"My area of scholarly expertise is early America, especially social and cultural history, and this presentation taps into my interest in everyday life. 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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Annette hooks kids on history!"
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Our fourth and fifth grade students were spellbound by Annette's engaging conversation and authentic artifacts. We can't wait to have her visit again next year!
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[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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I would absolutely recommend Could You Be A Colonial Kid? to other schools. My students loved it!
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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)
