In Charleston, South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Middleton Place is a significant historic landmark that offers an enriching learning experience for studentsÂ
“Through historic preservation, research, interpretation, academic programming and community outreach, Middleton Place uses its essential American stories to teach an appreciation for and an understanding of history. We are happy to customize the experience to meet the needs and curriculum of your class, youth group or university cohort.
With access to Middleton Place’s 65 acres of landscaped gardens, House Museum, Eliza’s House, and working Stable Yards, groups can explore an array of themes – from the American Revolution, slavery in the U.S. and the Civil War, to plantation life, botany, rice culture, animal husbandry, and agriculture.”
South Carolina Heritage
History and nature come alive at Middleton Place, one of the most significant historic landmarks in Charleston’s Lowcountry. Students visiting the site will experience more than 300 years of stories brought to life through preserved gardens, historic architecture and engaging educational programs. With endless opportunities and activities showcasing their landmark landscape and lush greenery, everyone in the classroom will leave the trip with a deeper appreciation for the preservation and heritage in South Carolina.
Throughout their visit, students can discover the 65-acre gardens filled with sculpted terraces, reflecting pools and seasonal blooming flowers. Guided tours will invite young learners to examine how the land has changed across generations and give insight into the beauty of the outdoor design and the plantation’s history. Educators can tie their lessons to real-world themes of conservation, native plant species and the importance of sustainable land use. Middleton Place introduces students to heritage breed animals in the Stable Yards, providing hands-on learning about traditional farming practices with cute animals!
Educational Programs
With programs that range from kindergarten to 12th grade, there is something for everyone that educators can unlock for their classroom. For younger learners in grades K–2, the Animals, Art, and Adventure program introduces life on a colonial plantation through a tour of the heritage breed animals in the Stable Yards. There are also creative activities like candle dipping, pinch pot making, or historic games, and the African Seed Exchange, where students learn about gardening traditions and get to plant a seed to take home!
Grades 3 – 8 ProgrammingÂ
For grades 3–8, the programs immerse students in the rich history that comes with the plantation. Roots & Resilience pairs the Stable Yards tour with a hands-on activity like indigo dyeing or Colonoware stamping. Threads of Tradition adds the African Seed Exchange and a visit to Eliza’s House to explore Reconstruction history. Past in Place combines the stable yards experience with either Beyond the Fields, which is centered on the lives of enslaved people, or a House Museum tour that examines art, architecture and social hierarchy. An optional picnic lunch and garden scavenger hunt expand learning into fun outdoor experiences.
Grades 3 – 12 Programming
For grades 3–12, the Special Edition: Middleton Through a Revolutionary Lens commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Students take part in indigo dyeing, explore foodways and cultural resilience through the African Seed Exchange, and discover how animals and agriculture sustained the plantation economy during the Revolutionary era.
Cross-Curricular Opportunities
Middleton Place offers multiple rich opportunities that bring history and nature directly into the classroom or home. Educators can connect their programs to social studies by exploring the stories of the Middleton family and the enslaved community and examining themes from colonial America through Reconstruction. Science lessons can incorporate the gardens, waterways and heritage breed animals to study ecosystems, agriculture and sustainability. Language arts students can analyze historical documents, journals, and oral histories to understand perspective and storytelling. Art and design classes can draw inspiration from the plantation’s architecture, garden layouts and preserved artifacts.
Why Middleton Place?
For field trips and homeschoolers, the guided tours and hands-on workshops at Middleton Place provide interactive experiences that complement classroom curriculum, helping students engage directly with history, culture and the natural world.
