WESTFIELD – Munger Hill Elementary School students have been busy exploring what life was like in 18th century Westfield. Principal Marcia Estelle said each grade level is exploring a different aspect of colonial life in the school-wide project.
Kindergarteners and first graders are studying and learning 18th century crafts and games. Second graders are studying the land formation of Westfield, and why it was a good place for a city to form.
Third graders are learning about what school was like back then, and fourth graders are studying sewing, needlepoint, and textiles. Fifth graders are learning about the trades and craftsmen of the times.
Music, physical education and health teachers are exploring colonial music, dance and food with their classes.
The school received a $1,500 grant in the fall from the Westfield Education Foundation for the project. According to Estelle, the school has explored project based learning in the past, after she and fifth grade teacher Cindy Gaylord went to a workshop on the hands-on approach to learning last year.
Gaylord, who is one of two lead teachers on this project and also a member of Westfield’s Historical Commission, also went to Colonial Williamsburg for a workshop. Third grade teacher Christy Roselli is the other lead teacher on the project.
“We got the idea and the financial support. The kids came up with great ideas,” said Estelle, who called the project “wonderful and very engaging.”
She said that they are also trying to create a unit that’s replicable for the Foundation and for other schools. “We see the benefits of it. It’s a great way for kids to learn, hands-on, self-directed,” Estelle added.
On Wednesday, the four fifth grades had taken over the hallways and classrooms, putting the finishing touches on their “shops.” Gaylord said the teachers took the four 5th grade classes in the school and divided them up, bringing in students from different classes to work together on eleven different occupations.
Each group then studied their trade, looking at the natural resources of the area, what they would have made, what life was like, what kind of demand there would be for their products, and who their clients would be. The different trades they studied included glass maker, printer, wig maker, doctor, tailor, blacksmith, furniture maker, shoemaker, silversmith, and hat maker.
“We are trying to let them guide the learning, and wanted them to do the research. We were there to guide them. They’ve done a good job,” Gaylord said.
The student tailors in the group commented that there were no machines to make the clothes. “Everything had to be handmade,” one said. When asked if they would like to have done that work, another student said no. “It was hard enough for us to make clothes out of paper,” she said.
The wig makers were eager to talk about their trade. They explained that wigs were made mostly for men, to wear for special occasions, and even poorer men wore wigs. They talked about the long, complex process to make wigs out of yak, horse and human hair which had to be baked, boiled, and then sand put on them to get the oil out.
“You didn’t have to have your hair done, you could get a shave,” one student said, adding that barbers made all their own tools.
Gaylord said the whole fifth grade went on a field trip to Boston where they learned a lot of history, and went on the Duck Boats.
The project will culminate in two special days this week. On Tuesday, June 14, visitors from Storrowton Village will share storytelling, colonial music, dance and food, spinning, weaving and felt hat making with the students. Also on hand will be a school mistress, a canal builder, and blacksmith.
On Wednesday, June 15 the students will have their turn to share their projects with other grades on a schedule throughout the day. The fifth graders will have their shops set up on a colonial main street in the foyer throughout the day, as different grades come to them to learn about their trades. Lunch that day will also be a colonial-inspired menu of carrots and celery, drumsticks and vegetable soup.
Gaylord said that parents and interested community members are invited to attend Wednesday’s program.
