30 Main Street, Macedon NY 14502
Macedon Public Library
30 Main Street, Macedon NY 14502
Friends Endowment for the Macedon Public Library
2007 - History Alive! - From Historic Pursuits
Program 1: February 15, 2008 (see photos)
Program 2: March 29, 2008
On Saturday, March 29 from 1-2 p.m., the program in the Community Room at the library will be “Hearth and Home”, and will explore colonial cooking and meal preparation, holidays, children’s games, schoolhouse activities, music and dancing, candle-making and daily chores.Program 3: May 10, 2008
“The Muster” will focus on the Revolutionary War soldiers who settled in our area as a result of land grants given as payment for their patriotic services. Activities will explore life in a Revolutionary War camp, and will include an enlistment ceremony, equipment and uniform issue, drill and ceremony, a flintlock demonstration, camp food, games, and military skills.In June, “The Canawler” will explore the Erie Canal, including songs and games, legends and folklore, hands-on science of canals, packing a barge, and making sense of the canal’s impact on Macedon and on the nation using interactive learning activities.
During 2007, Christopher Blomgren of Historic Pursuits will lead four, one-hour historical presentations tailored for elementary-age students (fourth, fifth and sixth graders). The presentations will include hands-on activities, stories, games, props, clothing and accoutrements of the time, and will conclude with a session promoting books and library resources corresponding to the historical era discussed. Mr. Blomgren, a resident of Palmyra, is a teacher specializing in English, social studies, at-risk youth, and community outreach. He has taught in an alternative education program at Pal-Mac High School, and currently teaches social studies at Geneva Middle School. The Historic Pursuits organization specializes in interactive and hands-on learning outreaches tailored for schools, communities, and individuals. Its web site describes the various programs and activities offered (www.historic.homestead.com).
The Journeyman - how did one advance from the novice stage and through an apprenticeship to become a skilled master craftsman? Activities include signing terms of indenture, the clothes and tools of the apprentice, working with wood and metal, games and songs of the workman, tricks of the trade and hands-on activities.
The Hearth and Home - what was it like growing up in early Macedon? Colonial cooking and meal preparation, holidays, children’s games, schoolhouse activities, music and dancing, candle-making and daily chores.
The Continental - focusing on the Revolutionary War soldiers who settled in our area as a result of land grants given as payment for their patriotic services. Activities will explore life in a Revolutionary War camp, and will include an enlistment ceremony, equipment and uniform issue, drill and ceremony, a flintlock demonstration, camp food, games, and military skills.
The Erie Canal - “canawlers” in Macedon. Songs and games on the canal. Legends and folklore, hands-on science of canals, packing a barge, making sense of the canal’s impact on Macedon and on the nation using interactive learning activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Program 1: February 15, 2008 - The Journeyman
Fourth and fifth grade students at Macedon Elementary School were treated to an exciting Colonial experience thanks to the Friends of the Macedon Public Library. In the school’s small gymnasium on February 15, Christopher Blomgren of Historic Pursuits presented his inter-active, hands-on program “The Journeyman”, exploring the life of a colonial craftsman advancing from the novice stage through an apprenticeship to become a skilled master craftsman. Activities included explaining terms of indenture, the clothes and tools of the apprentice, working with wood and metal, games and songs of the workman, tricks of the trade and hands-on activities with the children.
This program is the first in a series of four colonial and early nineteenth century experiences tailored for older elementary-age students to be presented by Mr. Blomgren. All of the presentations will include hands-on activities, stories, games, props, clothing and accoutrements of the time, and will conclude with a session promoting books and library resources corresponding to the historical era discussed. (Click on an image below to enlarge.)
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Page revised 05/14/08
