Educational programs at the J. Gižas Ethnographic Homestead - Museum

Education is divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. During the theoretical session, you will learn about the Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania's largest freshwater body of water, once the most fishy. You will learn about the fish that live in the lagoon, the types of sailing boats, and the peculiarities of fishing throughout history. Understand how human activities affect the fish stocks in the lagoon. You will learn how fishing has been regulated in the past and present. You will learn the names of the fish used by the inhabitants of Shishoni.

In the practical part of the education, you will use a piece of modelling clay to make your own fish that live in the lagoon. While the pieces are drying in the oven, you will walk to the small ship harbour in Dreverna and admire the Curonian Lagoon and the dunes of the Curonian Spit from the observation tower. In the harbour, you will see a restored ancient Curonian lagoon ship - a cruise ship. Take back the fish you've made as a souvenir.

During the lesson you will learn about the history of weathervanes, their purpose, signs of settlements along the coast and other important features. In the practical part, you will construct and paint a weathervane from wooden parts and adapt it to your region, thus making sense of the historical knowledge you have acquired. While the weathervane is drying, you will visit Dreverna's small ship harbour, the Curonian Lagoon, climb the green tower and explore Dreverna's weathervane square. Take your own pinwheel with you as a keepsake.

The people of Šiauliai say: "we took words from Samogitian, English and German and made them fit our puppet, and the sins were invented by a fisherman". At the homestead of shipwright J. Gižo, you will hear a short story about Lithuania Minor and why the locals spoke differently. In the museum's interactive exposition, you will watch a short documentary film in which the shipwright's daughter Eva Gižas speaks in the Shishionish (Lithuanian) dialect. Then, divided into two teams, you will play Jenga and pull large wooden blocks to try not to knock down the tower of blocks, and try to guess the word used by the Šišioniškės people written on the block you pull. The winning team with the most points is awarded. The youngest participants will be able to try on 19th-century chairs (skirts), shirshis (aprons) and waistcoats (waistcoats) and take a selfie. After learning to understand and communicate with the Shishonians, you will go to the ovingis (harbour) to look at the sheep (ships) and climb the Dreverna lookout tower.

During the activity at the Shipwright Museum, you will learn about the history of weather vanes, their purpose, the symbols of coastal settlements, and other important features. You will see an authentic weather vane that has survived to this day. You will learn that on June 26, 1844, a government decree was issued "On the Proper Order in the Fishing Industry." Each village located on the Curonian Lagoon was given a contrasting color symbol and a designated fishing area. The weather vanes regulated fishing in the Curonian Lagoon and thus contributed to the ecological condition of the lagoon.

In the practical part of the activity, you will decorate a reusable cloth bag with a weather vane. You will be given four colors for coloring: blue, red, white, and black, which are the colors used to paint weather vanes. To make the bag washable and the decoration durable, you will iron it with an old-fashioned coal iron. 

The educational program can be delivered remotely via Zoom or a similar program. During the lesson, you will learn about weather vanes, and the story will be illustrated with slides. The canvas bags will be sent by post 3-5 days before the educational program.

For: pupils in grades 1 - 5.

45 min.

45 minutes (45 minutes)

During the education we will talk about the life of a Lithuanian woman. We will talk about the joys and sorrows of being a Lithuanian. In the kitchen, where women used to work every day, you will see the most frequently used utensils and dishes. You will learn how the brick on which food was cooked worked. We will compare how women's lives differ today and in the past.

Later, we will make our own biscuits from the prepared dough. We will make moon, sun and goose shaped biscuits. While the treats are baking, the educator will tell you about the most popular drink, kafija, and what kind of grabaliots (cakes) Lithuanian women liked to bake. We will grind coffee beans with an ancient coffee grinder. And finally, we will taste our own baked biscuits with mint tia.

The education takes place from October to November. Suitable for St. It is an opportunity to celebrate St. Martin's Day in Klaipėda Region.

Cost of the lesson - 5 Eur

Address: Žvejų g. 13, Dreverna.

For: pupils in grades 1 - 5.

45 min.

I'll build a sailboat

In the workshop of shipwright Jonas Gižo we will become apprentices.

Our working day will look like this:

- We will get acquainted with the flat-bottomed boats of the Curonian Lagoon, and learn about their types;

 - We will learn how to saw with a double-cutting saw and how to plane boards with a plane;

- We will learn how to build our own sailboat, which will float in the water, from plywood blanks;

 If the wind is favourable, we will organise a sailboat regatta (in the warm season). You will take home the sailboat you have built.

The cost of the activity is 5 Eur.

Address: Žvejų g. 13, Dreverna.

For: pupils in grades 1 - 5.

45 min.

45 min. - 45 min. - 45 min. - 45 min. - 45 min. - 45 min. - 45 min.

Learn about the Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania's largest freshwater body of water and once the most fishy. You will learn about the fish that live in the lagoon, the types of sailing boats and the peculiarities of fishing. Understand how human activities affect fish stocks in the lagoon. You will learn how fishing has been regulated in the past and present. You will learn the names of fish used by the inhabitants of the Shishoni and the superstitions used by fishermen when fishing. You will bob and guess the fish.

And then grab your phones, download the educational game and catch the fish. The best fisherman in the class will be rewarded!

The education is suitable for distance and field trips.

The cost of the class is 2 EUR.

Address: Žvejų g. 13, Dreverna.

During the educational program, you will learn about life in the coastal region, the customs of its inhabitants, and their daily lives. Participants will hear about the Šišioniškiai, an ancient community in this region, and learn about the characteristics of their language.

In the practical part, you will search for places and objects on a map, which will be a fun adventure that develops orientation, attentiveness, and creative thinking.

Note: the activity can be conducted at the educational institution of your choice.

During the educational program, children will learn about the Lithuanians who lived in the coastal region not so long ago, hear their old dialect, learn a few words, experience what the coastal people did for a living and how they lived, They will get involved and learn the names of winds, fish, and lagoon sailboats. They will listen to and participate in the telling of coastal legends, learn folk songs, games, sayings, and proverbs.

Job advertisement! We are looking for shipbuilders' apprentices! The most famous shipbuilder in the Curonian Spit, Jonas Gižas, is looking for apprentices to work in his workshop. We will train those who have no experience. The selection of employees will take place at J. Gižas' ethnographic farmstead in the following stages:

• You will try on journeyman's hats;
• You will learn about the peculiarities of building flat-bottomed boats on the Curonian Lagoon; You will learn how to cut with a two-handed saw and plane boards with a plane;
• You will watch a documentary film about boat building, “Kurėnas”;
•  You will fill out an apprentice candidate questionnaire.

Selected candidates will be notified personally.