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REAL History

This fall in homeschooling, we’ve been studying influential leaders in American History.  Because we studied about George Washington and the Revolutionary War this summer, it seemed appropriate to then study the Civil War this fall.

We’ve loved studying all about the Confederate and the Union soldiers, the role women played in caring for and supporting their troops, and the role children played during this time – helping out at home on the farm or becoming an integral part of the war as a drummer boy.  We’ve dug deep into Abraham Lincoln and the great moral courage he expressed to help free the slaves and reconstitute the United States.  We visited his Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL.  We’ve read dozens of children’s books about the joys and hardships this era produced on our people.

In fact today, we had a Civil War “festival” where we wrote with quill pens, created “paper” quilts, made hard-tack (a hard, crusty cracker that was bland in every sense of the word but something you’d love on the battle field if you were hungry enough) and yes, we even ate baked squirrel as part of our lunch.  They did that kind of thing back then.  (And because what country bump-kin’ has frozen squirrels in their freezer?  Um…yeah – that would be us.  Well, at least it’s locally raised.  That’s somethin’ right?!)

Anyway, while my kids and I are no experts on this time period, we’ve developed a love and an appreciation for what our brothers and sisters did during that time.  I can only speak for myself, but all romantic longings to live in a “simpler time” have been cured for me.  I honestly don’t know how they did it back then…but I am sure grateful for their tenacity, courage, and bravery.

But let me get to the point of my writing tonight….

An added bonus to our study arrived in the mail last week!  I recently learned that a family member of mine has dug deep to learn more about our family history.  In fact, she happened to have a first hand account of our family story as told by my great grandmother and lovingly sent us a copy of this incredible story.

One morning during our home-schooling time, I sat my 7 year old daughter down on the couch with me.  I explained that while we’ve been studying about the 1850s-1860s, I was going to share with her something very special.  Through the words in her story, Ella Dodge Avery, my daughter’s great-great-great grand-mother, born in 1853, shares with us her story as if she were sitting on the couch right next to us.

We learned that when Ella was 15, they moved to Owatonna where she and her parents lived in “a little low house (one story – a front room with 2 beds, a kitchen, a closet and a pantry).”  Her family then moved on to Litchfield, MN “when it was a simple prairie.”  Ella shared that “one man said he felt sorry for the women folks because it was so windy that their wide skirts flew about and puffed up like balloons.”

As I read this first page to my daughter, she asked, “This was MY great-great-great grandmother?  Mine?”

I confirmed, “Yes, sweets.  Your great-great-great grandmother.”

Still not quite believing, she continued, “My REAL family member?  Like this is part of our family?”  Laughing, I continued the story and she, riveted, was on the edge of her seat.

At one point, my daughter jumped up off her chair and went dashing up stairs.  I asked her where she was going to which she replied, “Hold on…”  In a moment she brought back a presidential flip book I had purchased for her which explained who was president and when.  She was hungry to learn who was president when Ella was a little girl.  She learned it was Franklin Pierce.  Then we did the math and then realized that Ella was about 8 years old when President Lincoln was elected.  I could see the wheels spinning…”So Ella was about my age when President Lincoln was elected,” my daughter said slowly.  “Yes, that’s right,” I replied.  It was like she was touching history…REAL history.  Not history from a book but her history.  It was a powerful moment.

I could see, as I continued reading, that my daughter began to see herself in Ella.  She saw how hard Ella worked to take care of her “always sick mother” and her sickly sister, Flora, who basically sat in a chair for three years.  And at this same time, Ella was widowed and had a baby of her own.  She took care of all three of them – all the while “making all their clothes.”

I could see my daughter was now not just learning history, she was beginning to define her own character and take pride in the strength of her great-great grandmother.  This is what educating is all about – making the learning real and impactful.  This is REAL history, and we each have it.  I’m curious, what have you discovered about your family history that has made an impact on you?

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We THANK them!

It’s not everyday that you get to stand in a place, a specific spot, and know that your life is what it is today because of an event that happened here over 237 years ago.  This summer my family got to do just that!  We had the awesome opportunity to visit Washington Crossing Historical Park in Washington Crossing, PA.

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Weeks before we drove up to the park, my 4 year old and my 7 year old and I researched and read (children’s) stories about General George Washington and his army.

