Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia during the dawn of the United States. Today, Colonial Williamsburg transports students back to the 18th century, where they can experience “living” history.
Students will meet the men, women and children whose values and visions created the United States. Walking alongside Colonial Williamsburg’s colonists, students will experience daily life in trade shops, homes and community buildings.
Colonial Williamsburg’s 300 acres brings the United States’ Revolutionary era to life, yet it’s not all history. The colonists’ daily lives include math, science, art and music, too.
Science
What simple machines can be found in Colonial Williamsburg’s trade shops? Students could explore the science behind the blacksmith’s trade and discover what’s necessary to convert raw metal to usable tools. Visiting the Apothecary, students will learn about the three sources of medicine.
Math
Students could discover how the joiner uses math, along with a bevel and square, to build interiors with wood or see how shopkeepers use ledgers to track business transactions.
Arts and Music
Dance and music were key to 18th-century social networking. Students could join a dance lesson or enjoy a musical performance at the Governor’s Palace. Colonial Williamsburg’s art museums feature famous portraits that offer a glimpse of life during the dawn of the United States.
Each stop in Colonial Williamsburg reinforces educational standards skills like critical thinking, exploring issues relevant to daily life, interpretation and use of new vocabulary and phrases, and exploration of diverse media.
Courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Visit colonialwilliamsburg.com/grouptours for more information.
Photo courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
