Hands-On History School Presentations
I was a teacher for 26 years and I know educators are short on both money and time. Teachers work hard to meet key standards so special events that interrupt instruction time need to add value to the curriculum. That is why I have designed reasonably priced, highly interactive presentations that teach both historical content and literacy skills. My goal is for students to leave my presentation knowing that reading, writing, and researching history is exciting, important, and fun!
Yankee Doodle: The Life of a Continental Soldier
Here I am demonstrating the colonial cure for the common cold—orange rinds shoved up the nostril!
Grades 4-6
In Yankee Doodle: the Life of a Continental Soldier, I use my historian’s toolkit to give students the experience of being a soldier in the Continental Army in 1778. Narratives, music, and role play let students explore the challenges that insufficient supplies, difficult training, and inadequate medical care posed for the troops as they battled for American independence. Along with historical content, I walk students through the steps a historian takes in formulating historical questions and analyzing primary and secondary sources to interpret the past.
Program Addresses Following Standards based on Age of Audience
- Wisconsin Academic Standard for History: B. 4.3; B. 8.1
- Common Core Standards for SS.ELA-LITERACY: SL.4.1.C & 4.1D; SL. 5.C & 5.D; SL. 6.1C; RI.4.1; RI. 5.1
All Aboard the Underground Railroad Express
Tunnel under the Milton House Museum in Milton, Wisconsin, one of the few places where the Underground Railroad was actually underground.
Grades 4-6
In All Aboard the Underground Railroad Express, students will time travel back to the 19th century. Students have fun while developing critical thinking skills as they do the following:
- Formulate historical questions about the Underground Railroad
- Distinguish between primary & secondary sources
- Problem-solve the mathematics of slavery
- Interpret the words of enslaved people to understand why they sought freedom
- Navigate the journey north through songs and secret codes
- Determine the best disguise to help an enslaved person escape detection
- Connect the historical Underground Railroad to modern day slavery.
Program Addresses Following Standards based on Age of Audience
- Wisconsin Academic Standard for History: B. 4.3; B. 8.1
- Common Core Standards for SS.ELA-LITERACY: SL.4.1.C & 4.1D; SL. 5.C & 5.D; SL. 6.1C; RI.4.1; RI. 5.1
Fees:
Programs lasts 50-60 minutes. Fee is $100 per session with an audience of up to 50 students, and $150 for a large assembly, plus mileage.
>> For scheduling and contract information email me: judydodgecummings@gmail.com <<
“My students were very engaged and really enjoyed the presentation. They loved being involved and being able to participate. They enjoyed seeing some of the artifacts and acting things out.”
The kids were so captivated by your story. Every single one of them was engaged the entire time.
Thank you so much for your time; good reading; and positive World Read Aloud day visit.
Students were engaged and teachers appreciated ideas for teaching writing.
