Reflection

Before I reflect on this year’s trip, I want to say thank you to Matt, Jonathan, and Scott for once again allowing me to take part in this grant. Being able to spend two weeks in both Boston and Philadelphia is a dream come true for history teachers. So many never get this type of opportunity, and I have had it two years in a row. The impact it has had on both me and my students is immeasurable, and my teaching of history has changed for the better because of it. Once again, thank you for a great experience.

As for a reflection on this year’s trip, I have tried to separate it from last year’s in Boston because I didn’t want to compare the two. I loved being in Boston, and I am a history nut about this time period, so I was just as excited to spend two weeks in Philadelphia to continue the adventure. When we first arrived things seemed much less stressful (no lost driver’s licenses, almost missing the plane, or layovers), so we were off to a great start. I must say the dorms were not quite what I was expecting, but at the same time it was nice to be in the middle of the city unlike last year; everything you could need was right there (unfortunately, that also led to me spending a lot more money!!). I was also pretty excited to spend two weeks on the campus where my mom went to school- as her alumni newsletters always said, send us your best and brightest and they did (just kidding- the only time I have been on an Ivy League campus is with the grant!!)

Even though I have been to Philadelphia before, some of the places I was able to experience this year I have never done before. I think my favorite places were where the armies were- Valley Forge, Crossing the Delaware, Monmouth, Princeton, and Gettysburg (yes, I know, it was the Civil War); when you listen to the rangers/tour guides talk about what happened there and then sit back and take it all in you can almost feel like you were there. Even though the day we were at the site of the Battle of Monmouth was excruciatingly hot, the fields we walked through were so peaceful, but at the same time you could picture what it must have been like when the soldiers were there. No picture or reading in a textbook can top an experience like that. Even though museums are not always my favorite, how can you not be amazed to see artifacts that belonged to Benjamin Franklin- and also get to hold them!! Wow is all I can say. In addition, to be in the same rooms as where the founding fathers were when they were creating this country is hard to take in. We walked in the same places, touched the same handrails, and maybe thought some of the same thoughts of the great (but very human) men who started this country. There were so many sights to see and learn about, I can’t wait to share everything with my students! And I absolutely loved the day spent in Lancaster County, including the meal with the Amish family. I just fell in love with their peaceful way of life and wish I could almost step back in time like that; that was an experience I won’t forget. Over the two weeks we again had it jam-packed with so many learning experiences that sometimes I forget all that we were able to do until I go back and look at my pictures or read my blog (which I think is a great way to diary about the trip so you remember everything). I have learned so much, and love history even more!!

Gettysburg (Day 12- 6/13/08)

For score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. -Abraham Lincoln

This speech, given over 140 years ago, had some of the most poignant words spoken in the history of our country. Even though at the time not much credit was given to it, when given the opportunity to really understand its meaning one can see how profound it was. It could not have been a better place for us to end our expedition, and more specifically at the cemetery where this speech was given. We started our trip where this country began, where our forefathers brought forth a new nation, and ended it with one of the biggest turning points in our country’s history.

As for our day at Gettysburg, it began with a visit to Gabor Boritt’s house, a small farmhouse located near where the Battle of Gettysburg was fought. Even though he just went over some of the main points from his book we read, I loved being able to sit and look out at the beautiful landscape and listen to what he had to say. I wish our time with him could have been longer because he seemed like a fascinating man who had so much to share with us.

After a great lunch at the Dobbin House, one of Gettysburg’s oldest homes, we finally ventured to the battlefield. We were fortunate to have a tour guide with us, which was helpful because he shared a wealth of knowledge with us. The only thing I would have liked was to have a little more time at each place to really take it in. Everyone who has studied American history knows the story of Gettysburg- the battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War. It is frequently cited as the turning point with Union Gen. Meade defeating attacks by Confederate Gen. Lee and ending Lee’s invasion of the North. The two armies began to collide at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and the fighting began and continued for three bloody days. I’ve seen the maps of Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill, Culp’s Hill, Seminary Ridge, and Little Round Top, but to actually be in those places was amazing. On a quiet day, without all the tourists, I could easily picture what those days must have been like- amazing anyone survived. And, the impact on the town would have been devastating. The battlefield was much bigger than I expected, but when you put into perspective how many men were present, it makes sense.

The most moving part of the day for me was when we went to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the place where President Lincoln honored the fallen and redefined the purpose of the war when he gave his Gettysburg Address. It was so peaceful to look out across the grounds and see all the graves, however at the same time also very sad to think about how many men died there, and how many were unknown. To walk in the same place as both the soldiers who fought so bravely at Gettysburg, and also one of the greatest presidents, was an honor.

