Further Water Adventures
We’ve been studying the American Revolution. This afternoon for our weekly hands-on history period I told the kids that I wanted them to dramatize the Boston Tea Party. I envisioned them putting on costumes from our large store, climbing onto our swingset platform, and throwing something off. Simple and fun.
Jonathan, however, had grander ideas. Why not take his and Peter’s rafts across the road to Snake Pond and do the reenactment there, on the water? (They’ve been rafting pretty regularly on inflatable rafts, originally intended to be used as sleds.) Why not, indeed?
So with Peter, Jon, and Paul dressed in Indian costumes, and the girls in colonial garb, we set out, trekking through a waterlogged bean field. I was along primarily as the photo-documenter, though they insisted I also wear a costume. Too bad I didn't have our digital camera, but I sent it with Kara up to Purdue when hers broke just before she returned.
After a Sons of Liberty planning meeting on shore, the older boys took off in their crafts to row (actually pole themselves) to the (imaginary) British ships which they pretended to board and relieve of tea (sticks). The girls provided encouragement from land, and wondered what the British would do in retaliation. Now you have to understand that Snake Pond, though our largest, is still very small, and it is choked with cattails. So the resemblance to Boston Harbor is slim and takes some imagination. Ben, from his perch on my back, found the whole episode pretty funny, especially whooping like an Indian.
Upon their return home the girls made “Queen Cakes” and “Liberty Tea” which they served to the boys who had stayed to raft for a while longer. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon. And yes, everyone kept his or her clothes on and no one fell in, though Paul tried.
Jonathan, however, had grander ideas. Why not take his and Peter’s rafts across the road to Snake Pond and do the reenactment there, on the water? (They’ve been rafting pretty regularly on inflatable rafts, originally intended to be used as sleds.) Why not, indeed?
So with Peter, Jon, and Paul dressed in Indian costumes, and the girls in colonial garb, we set out, trekking through a waterlogged bean field. I was along primarily as the photo-documenter, though they insisted I also wear a costume. Too bad I didn't have our digital camera, but I sent it with Kara up to Purdue when hers broke just before she returned.
After a Sons of Liberty planning meeting on shore, the older boys took off in their crafts to row (actually pole themselves) to the (imaginary) British ships which they pretended to board and relieve of tea (sticks). The girls provided encouragement from land, and wondered what the British would do in retaliation. Now you have to understand that Snake Pond, though our largest, is still very small, and it is choked with cattails. So the resemblance to Boston Harbor is slim and takes some imagination. Ben, from his perch on my back, found the whole episode pretty funny, especially whooping like an Indian.
Upon their return home the girls made “Queen Cakes” and “Liberty Tea” which they served to the boys who had stayed to raft for a while longer. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon. And yes, everyone kept his or her clothes on and no one fell in, though Paul tried.
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