We knew that in the winter of 1776, the War for Independence was failing.  General Washington and his army knew only defeat and discouragement.  Early on in December of 1776, he and his men were forced to retreat across the Delaware River into PA.  Cold, wet, many soldiers hardly clothed, and with very little food, this was not the likely sight of war heroes and flags waving.  In fact, Washington saw his army shrinking daily due to desertions and enlistments expiring.  How’s that for a happy Christmas?

But on December 25th, after much deliberation and preparation, and truly most of the odds totally against him, Washington and his men began to cross the Delaware.  “Ok,” you say, “I know that story.  So he crossed, they fought, they won and the rest is history.”  But no, that’s not it!  That’s not the whole picture.

So my kids, my husband and I are standing right next to McConkey’s Ferry Inn.  It’s a beautiful grey stone, house-like two-story building, with a simple pediment over the front door and an ice-house right next to it.  Beautiful park like setting.  But you close your eyes and there’s so much more…

This is the spot…RIGHT HERE…in 1776 on Christmas night at 6:00 PM (about the time you and I sit down to our Christmas dinner with family), when 2,400 troops began assembling for the crossing of the Delaware.  The river was choked with ice.  Flat, sharp jagged pieces flowing down river.  A blinding snow storm blows in, sleet, wind.  There are no Ugg boots for these men, no wool hats to protect their head and ears, no NorthFace water-proof down jackets, no.  They are lucky to have their wet wool coats and thin leather boots.  Maybe socks – but they’re wet, too.  Dinner before a big fight?  Probably not.  Oh, and some men are not even wearing shoes.  They are bare-foot.  Feet are bleeding and yet they are still walking in the snow.  In fact – not just walking.  They are loading guns and cannons and cannons balls and horses on to heavy Durham boats.  And these boats were not custom made for this fight…nope.  These boats were usually used to carry pig iron down the Delaware River.  The troops just grabbed what they could.

So as I am standing by the Inn in this lush green grass, I see a small trail that leads down to the river.  I grab my kids hands and we head down the path.  “Where are we going, Mom?” my four year old asks.  “On an adventure!” I reply.

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I took them to the river’s edge.  There was a log that had drifted up.  We sat down – them on either side of me.  I asked them to be quiet for a moment.  We just looked out over the water.  It was a gorgeous day.  And then I began to tell them what you just read above.  I wanted them to imagine the immense hardship, the infinite odds against these amazing men, the blizzard like weather…and how it didn’t stop these guys.  There was a passion in their hearts that would. not. die!  “These are the times that try men’s souls…” said Thomas Paine in “The Crisis” on December 23, 1776.*

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We sat there in silence.  This was the place, this was the spot on the river, where history took a hard right turn.  This bold move by General Washington changed the tide of the war in the American’s favor.  It reignited the cause for freedom and rushed new life to the American Revolution.  We are Americans, free and fortunate to be living in this great country.  We THANK them for their ultimate sacrafice!  And on that beautiful, peaceful day by the river, my family and I did just that!

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*The Crisis by Thomas Paine

(This is just a small portion of Paine’s article, The Crisis.  Google it, if you want to read the whole post.)

December 23, 1776
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

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Road-trippin’…Homeschool Style

ImageBack in the fall, I learned that one of my cousins would be getting married the following summer in New Jersey.  Simultaneously, my husband and I were reading Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fisher.  As we became more and more inspired by the heroic acts of this incredible man, George Washington, and the men and women of that day, we hungered to translate this incredible American history (which we did not receive in our school days) to our three children (ages 7, 5, and 9 months).  

It wasn’t long before we realized this summer wedding was right near all the “action” of the Revolutionary days.  My husband and I were excited that we could attend my cousin’s wedding while making a vacation out of it and educate our children about our true American history!  With that idea formulated, I began planning our revolutionary unit of study.

Deciding what sights to see
To begin our itinerary, I started with how many days we had for vacation.  We decided to take 9 days – two weekends with a week in between.  Not long enough for me…I’d be on the road for 3 months if I could – but not without my best friend and partner along side to share the fun (and the work) this trip would entail.  

With 9 days at my disposal, I began feverishly planning all the sights we could see.  My favorite trip planning sight is Trip Advisor, www.tripadvisor.com.  It has recommendations from others as to what to see, where to stay and where to eat.  Travelers rank those attractions (hotels, restaurants, etc.) and give you tips that only those who have gone before would know.  It’s a great resource!  I’ve found many great places to visit I would not have known about.  And likewise, I was able to save time and money by skipping attractions (I thought would be good) thanks to the numerous traveler reviews.  Such good info to know before hand!

