Wednesday, January 14, 2004
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Wednesday, January 14, 2004 |
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Peeples celebrates Colonial Day The entire fourth grade at Peeples Elementary celebrated annual Colonial Day in December, learning firsthand what America looked, felt, sounded, tasted, even smelled like in the years between 1607, when Jamestown was settled, and 1775, the start of the Revolutionary War. According to teacher Kathy Robinson, the first Colonial Day was held in 1999 and is probably the most anticipated activity for the fourth-graders. “It’s a great way to make history come alive,” she said. “Many of the kids are wearing wigs, hats, and costumes worn by students in previous years; a passing on of tradition, you might say.” Many of the students were wearing clothing their parents had sewn. This year, the girls’ dresses ranged from calico plain to Williamsburg fancy, while most boys wore knee britches, a tricorn hat and a brilliantly white yarn wig (granted, some bewigged gentlemen sported sneakers). For the occasion, volunteer parents transformed the cafeteria into a parlor perfect for dancing the waltz and Virginia Reel. Ms. Hearn and Ms. Byrd, music teachers at Peeples, taught the students the dances. Ms. Hearn expressed that the students began learning the dances well before Thanksgiving and had made great strides going from barely being able to hold hands with a member of the opposite sex to mastering the colonial dances. After the dancing had concluded, the students and their guests were then treated to a hearty feast of period fare including fruit kebobs, pumpkin bread, and cookies. The week prior to the event, students spent time hand dipping candles, crafting dried apple wreaths, practicing calligraphy on an invitation to parents, and stenciling placemats. Many of the students found the candle making process and wig wearing daunting and realized how difficult life in colonial times might have been.
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