I’m not sure how anyone couldn’t use the day’s experience in their classroom. Just being able to relate to the students what it was like to be there, and to be able to describe what it felt like, is meaningful to the students. I think the pictures I will be able to show my students of the battlefields and the cemetery will give them a better understanding of what it was really like in Gettysburg during the battle (of course pictures don’t truly tell the story like being there!). Also, I will share with my students exerts from Boritt’s book about the devastating impact on the town of Gettysburg. We typically talk about the battle, but usually forget about the aftereffects on the town itself. I think this will be a new perspective to share with my students.

…-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Winterthur (Day 11- 6/12/08)

We got a chilly reception at the Winterthur Library today (literally, not figuratively- it felt like winter in our first room!). I had not heard of Winterthur until it appeared on our syllabus, so I was not too sure what the day would be like. Our first part of the day consisted of a lecture done by Cathy Matson, a professor at the University of Delaware, that focused on consumption and consumers during the Revolutionary period. This was not something I knew too much about so it was interesting to hear what she had to say. After the lecture we went to the library that seems to be a big focus of the complex. The research center has 87,000 volumes and 500,000 manuscripts and images. What a great place for researchers to have to come and study American art and material culture. I thought the books we were shown were so interesting- especially the ones that were in the downstairs. I loved the clothing books- the amount of detail that was put into them was amazing! It was great to see something from a different time period because I think it gives an insight into their lives that you just can’t learn from reading about it in a book. Even the cookbooks the ladies kept also included little facts and details- so much more than what you find in a textbook!!

After a great lunch and a tour around the beautiful flower gardens, we began the afternoon. I was speechless when we went on the tour of Henry Francis du Pont’s mansion, I could not believe all the beautiful pieces that were displayed. I also couldn’t believe how huge it was, could you imagine being a child in that home?! I do think what Mr. duPont did was great, though, to collect all of these antiques and then give a way to display them and let everyone have a chance to see them. I would have loved to have had him give us a tour and hear what he had to say about everything in the house!

When we finished the tour we began the educational portion, which I thought was very meaningful. They seem to have a wonderful program for students to participate in and really do a great job. Our guide did a wonderful job, and we were able to do some really good activities. The last one we did, the artifact dig, was something I could see doing with my students. Anytime you study a certain time period, this would be a great way to show where everything came from- and I liked how she started the session off with us looking at our shoes to see where they came from, and then tying it altogether at the end. Very well done, and I would like to do that with my students too.

Walking Tour (Day 10- 6/11/08)

*Click on video in left corner to play music

Guest Lecturers

We started the day off with two great guest lecturers. The first one, Professor Waldstreicher, did a wonderful speech on Ben Franklin and his part in both the anti-slavery movement and the fact that he also had slaves. I thought it was very interesting to hear his story of Ben Franklin since it is different than the typical story that is usually heard. I really liked listening to his story of Franklin’s life, and I look forward to reading his book Runaway America. Our second lecturer, Bob Engs, also did a great job. I really enjoyed hearing his lecture on the Great Slave Rebellion. Something I could see using with my students were his 4 questions: would they be better, did they want their freedom, would they fight for their freedom, what would they do without their freedom. This would lead to a great discussion with my students. I also liked the electronic archives he gave us- any resources are useful to teachers!

Walking Tour

We took a great tour around to all of the sights today and got to take a lot of pictures! I love this because I will get to share all of these with my students and they will get to somewhat see them! The places we visited: Franklin Court and Printshop (there was a great museum underneath!), Carpenters’ Hall, the City Tavern for lunch (great food, and a great atmosphere!), Elfreth’s Alley (very cool houses to live in, except I don’t think I would want that many people gawking at where I lived), Betsy Ross house (just briefly), Christ Church Burial Ground (very peaceful, even though it was in the heart of the city), and then a brief walk around just a little bit more and then we headed back to Penn’s campus. It was nice to get to visit these places at our own pace and really enjoy them. My students will really like learning about all the “cool” (middle school word) places I visited.

Hope you like the slide show of Philadelphia- I thought the Bruce Springsteen song was appropriate. You can even click on the song’s video and see more pictures of Philadelphia!

