Saturday, August 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.