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Revolutionary Family Vacation
Ideas
Sandy beaches and amusement parks may be the vacation destinations
children are typically drawn to, but exploring our country’s
American heritage sites can be just as much fun for a family
vacation. And by involving kids in the planning, you can keep them
engaged and make this special time together even more meaningful.
In fact, educators agree that involving kids in planning and
visiting historic destinations helps maximize the vacation
experience.
“It’s important to provide your kids with experiences to learn about
our nation’s past outside the classroom,” says Glenna Raper, a fifth
grade teacher from Davis, Okla. “By visiting historical sites, kids
will have a better appreciation for the liberties we’ve been
granted, which encourages them to have a positive impact on their
future.”
Many historic sites offer experiential programs that help bring
history to life in a way that is exciting and interactive for kids.
For example, Colonial Williamsburg recently launched an innovative
new two-hour program, “Revolutionary City – From Subjects to
Citizens,” to enable families to interact with real people in an
American Revolution setting.
In the Revolutionary City experience, kids learn colonists’ personal
stories, making history fun and engaging. Interpreters portray a
runaway slave seeking to flee his master, a carpenter preparing for
war, a loyalist mother and her patriot daughter who disagree on the
war, and George Washington addressing his troops. While families are
encouraged to join the revolution, participation in events is not
required.
Admission for Revolutionary City is included with a Colonial
Williamsburg general admission ticket. A one-day pass is $34 for
adults and $15 for kids, ages 6 to 17. Colonial Williamsburg hotel
guests receive a special discount, and package deals are available
for families staying at least two nights. For more information, call
1-800-HISTORY or visit the Colonial Williamsburg Web site at
www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.
As a supplement to the real-life experience, some historic
destinations’ Web sites even offer activities for the kids. For
example, Colonial Williamsburg’s Web site offers a variety of online
educational activities and games. Kids can learn history trivia,
create and send a colonial card, or play dress-up with 18th-century
paper dolls.
To make history fun and entertain kids while traveling, Gloria
Moeller, a retired fifth and eighth grade American history teacher
from Lakeside, Calif., and Ted Green, a social studies methods
professor from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo., offer the
following tips:
• Build excitement – In the weeks before the trip, share fun
historical facts and study the culture. Listen to relevant music,
try the food or re-enact a historic battle with toy soldiers.
• Play along the way – Reinvent the “license plate” game or “I Spy.”
Track plates from the original 13 colonies or count the times a
historical figure’s name is mentioned on roadside signs.
• Create a travelogue – Give kids a journal to write in before,
during and after the trip. Visual learners might include photos and
drawings. Or let them make a video. Afterwards, encourage them to
post their photos or thoughts online and share them with their
friends.
“Preparing your kids is important before taking a trip,” Raper says.
“Check out library books about historical figures from the area
you’re visiting and research the destination online with your
children. By learning about the destination before you go, they’ll
be more interested when you arrive.”
All materials courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg. Provided through
www.FamilyFeatures.com
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