A Day at the Museum (Day 9- 6/10/08)

American Philosophical Society Library

Located in historic Philadelphia, this library seems to be a gold mine of artifacts. There are over 8 million manuscripts, 300,000 printed volumes, and thousands of maps and prints. Can you believe the plethora of artifacts they have in their collection? If I was a researcher I would be in seventh heaven as soon as I walked through the doorway! Even though I am not a researcher, as a teacher I could still appreciate everything that was inside their walls. I was fascinated with everything that was in the foyer. I couldn’t believe they even ended up with the journals of Lewis and Clark. It was so interesting to see that display- I loved how much they were able to cram into their journal, and I loved the picture of the fish too! When we went upstairs this time I knew we would have the opportunity to view artifacts. It was just a little disappointing that at the Franklin Institute they allowed us to touch and look at everything, whereas here they were a little stricter. I also loved being surrounded by the books- both from Franklin’s library and ones he published. I go over some of the quotes from Poor Richard’s Almanac with my students, and there were actually many copies on one of the shelves!! Oh, I wish I could show that to my students!

This is the part of the day that I think I would use the most with my students. I really stress exposing my students to primary sources, and obviously this museum was filled with them. Like I have previously stated, you can’t actually show your students the real artifact, but having them analyze them is still very meaningful (just a note- the National Archives website has some great worksheets that can be used to analyze artifacts). The letters that were shown to us today I think could easily be used in a classroom. I try to do this as frequently as possible because I think it is important for students to analyze how these people wrote, what they said, who they were writing to, and so on. You may think that students would not like to do this, but you would be surprised. I also saw in a brochure that many of their artifacts are available on-line; here is the website: http://www.amphilsoc.org/library/mole. Even though I would LOVE to show the real thing to my students, I guess living in Colorado we have to settle for the next best thing, looking at it online (I guess that negates what I said yesterday that I think we have too much technology and should live more like the Amish!)

Atwater Kent Museum

I was really looking forward to our afternoon at this museum because I thought it would be really interesting to hear about the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. I was a little disappointed we didn’t find out more information about this, however what we did learn was pretty interesting. I loved the artifacts that were on the table for us to view. I think the most disturbing, but also most intriguing, one was the slave shackles. I will definitely show my students a picture of that just to discuss their reaction. I think I would even make them stand the way the slaves would be shackled and then think about how long they would actually be able to last standing that way. Wow, hard to imagine we treated people that way. I was also very interested in hearing about John Brown. I really do not know much about him, but now my interest has been piqued!

Amish Country (Day 8- 6/9/08)

Living the Amish Lifestyle (at least for a day!)

I must admit, from day one back in January when we were going over the syllabus for this class I was the most excited for today- I couldn’t wait to spend a day in Amish country and learn about their lifestyle, and it didn’t disappoint me! First, I have really enjoyed learning about the differences between the Amish and the Mennonites. I never really knew how closely related the two groups are, and I love hearing all of the stories about them (thanks Brian for sharing so much with us!) The drive out to Lancaster County couldn’t have been more spectacular. I know everyone believes that the wonderful Hawkeye state (that would be Iowa) is flat and ugly, but it is actually very much like what we saw today. So from the beginning it felt like I was going back to what I saw growing up. And that takes me to the Amish. Believe it or not, when I was in college I used to see the Amish at our University Hospital and was fascinated with them- I never expected to see them there. However, I really never knew much about them. I had learned a few things, and have visited their stores many times, but it is somewhat commercialized (not quite like where we first visited). So today, to hear our adorable guide Ada talk about their lifestyle just kept me on the edge of my seat (literally, I was sitting on the edge of my bus seat listening to her and looking at everything that surrounded us). I expected them to all live close to each other and not be intermixed with the other cultures, so that was one of the first things that surprised me. I loved what was said at the end of the day- if an Amish family was your neighbor you knew you had a good neighbor. It was so interesting to see one house with the field and carriages and the laundry line right next to a house any of us would live in. I also had no idea about the green shutters on their windows, but I missed why that particular color was chosen.  Then seeing all the kids in their barefeet just amazed me- again it just seems to be part of their simple lifestyle. I think there are a lot of stereotypes about the Amish- they are strange and backwards, not part of this society- but when we spent the evening with a family you see how wrong this is. I thought their children, not having access to all the technology most kids have, seemed extremely happy and well adjusted. It seems like most parents should take a parenting lesson from them. By the way, I fell in love with the two little ones. If it would not have been a serious crime that would have kept me in Pennsylvania for a lot longer than I want, I would have snuck them on the bus and taken them home with me!! It seems very sad to me that the lifestyle these people have chosen to live seems to be looked down upon so much, and seems to be such a contradiction to their value system of humility. I feel bad, though, because I was as much a part of that today, not being able to take my eyes off them. I was fascinated by their carriages, their buggies, their clotheslines, their quilts, their food , and everything about their lives.

