Are you in need of a new wig? Has your horse thrown a shoe? Perhaps your goodwife would like to order a new gown for the ball. Allow any one of the fine 18th century tradesmen and women of the Bennett fourth grade to fill your order! Each one eagerly set up shop, or shall we say “shoppe” on May 15th under the sign of the white tent! It was an exciting day when well over one hundred students greeted an amazing crowd of enthusiastic visitors. Each blacksmith, shoemaker, potter and tinsmith aptly explained his/her product, discussed tools, demonstrated work, and proved his/her interdependence among townsfolk.
Are you in need of a new wig? Has your horse thrown a shoe? Perhaps your goodwife would like to order a new gown for the ball. Allow any one of the fine 18th century tradesmen and women of the Bennett fourth grade to fill your order! Each one eagerly set up shop, or shall we say “shoppe” on May 15th under the sign of the white tent! It was an exciting day when well over one hundred students greeted an amazing crowd of enthusiastic visitors. Each blacksmith, shoemaker, potter and tinsmith aptly explained his/her product, discussed tools, demonstrated work, and proved his/her interdependence among townsfolk.
This project based learning experience actually started to take root much earlier in the school year. Students began to learn of life in Colonial New York through integrated reading, writing and history lessons. While some lessons included a study of text information from books, articles, and internet resources, others were more hands on. Students studied actual artifacts such as lanterns, tinderboxes, tricorns and haversacks. After becoming fully immersed in 18th life, students were invited to choose a trade to present at the upcoming colonial trade fair. Lessons in research, report writing and public speaking helped students to become mini-experts and to gain confidence for the event.
The colonial trade fair experience offered a truly across-curricular approach to learning. In addition to classroom instruction, special area teachers provided experiential opportunities for learning. In Art, students learned of colonial architecture and made prints of such designs. They studied and created colonial trade signs. After being treated to an 18th century dance and music demonstration during an assembly in February, Physical Education teachers helped students to learn several colonial dances that were performed at a colonial ball on the day following the actual trade fair. During general music classes, students were exposed to 18th century tunes and instruments. Through each of these experiences, fourth graders were certainly offered a multifaceted, hands-on learning experience.
To say that Bennett fourth graders built long lasting memories of this occasion would be accurate, but truly understated. In addition to memories, they have gained so much more! Even the shyest of scholars among the group, stood with confidence to speak to visitors at the fair! This was possible because each one had been afforded the skills to seek and claim information that allowed for very imaginative work to grow! Students and teachers alike can attribute the success of the colonial trade fair to the motivational work that was conducted in the months and weeks leading up to the event. May we hear a round of “Huzzah!”s on behalf of our trade people?
~Cindy Scherry