Middle school students in Rye are using their Social Studies program to learn more about the past, present and future of Rye and participate in our Rye400 celebration. They will be involved in activities and seminars that will culminate in an Expo in June highlighting projects the students created based on their learnings. There will be a variety of exhibits, performances and tours for visitors to enjoy.

Here are some highlights of the middle school’s Social Studies events and seminars the kids are participating in:

ACTIVITIES:

Amazing Race: Rye Edition
Each grade will complete a scavenger hunt of clues to spell out a word. Each word will build a phrase pertaining to Rye400/our final expo project & community event.

Rye Captured Artwork T-shirt Design Contest

Rye Board Game Design Project

SEMINARS:

Legends of the Isles of Shoals
Learn about 1876 Smuttynose Murders, Fishing Legends, Blackbeard and Smith, Historic Landing point, Fishing Industry and Modern Day Isles.

The Things You Don’t Know About Rye: Looking Back, Building Forward
Explore the college town, hotel hotspot, and the place you call home. Students will research stories of Rye and use their findings to transform Wedgewood into a walking timeline and outdoor classroom that is both a tribute to the past while being a resource for the future.

Voices from the Cemetery
Students will explore their own family’s story of coming to Rye and use ancestryclassroom.com to learn about Rye’s early residents. They will also visit Central Cemetery and “meet” some of the people of Rye’s past. Then they will research one person’s history to find out what brought them to Rye and learn about their jobs, education and what it was like living in here.

Who Was Here Before Us? Who Will Be Here After Us?
Rye is full of history and culture because of the people who made it their home. Kids will study about the Abenaqui native people, those from Europe and other parts of the world, and the slaves who were brought over to Rye from Africa. They will learn their family’s own history and current connection to Rye to develop a deeper understanding of the history of their town, their community and their family.

Plan Your Dream Vacation … In Rye!
Rye is a popular destination for tourists and people looking to get away for a while. Students will learn what makes Rye such a great place to visit. They will explore what draws people to the area and various aspects of tourism here and apply their knowledge to persuade tourists to plan their next vacation here!

Rye400 Student Showcase / June 7, 2023 at the Rye Junior High School

At the end of each 3 week seminar, students will complete a required template outlining a project of their choice pertaining to Rye history, present or future. By the end of all of the Rye400 Social Studies sessions, student will have 3 possible projects to choose from. They will pick one to bring to life for the expo at the end of the school year.