Day 9 - On the Water!

Ah Matey!!!  We spent another wonderful day in Boston.  We took a water taxi to the USS
Constitution (Old Iron Side). Did you know that it was actually made of dense wood with over 6 miles of rope aboard?  When bullets hit it they bounced off and one of the patriots thought this was a sign that it was made of iron. Off in the distance from the U.S.S. Constitution was the amazing tower on Bunker Hill.  
We returned on water taxi and were greeted at the gate with bike taxis.  
We were taken to a "local" authentic italian restaurant.  We enjoyed listening to the workers speak to each other in their beautiful language.  We continued our hunt for resources (and a few souvenirs) at Faneuil Hall Market. 
 

 

 

 

Our last evening was spent on a sunset cruise on a tall ship.  We helped raise the sails and learned a few "sailor terms".  This ship had about 1 mile of rope.  Our cruise was picturesque!!!  

Our final drive to the airport took us through the tunnels again.

With heavy hearts we know it is time to leave this historical adventure....

"Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Frankin


Day 8 answers:

The current estimated value of the tea is 1.5 million dollars.

A wharf is a structure on the shore of a harbor or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.  It may also include 

piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.
 

We enjoyed the strawberry apple tea which is able to be served hot or cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8 Boston Tea Party Museum

On the night of Dec.16, 1773, the docks in Boston harbor were dark but not empty. Shadowy figures sneaked along the shore. A group of men and boys were climbing onto anchored British ships full of tea. The raiders broke open 342 chests of tea and dumped each one into the sea.  Their protests became known as the Boston Tea Party.

We had the best time exploring the interactive museum dedicated to the Boston Tea Party. We climbed aboard the ship, learning about the events before, during, and after this major event in history. We learned some interesting facts today. Some Bostonians were disguised as Indians. There were 3 ships loaded with tea, the Beaver, the Dartmouth, and the Eleanor. The 342 chests of East India Tea weighed 90,000 pounds! This violence was in protest of a tax of 3 pence a pound which the citizens of Boston, who had no voice in making the laws or levying the taxes, felt this was taxation without representation.

 

Following our spot of tea in Abigail's tearoom, we moved on down the boardwalk, which wrapped it's way around the harbor. It was breathtaking!  The weather was perfect! It was evident that the wharf was very important for business in this large city. Numerous ships, barges, tugboats, sailboats, water taxis, tour boats, and even small recreational boats filled the harbor. Our stroll through the city led us to Christopher Columbus park. The statue in the park honored him along with the beauty of the landscape. Tourists, families and friends were leisurely enjoying this park, America the Beautiful!

 

Benefits of the location and the fellowship allowed the opportunity to visit the large New England  Aquarium. The information gained at the aquarium will enhance the second grade language arts research project about ocean animals. Mrs. Hellmann and Mrs. Phillips were marveled with the following aquatic animals: harbor seals, northern fur seals, penguins, octopus and sea turtle. We are anxious to share facts about these ocean animals and many more with our students. The educators/employees at the Aquarium were knowledgeable and encouraged a hands on experience when the opportunity existed like with the stingrays, starfish, sponge, clams, horseshoe crabs etc. We wish we could go to this museum on a field trip!

 

Day 7 Answers:

A grasshopper was mounted on Faneuil Hall's weathervane to represent prosperity and security.

Paul Revere had 8 children with his first wife; and 8 children with his second wife.

The streets in Boston were originally composed of cobblestone.

 

Day 8 Question:

What is the estimated value of 352 crates of tea today?

What is a wharf?

What was the preferred TCE teachers' Boston tea at Abbigail's Tea Room?

a. strawberry-apple tea     b. breakfast tea       c. green tea         d. black tea

 

 

 

 

Day 7 Freedom Trail

 

The cradle of Liberty….the birthplace of American Independence…Paul Revere’s home and the Old North Church where his lanterns were hung: the very places where our nation began. All of these sites and more were visited by our team. We began at the “common”, America’s oldest park, which is the size of about 15 Andy Pafko parks!!!  We had an individual tour guide which told us about the sites along Boston’s Freedom Trail.  She told us the historical stories of where the patriots gathered and where the revolution began.  Our wonderful guide, dressed in period clothing, explained how the American resistance to the British Crown was born, grew, and flourished…until, eventually, the only alternative was war and independence.