In the classroom, I would introduce the Amish when I discuss colonial life. I think the Amish, especially in Pennsylvania, are as much a part of the history here as the Quakers or any of the founding fathers. When we discuss who settled the colony of Pennsylvania, I think that would be a perfect time to introduce the Amish and when they settled here (late 1720’s, and to Lancaster in the late 1760’s). In addition I would also introduce the Quakers. To me these aren’t religious groups, they are an integral part of the culture of Pennsylvania. I would also have the students study the groups (probably just focusing on the Amish and Quakers) through history- how are their lifestyles similar/different. What I find interesting is how the Quakers are throughout the world, but there are no traces of Amish remaining today in Europe. One key thing I would want my students to find out is why that has happened, what led to that. I don’t know if my students would have similar thoughts as me, but I think of Quakers as being from the colonial time and Amish as the more present time, and I think it would be important for them to discover how long both of these groups have been present in Pennsylvania.

FYI Tidbit- Did you know President Buchanan was from Wheatland in Lancaster, PA; the only president from Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Museum of Art (Day 7- 6/8/08)

What a view from the top of the steps!

It was so nice to have a lazy morning, it sure did make the rest of the day enjoyable! I’m not much of an art-buff, but I do know this is one of the most famous art museums, so it was great that we got to visit it, and have our own tour too! Sometimes when you just walk through a museum you don’t learn nearly as much as when you have someone who knows what they are talking about- and our tour guide did! He did a phenomenal job explaining all the paintings and pieces in the galleries he showed us. There were so many great things, but I just posted two pictures of things I liked- the silver that was Paul Revere’s (especially since that touched on what we saw last year:)) and the statue of Penn which is on top of City Hall. The paintings were just beautiful!

Even though the inside of the museum was great, the best part (and I know deep down what everybody really went for!) was the statue of Rocky:) However, it just wasn’t the same that we couldn’t run up the stairs to the statue. Putting him off to the side seems a little disrespectful to me.

After visiting the coolest statue, we decided to take advantage of our location and go to the back of the museum and head over to boathouse row. The heat took away from it a little, but I thought it was pretty neat to get to see the houses close up. I must say, though, they do look a little neater from the expressway at night:) But I am still glad I got to see them.

Looking at boat house row from the beginning, and a house from the street side-they don’t look nearly as pretty close up (kind of like a dirty fraternity house that has a lot of history!)

Delaware Crossing/Battle of Monmouth (Day 6- 6/7/08)

Crossing of the Delaware

I’ve studied this when I learned about the Revolutionary War and discussed it with my students when I teach it, but I have never really put too much emphasis on this event; I focus more on the Battle of Trenton. However, when we got off the bus at the Delaware River and walked along the banks of this beautiful river, it struck me what a significant and important event this was (so much so I decided to do my lesson plan on it!) I really liked hearing our guide talk about the famous picture first and what was accurate/inaccurate- I could see doing this with my students. Then having the opportunity to walk around and see all of the buildings was great. The only thing I wished was we could see more- like go into the icehouse or go into the upstairs of one of the homes, just my own curiosity wanting to see more:)! On such a hot day it was kind of hard to imagine what it must have been like when the soldiers crossed the river, I would love to visit that same place in the dead of winter to truly get a feel for what it must have been like! I am also constantly amazed at how smart of a general Washington seems to have been. Our guide told us that for how many men there were, there should have been 6 cannons that he took with him; however, to fool the enemy, Washington took 18 so it looked like he had more men. Maybe because I am not military-minded, but I would not have thought to do that- or maybe it was just the heat that made me think it was so brilliant!! Also, how cool was the little factoid about the bar and grill? I love the little tidbits of history we learn along the way- those are the things students love to hear about, they really stick in their minds:)!

Battle of Monmouth

Another visit to a battlefield- to me sometimes it seems hard to imagine all the carnage that took place there because these areas are so beautiful and peaceful. Usually I can imagine what it must have been like, but today, with the wind blowing through the tall grass it was hard to imagine so many soldiers fighting each other in one area. I’m glad these battlefields are preserved the way they are, that way we will never lose the history of the area. I would have loved to have seen the reenactment our guide was telling us will occur there! Even though it was a little hot and sticky (ok, maybe a lot), I really did like going on the 2/3 mile walk back to the visitors center- I think the weather reminded me of when I grew up in Iowa! You just can’t beat how beautiful and green everything out here is!

