Revolutionary War Encampment - October 25-26, 2007

 

The last week of October marked 5th graders' completion of a week of experiential learning about life during Revolutionary times. They spent a day at Fort Lee and two classroom days working with Fort Lee volunteers who taught them 18th century skills.

 

On Thursday they arrived in the 18th century, at Coleman School, and commenced an enrichment program coordinated by the district's Gifted and Talented team.

 

As Revolutionary recruits, the children chopped, sawed and split wood with the help of their teachers and principal Linda Weber. They churned butter, prepared their meals, visited the sutler's tent* after their pay parade and slept in tents they had set up. After working hard, these 18th century recruits learned period games that might have been played at the end of a long day.

 

The children returned to the 21st century on Friday with a deeper understanding of our nation's past.

*A “sutler” was a person who maintained a store on an army post to sell provisions to the soldiers.