 

The Freedom Trail is marked by a red line on the sidewalk.  We were entranced by the history of our country.  A few places we visited were King’s Chapel, Park Street Church, Granary Burial Ground (final resting place for many famous patriots), Old South Church, Old State House (site of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence), Boston Massacre Site, and Faneuil Hall (the first place people discussed their unrest with the British rule).  We then traveled to North Boston.  We strolled past Paul Revere’s house en route to Old North Church.  Did you know that Paul Revere rode a horse to individual houses and quietly told other patriots that the “Regulars” were coming rather than “The British are coming”?  They were ALL British and he was quiet because he didn’t want the Loyalists (soldiers) to know they were ready to defend their land.  We were in awe of the 14 story steeple on Old North Church on Boston’s oldest standing church.  We saw the window where one lantern was lit to make everyone aware the Regulars were coming by land (as depicted in Longfellow’s poem). Another interesting feature of the church was the paid boxes (with limited pew seating) that families purchased to sit in to hear the worship service.
We bid farewell to our wonderful guide and were able to indulge in an authentic Italian lunch topped off with gelato (Italian frozen dessert equivalent to ice cream).

We ended the evening with an historic tour of the Boston sites on horse and carriage.  We passed the common garden, theater district, china town, and the original site of “Cheers”.  We were within ½ mile of the site of the tragic bombing.  After 13 hours of walking and collecting information, our heads were ready for our pillows.  We apologize for the delayed blog.

Day 6 Answers:

The name of the park is Faneuil Hall. It’s right across from our hotel! Unbelievable historical touring ground!

The Boston Red Sox play in Fenway Park.

Mrs. K’s Massachusetts road adventures were successful because of today’s technology (gps on smartphones) and Mrs. Phillips’ gentle guidance, as she was the team’s navigator instructing Mrs. K where to go.

Day 7 Questions:

What insect was mounted on the Faneuil Hall’s weathervane to represent prosperity and security?

How many children did Paul Revere have?

What were many of the streets in Boston made from that the TCE teachers cautiously walked on?

 

 

 

Hi Ho Hi Ho...Off to Boston We Go!

Day 6: Sunday, August 04, 2013

Hi…Ho…Hi…Ho…Off to Boston, we go! Today we depart Worcester. Prior to leaving this large city, we traveled to Fed Ex to ship twenty six pounds of resources or ‘goodies’ home to Boyceville! We are anxious to share many artifacts, games and books with families and friends about Early American history.

We cruised approximately forty five miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike. This road may be compared to Wisconsin’s I-94 except wider. The major difference is that the Turnpike is a toll road. We had to pay a small fee at toll booths to drive on it.  The collection of tolls helps the state of Massachusetts build roads and other structures. Another cool feature we encountered as we were cruising along another highway was an underwater road tunnel. There are quite a few near the airport.  We did not observe any water around us because the tunnel’s interior was made from brick. It is amazing what engineers and architects can design and construct!

As stated previously, the landscape is MUCH like Wisconsin. Huge green trees, beautiful flowers & shrubs, and rolling hills decorate the land. We saw very few farms where we traveled. But, the ocean was a bonus. Wisconsin lakes/rivers are fresh water which feels better on your skin than salt water!  The weather has been consistently 80 degrees and sunny.

Mrs. K, our fearless driver, conquered four lanes of crazy traffic to arrive safely at our hotel, located in the heart of the city. Our room is located on the seventh floor.  After getting nestled in, the rental car had to be returned to Logan International Airport. Due to the chaotic roads and expensive parking fees, we elected to use the transit or taxi from Sunday through Thursday.

The evening was relaxing as we strolled through city parks becoming acquainted with our ‘busy’ setting. Tomorrow, more historical paths will be walked by your TCE teachers. Stay tuned…

Day 5 Answers:

The Redcoats (British) won the battle reenactment at Old Sturbridge Village. Hopefully, you witnessed the video linked on facebook or on our blog.

The musicians were not to be shot at during battles so they made it easy to recognize them. We wonder if it encouraged more men to play instruments.

Mrs. Phillips had her right arm amputated as a result of a gunshot wound during battle. (only pretendJ)

Day 6 Questions:

What famous Boston attraction is near our downtown hotel?

What is the name of the baseball team representing Boston?

How did Mrs. K know how to get to Boston? What Boston park is the Millennium Hotel closest to?

Day 5: Old Sturbridge Village

Good day to you from Old Sturbridge Village!  Today, we had the pleasure of interacting with Rebels and Redcoats dressed in full costume! Historical highlights are as follows:

·         The largest military reenactment in New England with nearly 1,000 soldiers portraying British, Irish, Spanish, Scottish, French, and Colonial troops! 

