Colonial Day

Pocahontas, Betsy Ross, and Sacajawea
Fourth grade in Virginia schools means Virginia History.  Anna is learning all about the establishment of Virginia, including the settlement at Jamestown, Native Americans, and of course famous Virginians like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  She is also learning a lot about colonial life, thanks to her project for colonial day.

Colonial Day was held on March 17 and is the grand finale of several projects the students work on throughout the year.  Each of the 4th graders had to do a book report on a famous colonial American and learn how to do a colonial trade.  They then put together a display board for their project, dress up as their famous colonial American, and present their project at the "fair" to the rest of the school and parents.  Anna chose Betsy Ross and her trade was "Limning," which she learned was painting.  She focused on sign painting for shops.

This all sounds like a fun, educational project until you realize the work involved.  Let's face it - many colonial trades were not easy.  Anna was smart to pick painting.  There were kids that chose tinsmith, apothecary (it was fun talking to the parent that had to help her daughter find ingredients to make medicines to ferment for several weeks), and brick making (yes - the boy actually learned to make bricks).  While all of these trades were interesting, by far the most discussed project among the 4th graders was learning to dance the Virginia Reel.
Betsy Ross & George Washington doing the Virginia Reel

A right of passage for fourth graders is learning to dance the Virginia Reel.  They begin talking about it in 3rd grade and the sense of dread builds as fourth grade approaches.  Why the dread?  Well, it involves boys dancing with girls!  The brave music teacher, Miss Nickel, was charged with making this happen.  Anna was none to excited - especially after the partners were unveiled.  Anna (Betsy Ross) was partnered with Cooper (George Washington).  After a few rehearsals, Anna concluded that Cooper was a good dancer and that they were now better friends because of the dancing (they may even have enjoyed it).  The students performed the Reel several times during the fair.  We suspect it was a bit different from the traditional dance as the sashaying portion usually meant the dancers racing down the line and the part about swinging your partner often resulted in the boys trying to spin the girls around as quickly as possible.  It was entertaining to watch!

A big kudos to the teachers (who also came in colonial costumes) and the kids for all the work on their projects!  Now Anna will need to find a venue to use her new colonial dance skills!


4th Grade Colonial Day

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