Homeschool Days at Yorktown, Virginia

Our day at Yorktown was slightly miserable because it had snowed in the night and, being Georgians, we didn't have any boots.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed Yorktown so much that our family went back for an extra day at the end of the week so that we could see things we had missed the first day.

Our ten-dollar Homeschool Days ticket from the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation gave us 5 days of access to both Jamestown Settlement and to Yorktown Victory Center.  The ticket price includes a 2 hour guided tour and a 1 hour grade-level classroom experience.  These are musts, in my opinion, so register early enough to take part in the classroom experiences if you are thinking of going to Homeschool Days in the future.

We started our day with a walking tour around the Victory Center.  There was a re-created 1780s farm, complete with a house, kitchen, tobacco barn, crop fields, and herb and vegetable garden.  We enjoyed looking around the farm, especially warming ourselves by the indoor fires as we spoke to costumed interpreters about life on the farm.

The boys especially enjoyed the re-created Continental Army encampment, where we learned from historical interpreters what it was like to be an American soldier in the Revolutionary War.

The bitter cold, wet conditions gave me a new appreciation of what it must have been like to be a soldier (I thought of those who served at Valley Forge, with no shoes or appropriate clothing or housing).  We were grateful that we could get a hot meal at lunch in a warm building.  At the encampment we saw little tents meant to hold six soldiers, and a pot of beans (which would have been served 3 times a day).

The men that fought the war to gain our independence paid a high cost, with many privations.  At least the nasty weather gave us a deeper appreciation of that.

There is also a beautiful museum with many displays about the Declaration of Independence, the Siege of Yorktown, and the impact of the war on the lives of several ordinary people.

In the afternoon, the children each attended another hands-on classroom experience, similar to what they were able to do at Jamestown Settlement.

The K-2nd grade class examined tools and materials that would have been used on a small Virginia farm to explore what life was like at that time.  My youngest son absolutely loved grinding salt with a mortar and pestle and pretending to write with a quill pen.  Costumes were brought out at the end of the class and he enjoyed dressing up in a colonial boys' outfit.

The 3rd-5th grade class had lots of fun solving a mystery by analyzing primary source documents and reproduction artifacts.  In the process, they learned about the lives of ordinary 18th century Virginians.

The oldest group attended "Life of a Private".  My teenager was selected as the "Private" in question, and he got to don all the clothing and gear of a Continental soldier, even holding a real musket.

We really enjoyed our day at Yorktown Victory Center, but I must say that the highlight for us was the end of the day, when we drove over to the Yorktown National Battlefield.  There was only just enough time before dark to walk around the snowy battlefield, but the boys loved every minute of it.  They ran the full length of the field, each one undoubtedly engaged in a battle in his own mind.

We knew that we had to go back, as we had only scratched the surface of what there was to do at the National Battlefield.

On the last day of our trip we had planned to get an early start for our last destination, Chincoteague Island (of Misty fame), but we decided to leave a little later so that we could head back to Yorktown National Battlefield.

There was no charge to walk around outside on the grounds, but the museum inside cost $10 for ages 15 and over.  Again, just as at Historic Jamestowne, I was able to get this fee waived by filling out some paperwork about the educational purpose of our trip.  Here is a link to the requirements for getting a fee waiver.

We explored the museum, which was small but very well done for children.  There was a ship to walk through, a children's exhibit area, and several of George Washington's artifacts.  There was also a movie, which we enjoyed.

My favorite part was touring the battlefield.  We purchased a CD in the gift shop for $5 and set out in our car.  The narrator on the CD and several well marked signs told us exactly where to go.  At each stop, there was dramatic narration about what had occurred in that location.

A highlight for us was walking around Redoubts 9 and 10, which were seized from the British by the American and French infantry on October 14, 1781.  We extended our driving tour beyond the main sites and took an alternate route which led us past fields that had housed equipment, a military hospital, the camps of various generals, and more.  It was a very pleasant drive and led us to imagine what it must have been like to be on those very fields at that turning point in history.

We returned to the Visitor's Center and ran around the battlefield a bit more.  The boys could have spent all day just doing that, but we had to hit the road for Chincoteague Island.

I think the reason this was our favorite place was because of the sense of history we felt, standing on ground that had played such an integral role in our nation's history.  This was not a re-created village.  This was actually the real deal.  The Yorktown National Battlefield is less than 10 minutes from the Yorktown Victory Center, and should definitely not be missed.

