Homeschool Day – October 22, 2025

Join Coggeshall Farm for a Homeschool Day! Homeschool Days have a rotating series of programs and workshops geared for ages 4+ that bring the historic world to life. This program is for advanced sign-up only and includes the cost of admission. It also features a variety of self-guided activities for all ages.

Sign up for our Homeschool eNews list here to be the first to hear about future Homeschool Days at Coggeshall Farm Museum.

Things to know:

• Coggeshall Farm Museum will be closed to the public on this day except for participating homeschoolers. Your child must be registered for at least one workshop to attend.
• Classes are $10 per homeschooler and admission for accompanying grownups is free.
• Pre-registration is required for all activities listed below.
• These are not drop-in programs and our staff will have a list of registrants for each workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. There is a high demand for these workshops and we would like to be able to offer spots to other participants. You can contact us at coggeshalled@osv.org.
• Students’ guardians must stay in close proximity of the program location for the entire duration of the activity for safety reasons.

Workshops & Registration

Session 1: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. ($10 per participant)

Pumpkin Carving (Ages 4+)    

Sign up for Workshop

Before pumpkins were popular for creating Jack O’lanterns, turnips were the vegetable of choice.  Learn about the history of this annual tradition and design your own creation.  Carve your design into one of the pumpkins grown right here at the farm.

Scarecrows at the Farm (Ages 7+)  

Sign up for Workshop

Scarecrows are a farming tradition that date back to ancient times.  Join us as we learn about the history of scarecrows and make our very own to place at the farm.

Witch Potions and Herbal Remedies (Ages 10+) 

Sign Up for Workshop 

Join us in the farmhouse as we concoct our own potions.  Learn about herbal remedies that were commonly used in the 18^th century.  Some things they used have been found to work the way they were hoping, and others have been found to be poisonous.  Learn the difference between the two so you can make some good potions of your own.

BREAK: 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Try out some historic games in between classes in the Coggeshall Work Yard! Free for all class participants. (This will be an independent activity not led by an instructor; pre-registration not required).

Session 2: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ($10 per participant)

Spiders (Ages 4+)  

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Head into the garden in search of some spiders, real and pretend.  Use your keen eyesight on a scavenger hunt through the garden.  Create your own dangling spider and decide if you want to decorate it to be a spooky or friendly spider.

Broom Making (Ages 7+)  

Sign Up for Workshop SOLD OUT

Broom making was popular in the 18^th century in close by Western Massachusetts.  Learn about the broom corn plants that we have growing at the farm and how they were used to make these historic brooms.  Create your own mini broom to bring home with you for a Halloween decoration.

Apple Head Doll (Ages 10+)  

Sign Up for Workshop 

Apples were historically carved and set to dry to create dolls for children.  Learn more about the history of this process and design your own apple head.  Dress the apple head in a Halloween theme to create a witch.