·         We toured the camps and witnessed the mock skirmishes.

·         The battle field hospital sites were interesting with their treatment of wounds after the battles. Mrs. Phillips was a mock-patient!

·         Loud cannons and gunshots rang through our ears during the battle.

·         We observed the troops being inspected by the military leaders.

In addition, TCE teachers interacted with village life. There was so much to see! We will share some favorites!

·         Tin Punching

·         Candle dipping

·         Explored village careers: shoemaker(cobbler), blacksmith, cooper, potter, teacher, printer, tin crafter, farmer, doctor/surgeon, weaver, storekeeper

·         Played village games: cup & ball, over the moon, trundling hoops, battledore/shuttlecock

·         Toured village homes and business; conversed with role players.

·         Had a lesson taught by a village teacher(which meant 'we' were the students); learned what merits were

·         Witnessed household chores such as: washing with a washboard, making butter, gardening, cooking meals, mending clothes, spinning wool, basket weaving

 

Day 4 Answers:

The life expectancy of a humpback whale is only a speculation of approximately 50 to 150 years old. Marine biologists do have an elaborate system for collecting data; in hopes of one day, being able to determine exact age.

False  The clothing of pilgrims rarely included black and neither the shoes or hat had a buckle. Clothing was very simple and could be colorful!

Mrs. Bell’s favorite activity at the Pilgrim Museum was the artifact scavenger hunt. She was not allowed to take pictures in order to protect the integrity of the artifacts. BUT, she has taken at least one thousand pictures EACH DAY!

Day 5 Questions:

Who won the battle of Rebels vs. Redcoats during the observed reenactment at Old Sturbridge Museum?

Why were the musicians' uniform opposite colors of their regiment?

What body part did Mrs. Phillips have "amputated" by the village doctor?

Day 4: Plymouth Hall Museum & Whale Watch

Day 4: August 2, 2013

Up bright and early…packed all of our belongings and new treasures, then checked out of our hotel. We began the morning with a scavenger hunt of Early Americans at the Plymouth Museum. 

Imagine if half of your town is lost in one winter to sickness!  That is what happened in Plymouth 1620.  In addition, we learned that when separatists got here it was the perfect place to live: the land was cleared (the Natives that lived on the land died of a plague prior to their arrival), a hill for protection and a lookout, fresh spring water to drink and plenty of animals/fish for a food source.  The separatists were called “first comers” according to the many interesting facts obtained from the Plymouth Hall Museum today. That’s right, they were not called Pilgrims until the 1800’s.  102 “first comers” came to the new land upon the Mayflower. The Mayflower arrived in 1620. Three other ships followed shortly after, Fortune, Anne and Little James.  There were 48 men, 18 women, and 35 children under the age of twenty-one.  A smaller vessel, the Speedwell, actually began the first journey. It took on water; therefore, all aboard had to return to port twice!  They finally left that ship and crammed on a cargo ship, the  Mayflower.  Prior to leaving England and traveling on the ship, people could not drink water because the water would kill them due to bacteria.  So, everyone drank Ale, even the children!  Prevention of dehydration was a major concern.

 

After we left this site, we went to the Jenny Museum to find out more about how the town people lived.  Following this museum, we went down on the wharf and hopped aboard “Captain John’s” boat and went whale watching! We (each teacher) were invited to go to the captain’s chair and drive the massive boat.  We videotaped the Captain telling about his boat and his job. Krill was our guide. She talked to us about being a marine biologist.  We also videotaped her teaching us about the whales.  We were able see the whales on a 4 hour boat ride twenty miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. It was a “wicked awesome” experience!  Wicked awesome is what locals say when something is absolutely wonderful.  They laughed when we said our experience was really cool! A local restaurant even had a sign out front that claimed they had “wicked awesome” corn beef hash. The final hoorah was observing the Pilgrim Progress (parade). Participants were dressed in character marching to music of their era.

We concluded our sunny day with a two hour drive to Worcester, MA where we checked into our second hotel for a good night’s rest. Tomorrow, we visit Old Sturbridge Village. Read Day 5 to learn about our adventures!

 

 

Day 3 Answers:

False   Tomatoes were NOT planted in 17^th Century gardens.

Plimoth rock is less than 1/3 of its original size because it was placed in the town square where visitors chiseled off chunks as souvenirs. We got to touch the rock…no chiseling by TCE teachers!