Homeschool Days in Jamestown Virginia

We went to Virginia for Williamsburg homeschool days.  Of course we couldn't miss Jamestown or Yorktown while we were there.  All three of these historic locations are within 10 to 30 minutes drive of one another.

The Jamestown and Yorktown Foundation held their homeschool days during the same time frame as Colonial Williamsburg, making the timing of this trip even more appealing.  For $10.25 per person, we were able to get entrance to both locations for 5 days.  Included in the price of admission was a 2 hour guided tour in each location and a one hour age-appropriate, hands on classroom experience.  Children under 4 were admitted free.
Dates for fall homeschool days have already been published: September 11-26, 2010. 

Our guide was excellent, and it was wonderful to start our trip with an overview of Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in America.  There are three important outdoor areas at Jamestown Settlement:  a re-creation of the Powhatan Indian village, replica 1607 ships and the colonial fort.  Costumed interpreters met us at each location to give us more information about how to burn out a log to make a canoe, how to navigate a ship and what life was like in the fort.

After our tour we thoroughly enjoyed walking through their fantastic museum.

The children each participated in grade-level hands on classroom experiences.  These classroom experiences at Jamestown and Yorktown were one of the trip highlights for us.

Our preschooler did a program called Living with the Indians.   He and his classmates were able to handle and analyze clothing, bone tools and pottery of the Powhatan Indian culture.  He learned how to make rope out of marsh grass and each child was able to touch dozens of replica artifacts.  Our preschooler gained more from these one hour hands on experiences than from almost anything else we did.  He was thoroughly in his element, touching Indian bows and arrowheads, pots, tools and baskets.  The museum educator was excellent with the children, really drawing them out with insightful questions.

I can honestly say that I felt refreshed as a teacher by my participation in these hands on classrooms.  I realized anew how important it is to provide hands on experiences, particularly for young children and kinesthetic learners.  I've often made use of hands on projects, but it is easy to let a commitment to them slip through the cracks, since they require so much effort and time.

I also liked the way the educator led the children to make deductions about what they were seeing and hearing.  She asked lots of questions and the children were very engaged in the conversation.  Many times I find myself telling my kids facts, "lecture style", rather than helping them deduce those facts through thinking about what they've already learned.

I came back with a renewed vision and commitment to hands on projects and discussion.

Our middle boys' class compared and contrasted the Powhatan Indian, English and African cultures that came into contact during the 17th century, while our oldest son learned more about the 1607 voyage to Virginia by exploring period navigational tools.

Some of my children felt Jamestown was the highlight of the trip.

After our time at Jamestown settlement, we went to the Historic Jamestowne national park.  This is a separate area, run by the national park system, and requires a separate admission fee.  If memory serves, it cost $10 for ages 15 and up, but we were able to get the fee waived by filling out some brief paperwork stating that we were homeschoolers and that we were using this trip in conjunction with our homeschool studies.  We were able to fill out this paperwork on site, but you can also do it in advance and bring it with you.  Here are the requirements for homeschool fee waivers.

We loved the Historic Jamestowne National Park.  It was wonderful to stand on the shore and look upon the site of the first landing in 1607.  The children loved the statues of Pocahontas and John Smith, and the park was a lovely place to walk around.  We recently watched a program (through Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips) about archeology in Jamestowne, so it was fun to see the actual dig site and to walk through the museum and see all the artifacts they have unearthed.  We are loving the electronic field trips, by the way, and for a few more weeks you can still purchase them at the substantially discounted price of $49.  You can learn more in my post about the EFT's, or click on the link above to purchase a subscription through the Homeschool Buyers Co-op.

Homeschool Days at Colonial Williamsburg

We just returned from a wonderfully educational week at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.  This was one of the best field trips we've ever taken, and I hope you'll consider going if it is ever within the realm of possibility.  It was well worth the 10+ hour drive, and added a great deal to our studies this year.

 In the stocks

Colonial Williamsburg holds their Homeschool Days twice a year, in spring and fall.  Jamestown and Yorktown cooperated with them by holding their homeschool days at the same time.  This meant we could get access to special programming for homeschoolers, as well as heavily discounted admission, at all three places.

 Looking at weapons in the governor's palace

I've heard there is more to do at CW in the fall, but that the crowds during that time are a force to be reckoned with.  Granted, there was a bit less going on during spring homeschool days, and the weather was pretty cold.  But the crowds were low, we easily got in to everything we wanted to do, and the rates on condos simply could not be beat.  I shared a 4 bedroom condo (designed to sleep 12) with two other homeschooling friends and our 9 children, and we were able to split the cost of $275 total for 5 nights between the three of us.  Eating breakfast and dinner at the condo and packing lunches kept food costs economical, too.

