Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

Learning Experiences

School Activities

For many years now, the Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada has developed an outstanding schools program intended especially for schoolchildren in grades 4 to 6.

Designed to supplement to the social sciences program of study oriented on educational reform program, the special school group visit offers students the opportunity of discovering the site and participating in a number of activities and special workshops.
 

• The Guided Tour
• Workshops

The Guided Tour

Exhibit in the cellars of the Grande Maison. © Parks Canada / Eugen Kedl / CDMG-3833-5, August 11, 2002

Depending on available resources upon leaving the Grande Maison, youngsters will make a first halt near the archaeological remains of the workers' dwellings. The themes dealt with at this stop include forms and materials, living habits, and home life during the era of the Forges-i.e., the 18th and 19th centuries.

Water-filled bay near the blast furnace complex. © Parks Canada / Pierre Ferrer / CDPF-04-12-19, Summer 2001

Students then proceed to the blast furnace dam, where the guide will explain how and why the creek had to be harnessed, as part of ensuring that sufficient reserves of water were created for operating the great wheel of the blast furnace and the waterwheels at the upper and lower forges.

Hydraulic system, blast furnace complex. © Parks Canada / Pierre Ferrer / CDPF-01-01-30, Summer 2001

Students then climb up a set of stairs to the top of the blast furnace. From there, they can picture the great amount of work demanded of Forges workers by the voracious blast furnace, which was operated 24 hours a day from spring to fall.

Once they have finished visiting the inside of the blast furnace complex, they continue along a path bordering the brook until reaching the lower forge, where they will be told the story of how pig iron was transformed into bar iron.

Their visit comes to a close near the devil's fountain. They then return to the Grande Maison, which is built atop a magnificent bluff overlooking the St. Maurice River.

Workshops

In a quiet area of the Forges' sprawling grounds, the group will take part in a workshop during which they will handle or use objects, miniatures, scale models and illustrations. The guides will uses collapsible models to talk about home living. Small, easy-to-handle reproductions are used to present the topic of furniture. The workshop on dress compares clothing in the era of the Forges with that which is worn today. As part of the talk on archaeology, children are allowed to handle authentic artifacts and tools, a feature which always goes over strongly with these visitors. With the help of a reduced model of the fireplace, students discover how our ancestors could feed themselves.