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