There was so much to see and do that I'll publish separate posts about each location.  I want to make sure you get all the links and information you need, should you decide to take this trip yourself.  This post will cover Williamsburg, the next one will be Jamestown, then Yorktown, and finally Chincoteague Island, VA, home of the wild ponies and "Misty" fame.

 The ironworker making hinges

Currently, this link for homeschool days at CW only has information about the spring program, which is already over.  They should update this link with information for future dates, however, so you may want to bookmark it.

We spent two days at Colonial Williamsburg.  It would have been wonderful to have a third day, but we were able to do much of what we wanted to, especially since the crowds were light.  Spring homeschool days at CW are focused on the trades, whereas the fall homeschool days are more about politics and government.

Visiting the shops was a highlight (we especially liked the printer, the silversmith, the wig maker, and the gunsmith).  The children had lots of questions to ask the interpreters, and they learned so much about a variety of trades.

 Inking the printing press

The younger boys had the opportunity to drill with a soldier, learning how to load and hold a musket, stand in formation, and fire.  Our oldest enjoyed listening to a special Q and A session with General Washington.

 Learning to drill like a real soldier

Sitting in the courtroom and observing some colonial trials taught us a lot about the laws at that time, and was a highlight for everyone.

Holding a real musket at the gunsmith's shop

The boys loved the baker, too, especially their pretzel rolls and gingerbread.  They also sold a refillable mug for $11, good for unlimited refills for one calendar year.  We bought one mug early on the first day, and got our money's worth keeping it full of hot chocolate, cider, coffee and tea each day we were there.  Usually our kids drink water whenever we go out, so this was definitely a highlight for them, even though we all had to share one mug...the bottomless hot chocolate will ne'er be forgotten.

One afternoon we stopped by The Cheese Shop for bread and some fresh cheese.  Everyone had recommended this place and it did not disappoint.  We managed to get a bag of bread ends, which we were told we had to try.  At just $1 per bag, there were plenty of french bread ends for the 5 of us to snack on.

In the spinning and weaving shop

There were a few walking tours available for homeschoolers, but you had to sign up in advance for these.  By the time we registered, two weeks before homeschool days, the extra tours were all booked.  There would have also been an extra $5 per person fee for these tours.  In this regard, Jamestown and Yorktown were both more homeschool friendly, with plenty of space on their walking tours as well as excellent hands-on, grade-appropriate classroom experiences at both places, all included in the cost of admission.

 Learning how to make chocolate at the Governor's Palace kitchen

The tickets for Colonial Williamsburg homeschool days cost $8 per person for a 2 day pass or $11 per person for a 5 day pass.  Children 5 and under were admitted free.  This was a huge savings over their regular price: a two-day winter pass regularly sells for $38 for adults and $19 for youth.  It was also very enjoyable to meet other homeschoolers from around the country while riding on the bus and participating in the programs.

We are currently studying colonial times in our homeschool.  The timing of this trip couldn't have been better for us.  The boys had read enough that they could really appreciate what we were seeing and doing.  Now that we are home, they are making lots of connections in our current readings.  For example, we just read D'aulaire's book about Benjamin Franklin and the younger boys all remembered seeing the printing press, talking to the printer, and touching the type.  When we read about Franklin's printing career, they noticed things in the illustrations which they had seen in the printer's shop.

We've been home for a week now and the boys are still dressing up and playing Revolutionary War!

Spelling: The Value of the Whiteboard

My childrens' attitudes toward spelling have dramatically improved since we began using whiteboards instead of writing all their spelling words on paper.

When they were learning to write we used white boards all the time, but once they learned how to write I transitioned them completely to paper.

Spelling became very tedious for them, however, as they hated having to erase words. Paper felt so permanent to them, and they began to dread ever making a mistake.

Once we switched back to the white board, their anxiety disappeared. They actually enjoy practicing their spelling words and writing out sentences on their large white boards. I was able to purchase giant, magnetic whiteboards for them at Walmart for less than $10 per board.  The boards are perfect for holding all their spelling magnets, and there is plenty of room for them to write, as well.

This is not to say that we don't use paper anymore. We certainly do use it for things like copywork and for other school subjects. But most of their spelling is done on the white board now, at least while they are still learning the words.