Something I wouldn’t have thought was that this was a turning point in the war for independence. I considered a few others more important… Saratoga and Yorktown come to mind… but I guess for the people fighting in the battles and the people in the town, every battle could be considered a turning point.

Franklin Institute (Day 5- 6/6/08)

Franklin here, Franklin there, Franklin everywhere!

Today was Ben Franklin day, and being in the city of brotherly love couldn’t be a better place to honor such an amazing man. As the morning began and we were all trudging into town, I was not sure what to expect of the upcoming day’s adventure. As we got off the subway and began our walk to the Franklin Institute, the first thing I noticed was how beautiful the city was. It must be living in Pueblo, without a skyscraper in sight, that makes me awed with the Philadelphia skyline. What a great part of town to have the museum. As we waited for the tour to begin, we were fortunate enough to be in the foyer with the Ben Franklin statue. This reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial, but of Franklin instead. He is just as deserving. The museum itself is wonderful, and it is a place I would love to bring my students (think the grant could cover that). I’m so jealous of all the teachers here, having access to such wonderful buildings, and I love the fact that we are seeing so many students at the places we visit- that means teachers are actually taking advantage of what they have! After a brief tour around the museum, we were taken behind the scenes- what could have possibly been in store for us? As we headed into the boardroom I was a bit puzzled because I actually expected a lecture. Boy was I wrong, instead we got what every teacher LOVES- the chance to actually touch real artifacts that belonged to Ben Franklin WOW!! That was pretty awesome, including the fact we got to wear the cool white gloves. That was one of my favorite parts of the day, to me you can hear all about history and read all about it, but nothing beats actually getting to hold history in your hand. I know this is something I could never use in my classroom- what crazy museum curator would allow middle school fingers to touch these artifacts? But, copies or pictures of them are just as beneficial. I think it is important for students to see and touch “stuff”, not just read about it.

After an extremely filling lunch, some of us decided to walk around Phily and head toward the Masonic Temple, what we heard was the best kept secret in Philadelphia. On the way we stopped inside the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. When I walk through the doors of some of these churches it just takes my breath away. I thought the church in Princeton was phenomenal, and this one was right up there with it, a must-see if you can. Then we walked through City Hall which I loved because I must have taken a zillion pictures of it on the outside from every angle- it is just overwhelming how big it is! Then we finally headed back to the Temple for our scheduled tour. I must admit, before it started I really did not know much about the Masons, but our tour guide (with a lot of prompting questions from the group) enlightened me more then I could have ever expected. This is one of the best kept secrets- the inside of the building is beautiful, and it is hard to imagine that some of the most famous men of our country (Washington, Franklin) were Masons here. Truly an amazing building.

Another awesome day spent in this great city- every day seems to top the previous one!

Constitution Center (Day 4- 6/5/08)

What can you say about Carol Berkin? I don’t think there is enough to say about her. She is the best lecturer to listen to- who knew such a little lady could have so much spunk! I did have the opportunity to attend her class last summer, but she still enthralled me today with her words. When she pointed out who she thought were the brilliant founders- Alexander Hamilton, James Madison (maybe!), Ben Franklin, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Robert Morris- it just reiterated what I tell my students that these men were just ordinary (except, of course, they were wealthy), but they would not be considered “super” by any means. I think that helps the students identify with them more because they do see them as real human beings. I absolutely love her book A Brilliant Solution. Last year when my students studied the Constitutional Convention they each become one of the delegates there; they then took on the personality of that particular delegate when we reenacted the convention. I was able to read exerts from her book to the students, and they loved it! It was amazing to see their reaction to who their delegate was- “Gouverneur Morris” even walked around with a peg-leg, and many of them took on the personality of their delegate and how they were depicted in the book. It truly was a great learning experience for my students that I know they won’t forget!

Now if only I had gone to the Constitutional Center last summer before we studied the Convention! What a beautiful building. I really enjoyed the movie they showed us, but I think my favorite part was seeing the statues of the delegates. I loved walking around and looking at each and every one of them. Even though I have seen numerous pictures of these men, there was something spectacular about seeing the life size version of them. It really felt like you were walking amongst the great minds that began our country. I kept waiting to hear one of them speak- oh, how great that would be, to have been a fly on the wall in Independence Hall in the summer of 1787.

Here is link to two of Eli Lesser’s favorite websites (I already use ourdocuments and it is great!) I don’t want to lose the sticky note I wrote them on, plus they were excellent- I loved the political commercials, I know my middle school students would find them hilarious which means they would pay attention to them!

www.newseum.org

www.livingroomcandidate.com