Mrs. Hellmann’s favorite cupcake at Charlie’s Cupcake shop was peanut butter.

Day 4 Questions:

What is the life expectancy of a humpback whale?

True or False     Pilgrims traditionally wore buckles on their hats and shoes.

What was Mrs. Bell’s favorite activity at the Pilgrim Museum?

A. Taking Pictures                            B. Souvenir Shopping 

C. Watching Historical Video         D. Completing Artifact Scavenger Hunt

 

Day 3: 17th Century Plimoth Plantation

Day 3:  Thursday, August 1, 2013

Have you ever eaten banana bread French toast or crunchy stuffed French toast?  Our taste buds were awakened with these wonderful breakfast foods...  We returned to the Plimoth Plantation to interact more with the 17th century colonists.  We were fortunate to interview mistresses and good wives about their daily cooking and chores.  Then, we hiked along the Eel River through the Wampanoag village in route to a pottery presentation.  We gathered more artifacts and then preceded to the Nye Barn.  Did you know that there was 1 cow and 2 goats shared between 6 people on each homestead?  Then it was time to say "be well" to our plimouth friends, but it was not the end of our Plymouth adventure. Next, we voyaged to the Maritime Museum.  We are sad to say the Mayflower II is dry docked for repairs, but we were pleasantly surprised by our guide, Patty Ann.  She was extremely informative and we were able to see the shallops (boats that ferried the pilgrims from the Mayflower to shore).  Our guide was also a teacher and requested for us to be pen pals next year.  We are making many new friends in Plymouth. What is the difference between Plymouth and Plimoth? Yes, the spelling. We learned today that in the 1700's spelling was based upon phonetic sounds of words, like Plimoth. As time passed, spelling/pronunications and spelling rules changed; as a result, the original Plimoth changed to Plymouth. Interesting! Back to our day...it was rockin! Seriously, we saw the Plymouth Rock that the pilgrims first stepped on when they found land. This is a belief on a secondary information. We continued to the common or Brewster Gardens/Park, where the first Thanksgiving feast occurred. We even walked on the first street created, Leydon Street which leads to the First Pilgrim Church. Finally, we ate dinner at Wood's Seafood. Lobstah!!! (only for Mrs. Bell)

 Day 2 Answers:
Dolls are made from corn husks. They do not have faces so that children do not become vain.
17th Century shelters were covered by cattails or wood.
Mrs. K picked her 'own' Plymouth rock.

Day 3 Questions:
True or False  Tomatoes were plentiful in the 1700's Plimoth gardens.
Why is Plymouth Rock less than 1/3 of its original size?
What flavor was Mrs. Hellmann's favorite cupcake at Charlie's Cupcake shop?
a. red velvet      b. chocolate raspberry       c.  butterscotch        d. peanut butter

Day 2: Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The second day began with a delicious breakfast at Percy's. Mrs. Bell had her first taste of corned beef hash. Then, we went to Plimoth Plantation for the entire day! UNBELIEVABLE! First, we went to the Wampanoag village. We interacted with members of the native tribe; learned about mishooning, importance of their shelters, role of male/females within the tribe, played Wampanoag games and conversed with authentic individuals. Next, the exploration of resources for our second/third graders began in the gift/souvenir shop. More surprises for our students and families will return to Boyceville! We proceeded to the Craft Center and observed talented folk carving, creating pottery a
nd preparing arrows for the hunt. Then, we went to 17th Century Village. The actors/actresses were amazing to converse with about their era. Children even participated in the retelling of the historical story. Followed by, TCE teachers kicking up our heels with English dancing in the Meeting House/Fort
. We will return to the Plantation tomorrow to explore more, closer to the water! Speaking about water, we played in the Atlantic Ocean before returning to our hotel to prepare for Mrs. Phillips's Anniversary dinner and Mrs. Hellmann's birthday.

Answers to DAY 1 Questions:
The Forefathers Monument was made from granite.

Mrs. Bell and Mrs. K ate fabulous lobster rolls.

Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Hellmann ate grilled chicken sandwiches.

Plimoth Grist Mill ground corn/Indian corn.

DAY 2 Questions:

What were Wampanoag girls dolls made from?

What material did 17th Century English men make their roofs of their homes from?

What did Mrs. K pick from the Plymouth beach?

