"My area of scholarly expertise is colonial America, especially social and cultural history, and this presentation taps into my interest in everyday life in the period. That's also a subject I explore in depth in Look Ahead, Look Back (The Snipesville Chronicles, Book 2).
In Could You Be A Colonial Kid?, I introduce students to the great diversity of experience of kids living in British America around 1750, and "introduce" is the key phrase: The presentation helps kids to understand that no presentation (or class) can do more than barely skim the surface, and encourages them to explore for themselves. Much hilarity ensues when we recreate an 18th century conversation. And it's striking for kids to reflect that the luxurious lives of a few colonists depended on the work of thousands of slaves."
In Could You Be A Colonial Kid?, I introduce students to the great diversity of experience of kids living in British America around 1750, and "introduce" is the key phrase: The presentation helps kids to understand that no presentation (or class) can do more than barely skim the surface, and encourages them to explore for themselves. Much hilarity ensues when we recreate an 18th century conversation. And it's striking for kids to reflect that the luxurious lives of a few colonists depended on the work of thousands of slaves."
Testimonials
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3rd GRADE: [Annette] did a wonderful job sharing her expertise with the students, keeping expectations high, yet also using kid-friendly language. Students . . .remained engaged throughout."
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4th GRADE: [Could You Be A Colonial Kid's strengths were] the props, the visuals, the interactions with the children, authenticity, singing, dancing, music, full costume, covering all bases from food to toys to clothes to going to the bathroom and school!
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4th GRADE: Dr. Laing's presentation on colonial kids fits the Gwinnett County AKS standards perfectly, while adding engaging qualities that enrapture the kids. She captures their attention by making the topics apply to children their age."
Layla Bell
4th Grade Teacher / Harbins Elementary, Gwinnett County (suburban Atlanta) GA
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Details: Could You Be A Colonial Kid?
- Program Length: 60-75-90 minutes (after audience seated); Max. Three Sessions per Day
- Recommended Audience Ages: Grades 3-6
- Recommended Audience Size: 60-80 For the best possible experience for the students, divide a single grade into three sessions for the day. This allows more students to participate as volunteers, a closer view of the artifacts, and the best rapport between Annette and the children.
- Maximum Audience Size: 150
- Social Studies Curriculum Relevance: Connects to study of Colonial America. Develops critical thinking skills and historical literacy, including in dealing with primary sources.
- May be combined in a single day with A Writer's Life, for a total of three sessions
Overview: Dressed as an ordinary 18th century woman, Dr. Laing gives students an inside look at mid-eighteenth century colonial American life for lots of different kinds of kids, from the privileged children of merchants and planters, to apprentices and slaves. She also helps students understand the differences and connections between life then, and life today. Annette reads from Look Ahead, Look Back (The Snipesville Chronicles, Book 3) which is set in the year 1752. Connects with: Look Ahead, Look Back (The Snipesville Chronicles, Book 3)
