For today's video click here
FYI: Music in the video is from a Harpsicord. Something that Nelly Washington played to entertain guests at Mount Vernon. They often danced to this type of music in the Formal dining room. This is a longer video today, but mostly video and not many pictures. Enjoy.
One of the things that I've been thinking a lot about is, "How do I bring this all back for my students?"
Mount Vernon has done an impeccable job hitting on all of the learning styles. There are tremendous visual displays, audio displays, things to smell, things to push. In short, they hit all types of learning styles. Now, I know, they have millions of dollars to do this, but what can I do in my classroom to hit all of my students learning styles? Something, I will continue to ponder. Maybe, I can get an 8th grade class trip fully funded to bring back every eighth grader at WCI to Mount Vernon?
Another thing that has really impressed me, is that Mount Vernon is really an experience for every age. Something that is tremendously hard to do. They have told me on several occasions that the 8th grade boy is their target as they are the hardest to please. I do believe that they have gone beyond that. As I have been walking the estate the past four days, I have seen everything from infants to people that are in their nineties enjoying this place (they take "motorized carriages" aka "golf carts"around). It has intrigued me. So today, I really made this a day for my daughter to really explore Mount Vernon and see this place through a little girls eyes. Of course, Mount Vernon has thought of this. George's adopted children and grandchildren were incredibly important to him. He also "adopted" Marquis de Lafayette, the frenchman would helped us secure our independence from Great Britain. There was never a time in George's life, once he married Martha, when there wasn't children at Mount Vernon. Whether it was his own children or his grandkids, children's laughter and screaming must have filled this place. Suprisingly, Mount Vernon is very kid friendly. The museum is not, the house is somewhat, but every other place on the estate is definitely child friendly. The wide expanses of grass, the animals everywhere, the interactive Education center, or the "Hands-on" history exhibit, all welcome children of every age. We spent most of our day in the "Hands-on"history exhibit. This is an interactive place for children all the way up to 6th grade. It is wonderful. From costumes to a giant Mount Vernon doll house, to Lincoln logs, to puzzles, to a stage.. the list goes on. It is a great concept, teaching through fun hands-on activities. It is next to the Teacher Library, which is tremendous. My wife spent some time in there today getting resources and I plan on spending a good chunk of time in their tomorrow. We played some more at the Mansion and I captured a cool moment of my daughter and wife walking down to the river together from the piazza of Mount Vernon. We had lunch today at Mount Vernon Inn (Part of my orientation). My manager said I should eat there to be able to tell the guests what to have. The place is darling. The waiters are in Colonial Costumes and you feel like you walk right into 1700. I had Root Beer (a 200 year old recipe from the Library of Congress), we split Peanut Soup (delicious) and we both had Meat and Potato Pye (that's how they spelled it). It was so good. We ended it with a slice of Cherry Pie and Bread pudding. It was a great experience. Since I work at Mount Vernon they gave us a 50% discount. NICE!!!!
Now we are home and resting. We will head out tonight to pick up a pumpkin for the house. Tomorrow the girls are going to the city as I spend the day at Mount Vernon. Tomorrow will be a blast for them and for me. I'm meeting with my bosses to go over the rest of the month and where they want to plug me in. Very exciting!
One funny story. There are lots of school groups that come to Mount Vernon. I've had to control my "teacher" self when I see them acting inappropriately. Now, 99% are great kids, but 1% are tough to handle. Today I was in the "Hands-on" center, enjoying my time when a 6th grade boy just came in and starting spinning the puzzle in circles as fast as he could. The worker stepped out to get my wife some materials, so I stepped in. I got my teacher voice going and said, "Hey Bro, stop it right now!" He didn't know what to do. Who was this big guy talking to me? He stopped though. The worker then came in and followed up. He promptly left. The worker said, "Thanks!" Ah, classroom management!
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