Day 1: Tuesday,  July 30, 2013

The team left home at 4am. Mr. Kaiser, our supportive principal, gave us an escort to the Minneapolis airport. The plane ascended at 7:25am; descended into Boston, Massachusetts at 11:00am. We landed safely on land that looks much like Wisconsin, very green but hidden on the other side of the trees were beautiful beaches and the Atlantic Ocean. We rented a medium sized automobile and were surprised with a Toyota Rav4 to travel across the countryside in pursuit of our educational plans. First stop... Cape Cod and a seafood lunch. We collected treasures from the beach for our second and third graders. Next, we traveled to Plymouth, MA; checked into the Radisson hotel; and prepared for our first museum/monuments. The Plimoth Grist Mill was amazing! The history behind the mill intrigued us. We took numerous pictures and had a knowledgeable miller answer all of our questions so that we can accurately communicate this process to the community. Continuing to the original site of the first fort built in 1621, we were in awe with the heroes of the past. Finally, we viewed a 'tall', eighty one foot to be exact, Forefathers Monument that had intricate details and inspirational words about our country. We were delighted to observe the importance of education in Early America, along with law, liberty and faith as each of these words were etched in the monument. The night concluded with a late dinner and early to bed due to our exciting upcoming days at the Plimoth Plantation

Questions of the Day:
What material is the Forefathers Monument carved from?

What did Mrs. Bell and Mrs. K. have for lunch?

What did Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Hellmann have for lunch?

What kind of grain was ground at the Plimoth Grist Mill?

*Answers available tomorrow!

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TO US?

Here is a little history on how this fellowship came to be.......

Fund for Teachers enriches the personal and professional growth of teachers by recognizing and supporting them as they identify and pursue opportunities around the globe that will have the greatest impact on their practice, the academic lives of their students and on their community.

Fund for Teachers is the national donor supported organization that awards fellowships for self-designed professional growth to teachers who recognize the value of inquiry, the power of knowledge and their ability to make a difference.

In Wisconsin, teachers must be employed by a Wisconsin School of Recognition as determined by the state of Wisconsin. There are also several other criteria which our team had to meet.  A very lengthy online application had to be submitted. Our proposal was judged on the following areas: Rational and Purpose, Description of Project in detail, Teacher and Student Growth/Learning, Benefits to School and Community, Plan for Implementation, and Budget.

Our team actually wrote a proposal and submitted it last year. After months of waiting, we were told we did not receive this highly competitive fellowship. We were deflated with the news. The application was extremely long and time consuming to complete. We did however ask for our critique back and found out some very helpful information. So.......

We picked our selves up when we found out our school was awarded the Wisconsin School of Recognition again!  We started to work on another application with lots of changes from our first try.  As we worked through each of the areas on the application, we became more and more excited! We could envision changes to our current teaching and curriculum! We could predict the excitement from our students! We could feel growth as teachers!  Our team know we had to work in order to make this a reality. The application was submitted before the end of January and then the waiting began AGAIN! In a letter dated March 29, 2013, we received news from Tony Evers, WI State Superintendent with the WI Department of Instruction that we had been chosen to receive a $9225.00 Fellowship in order to pursue our proposed project. 

And so the real planning began!

We do feel truly fortunate to be selected for this wonderful educational opportunity. We look forward to bringing home may artifacts, pictures, stories, documents, games, crafts, reproductions, and increased knowledge about early American history. We plan to have our students become involved with all of these and more this fall when we are back in our classrooms.  We know we will make a difference! This Chinese proverb helps to sum up our philosophy on teaching and this fellowship:

"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will never forget"

LOOKING FORWARD

On July 30th, 2013 Deb Bell, Amy Carlson-Phillips, Angela Hellmann, and Janine Klaustermeier from Boyceville, Wisconsin will embark on an amazing educational journey to Boston/Plymouth Massachusetts.  Our team was awarded a grant through Funds for Teachers in order to gather valuable resources and gain knowledge to enhance our educational unit on the "humble beginning" of our country. Our team's focus is to enrich the teaching of Early American History for our second graders at Tiffany Creek Elementary. By spending 8 days in the Boston/Plymouth area, we will document (videos, photographs, journals, and blogs) the experience, learn from experts, be actively involved in workshops, and collect valuable artifacts.  We will be creating a timeline in history project that will bring the past to the present! This opportunity will allow us to instill American pride and a greater understanding of democracy by learning about the beginning of our country! We hope you will enjoy our blog as it outlines the events leading up to, during, and following this opportunity.


Debra Bell, Janine Klaustermeier, Amy Carlson-Phillips, Angela Hellmann