Once spending a few hours researching what I wanted my kids to see, I came up with our final itinerary.  Here’s how it unfolded:

Day #1: Indianapolis, IN
Conner Prairie – 1830’s Living Village
Fishers, IN  46038

Day #2: Lancaster, PA
Driving Day…Drive from IN to Lancaster, PA – 9 hr drive
Kids to bed early for fun day tomorrow!!

Day #3: Lancaster, PA
Dutch Wonderland – Family Amusement Park
Drive to Philadelphia (1.5 hr drive)

Day #4: Philadelphia, PA
Independence Hall (Where the Constitution was signed)
See the Liberty Bell
Back to Hotel to rest
Valley Forge in the afternoon??  Perhaps a picnic dinner there?  We can do a driving tour that will take about 30-60 min.

Day #5: Trenton, NJ

Washington Crossing Historic Park

Crossing the Delaware – Grave Sites
See where George Washington crossed the Delaware
http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/
Bowman’s Hill Tower – http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/visit/bowman.htm

“A 125’ tower completed in 1931 to commemorate the American Revolution.  The tower boasts a commanding view of the Delaware River and surrounding countryside.
Soldier’s Graves: Grave sites of NY Artillery Captain James Moore and many unknown soldiers of the American Revolution who died during the winter encampment of 1776-1777.”
School Lessons: http://www.eastconn.org/tah/CrossingTheDelaware.pdf
Drive to Manhattan, NY
Spend the night

Day #6: Manhattan, NY

Natural History Museum and New Jersey
American Natural History Museum – New York City
(“Homework” for the kids was to watch “Night in the Museum” while I was gone one weekend.  We will then go to this museum and see all the things that were showcased in the movie…from “Easter Island Head” to the “Capuchin Monkey” to the “African Lions” and the “T-Rex”.)
Wedding Rehearsal Dinner: 6:30 pm

Day #7: NJ
Sleep in/ Relax
Laundry/ organize
Wedding 4:30 pm

Day #8: Begin drive home

Day #9: Home

Because we have three kids of different ages and needs, I planned the trip with room for flexibility.  There were a few pieces of the trip that were in “stone” like the hotels I reserved each night, and two events that I purchased tickets for in advance.  Though I’d like to see everything, I planned more than I needed, knowing some things might get scrapped at the last minute.

I also know we’ll be back to see new things or revisit places we see this trip.  So I approach this trip with flexibility and joy.  The goal of our trip is to have fun as a family, create lasting memories, and learn along the way.

Educating to the “Trip”
Once the itinerary was set, I could begin organizing my lesson plans.  I recently discovered “lap books” which are TONS of fun because we get at the heart of the lesson but with crafts and other kids centered learning activities.  With that in mind, I found this amazing program: Time Travelers History Study Series: Revolutionary War!  It is chuck full of activities for the kids that I could tailor to their grade level.  We also checked out books – lots of them – from the library.  We centered our study on the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, Washington Crossing the Delaware, art and architecture from that time period, our Founding Fathers, and more.  There are wonderful children’s books on these topics which we would read at night before bed.  Our lesson of study lasted about 3-4 weeks.  I planned it so our studying time ended right before we departed for our trip.  I figured the information would be fresh and exciting when we see the actual Liberty Bell or see the 12′ X 21′ painting of Washington’s Crossing by Emmanuel Leutze!

Resources:

Books:
How to Draw Independence Things
Crossing the Delaware: George Washington and the Battle of Trenton
Magic TreeHouse: Washington Crossing the Delaware????
When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A winter-time story for young patriots
For Liberty: The story of the Boston Massacre
Saving the Liberty Bell
A Picnic in October (Statue of Liberty)
L is for Liberty

Music:
Songs About America: Celebrating American History
Wee Sing America

Video:
Liberty Kids: Across the Delaware

Journal:
As we go, day by day, I have the children write about their activities each day.  Before we left, I made journals for each child.  I purchased “traveling” and “American” stickers for them to put in their journals.  So when they write, they can add stickers or ticket stubs to their journals to personalize them.  Then we’ll add the pictures when we get home.  A perfect keep-sake for a wonderful trip!