Tips for Hosting Declaration Book Club

Q: What’s the best way to get started? How many people do I need? How long does it take?

A:  We’ve designed Declaration Book Club to be flexible. It works for both big (we suggest 25 or fewer) and small groups, and you can set your own pace. You could even do it on your own, but it deepens the experience to discuss the materials with others, using the discussion questions we’ve provided. (Feel free to add your own!)

As with any book group, you’ll get the most out of each session if everyone comes prepared, having read (and watched) that session’s materials. It’s not a huge burden – an hour or two should give each reader time to review and think. (Remember: you set the pace!)

Each session in the kit should spark 60-90 minutes or more of conversation—with added time for snacks and socializing.

Q: I’m a teacher. Can I do this with my students?

A: Yes! Declaration Book Club is designed to be adaptable to various age groups.

If you are working in a classroom setting, you can likely winnow the materials and discussions to three, 50-minute lessons. For students younger than high school, you can also break the materials into smaller chunks.

Q: Any tips on structuring the conversation?

A: The guiding questions in the kit are designed to make it easy for anyone to step into the role of facilitator, or to share that role among members of your group. You might ask a few members to come prepared with thoughts on an individual reading in each kit. Giving participants optional “roles” (like discussion leader or note-taker) can also encourage more voices to join in.

Q: How close in time should the sessions take place?

A: Meeting once a month, like many book clubs, works well. Oftener is fine, too. Any longer than a month between meetings, you may lose momentum.

For a classroom or conference, running three sessions over consecutive days, or even a marathon Declaration afternoon, also works well.

Bonus Tip

Our food and drink collection celebrates Thomas Jefferson’s passion for food and the art of living. Consider adding some Monticello Shop beverages and snacks for your gathering:

A can with an image of Monticello and the words "Extra Large and Slightly Salted / Virginia Peanuts / Produced Proudly in Virginia"
Salted Roasted Virginia Peanuts 9 oz. – Monticello Shop If you've never had Virginia peanuts before, you'll be amazed at their large size, freshness and crunchy texture. Our peanuts are cooked in pure peanut oil and lightly salted to maintain their distinctive flavor and healthy qualities— - perfect for cocktail or anytime snacking
Cheese straws in a red-and-white, 4-ounce package with an image of Monticello on it and the words "Virginia Aged Cheddar / Cheese Straws / Proudly Produced in Virginia
Monticello Cheese Straws – Monticello Shop These traditional cheese straws help make any event an occasion. Made with aged cheddar cheese, unbleached wheat flour, canola oil, water, sea salt, paprika and spices, these rich little pastries are delicious with cocktails or tea, and truly hard to resist
Pecans in a 10-ounce clear package with a white and light-yellow label showing an image of Monticello and the words " A Little Sweet, A Little Salty / Candied Pecans / Proudly Produced in Virginia"
Monticello Candied Pecans Handmade for Monticello by a local catering company. Each candied pecan is created using six simple ingredients – pecans, sugar, honey, canola oil, salt and spices.
A vignette showing the charcoal-colored tote with a large image of Monticello flanked by four type of Monticello snacks (chocolate bark, popcorn, cheese straws, and spicy pretzels)
Monticello Favorite Snacks Tote – Monticello Shop The perfect gift for the sweet and savory foodie, these tempting delights are packaged in a reusable tote.  Includes Virginia Cheese Straws, Virginia Peanuts (9 oz), Spicy Pretzels, Kettle Popcorn, and Dark Chocolate Bark. 
Three bottles of Monticello Root Beer and with red and white labels showing a drawing of Monticello and the words "Handcrafted / Monticello Root Beer / Made with Pure Honey"
Monticello Root Beer Monticello Root Beer is hand-crafted with pure Virginia honey and other natural extracts. Sassafras, one of the main ingredients in the root beer of the time, was mentioned by Thomas Jefferson as among "the plants [that] abound in this neighborhood." 
Two bottles of Monticello Sparkling Cider with white and light-green labels showing a drawing of Monticello and the words "Sparkling / Monticello Cider / Proudly Made in Americar"
Monticello Sparkling Apple Cider Cider was a staple beverage at Monticello. A blend of apples results in the clean, fruity taste of our non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider. 

ADDRESS:
1050 Monticello Loop
Charlottesville, VA 22902
GENERAL INFORMATION:
(434) 984-9800