Nov 193 min read

Tales from the Loft

Updated: 3 days ago

Dear Readers,

I hope November has ushered in a sense of all things cozy for you as it has here in middle school.

Hot chocolate

Fuzzy socks

Favorite hoodies

Cold mornings

Good books

Lots of projects

Deep questions

Crunching leaves

But still lingering mosquitoes.....

In the loft we're deep in the thick of studying the American Revolutionary War, and students are making lapbooks to document a few important pieces as we go. We started by reviewing who actually lived in the area we now call the colonies. We read the Declaration of Independence, drawing attention to a few key phrases and noting all the of the names at the bottom of the document. We discussed this passage:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

The passage continues to explain that the colonies are at the point where suffering under British rule is no longer tolerable. It claims tyranny from King George III, and it lists the many abuses they have endured.

Have you ever stayed in a situation that was unpleasant because it wasn't bad enough to change? Have you continued to deal with a problem because the idea of solving it seemed scarier or too drastic than just living with it? Have you ever had a moment where you have finally "Had ENOUGH?" Welcome to Colonial America.

We also discussed that the signers were all white male landowners of European descent claiming Christianity as their religion. This means lots of people that lived in the colonies were not represented.

Who was missing:

Women

Indigenous leaders/ representatives

Free persons of color of African descent

Enslaved persons of color of African descent

Indentured servants

White colonists that were not religious

White colonists that did not own land

Our next deep dive reviewed the motivations and justifications used for slavery. Through close readings of two articles, we took a critical look at why and how slavery happened. Then we discussed observations about modern slavery when we explored the Global Slavery Index. It can be found here: https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/

Currently we're tracing the pathways of the British and Continental armies throughout the war. Students are making playing cards of key figures from each side, and when we return from break we'll finish up with educational games and battle breakdowns.

Additionally, students are finishing our class novel, Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. It follows a young enslaved girl as she survives and escapes slavery; it is set in the first half of the American Revolution in New York. There will be culminating projects and activities - definitely a Socratic discussion - as we come to the conclusion of both our book and history units.

I could go on and on about our conversations; your students are astute and passionate and indignant towards the wrongs of the world. However, over our break I encourage families to engage in their own conversations about what our students are studying. Ask them all the questions! I wish you each a lovely time of rest and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, and we also went on field trips and and visited with speakers and hosted Kids' Night Out!:

Ben and Jerry's

Catawba College - Center for the Environment

Graffiti Park

Veteran's Day with guest speaker Bob Doran, and Chris and Jon Boggiano

Kids' Night Out