FOR RELEASE:  May 6, 2009

 

 

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Troy Museum & Historic Village and Troy School District Collaborate
to Create Daylong Civil War Camps for Middle School Students

 

Four Middle Schools to Participate in Pilot Program from May 18-21

 

 

(TROY, MI)The Troy Museum & Historic Village staff and teachers from the four Troy School District middle schools have developed an exciting new program for 1,000 Troy eighth graders that meets social study curriculum benchmarks outlined in the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCES).

 

Students from each of Troy’s four middle schools (Baker, Boulan Park, Larson and Smith) will participate in daylong Civil War Camps held at the Troy Museum from 9 am - 2 pm on May 18-21, 2009.

 

Students will rotate through seven stations that feature interactive learning:

§  Military Life: drills weapons and uniforms– demonstrated by re-enactors from the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition

§  Communication through letters, journals, telegraph and newspapers– presented by Mrs. Christen’s Miscellanea

§  Camp Life: food, health and shelter– presented by re-enactors

§  Blacksmithing, horseshoeing and woodworking– presented by a local farrier, volunteer blacksmiths and woodworkers

§  History of dance during the 1800s- presented by Glen Morningstar

§  Meeting Sojourner Truth– depicted by actor Jacinta Shanae

§  Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln– depicted by actor Taras Berezowsky

 

“It has been a wonderful experience to work with the middle school teachers, dedicated Civil War re-enactors, performers and artisans,” said Museum Manager Loraine Campbell. “They will transform our Village into a Civil War camp where students assume the identity of soldiers from our community. We want these young people to see, taste, hear and feel the lifestyle of a soldier. They will see the artifacts, taste hard tack, march under the direction of a union officer, send messages by telegraph, and hear Sojourner Truth’s life as an abused slave who sought freedom.”

 

This program was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Kresge Foundation to the Troy Museum. It is the goal of the Museum to expand this pilot program and provide the camp to additional school districts next year.

 

For more information please contact Loraine Campbell at 248.524.3570 or email LM.campbell@troymi.gov.

 

The Troy Museum & Historic Village is located at 60 West Wattles Road at the northwest corner of Wattles and Livernois. 

 

 

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