The Gefen and Tamar Gazette and Times: Colonial Day Fun

Dear Friends of Gefen and Tamar,

On Wednesday morning, fourth grade parents (and grandparents) and MWJDS students attended the fourth grade's long-awaited Colonial Day. It was awesome.

All the students dressed up as colonial people. They looked SO GREAT, I couldn't believe it.

First we heard Avia, Hadass and Elliana talk about their experience building a model of a New England Colonial village. Then we heard Bryce, Sam and Jonathan talk about their experience building a model of a Middle Colonial village. And last, we heard Meg and Eliana talk about their experience building a model of a Southern plantation. Each group explained the layout of their models, the buildings in them, and the animals and crops. Students talked about why they built their models as they did. For example, two groups used brown paint for their buildings to mimic wood, which is the material most buildings in their regions were made of at that time.

After the student presentations, everyone was invited up to the "stage" to get a closer look at the models and ask the "builders" questions. The younger grades were very impressed and two students asked, "Will IIIIIII get to do this when IIIIIII'm in Fourth grade?" (How cute.)

We ended the celebration with authentic Colonial-era refreshments. Hamorah Carol made biscuits, honey cake (with honey butter), molasses donuts and, my personal favorite, pumpkin bread. She also made "colonial punch."

After visitors left, I treated fourth graders to one more surprise: an opportunity to write with quill pens dipped in ink! They loved it. The students found that the "pens" (which looked like feathers) were much more difficult to write with than they look - and much more difficult to use than the pens we have today!

Below are some photos from Colonial Day. Have a look!