Butter churning and cider making; furniture graining and stenciling; candle making and creating whirly-gig toys are just a few of the hands-on learning experiences in which C.V. Starr 4th graders became apprentices for the day to gain an appreciation for how challenging life was for Colonists.
The Colonial Fair began in 2001 with a generous grant from the Brewster Education Foundation and has been going strong ever since.
The day is the culmination of the fourth grade’s study of New York state history which started with a unit on Native Americans and ended with the Colonists. Students learn that the Colonial era is a time in New York’s history when European explorers traveled in search of a new life and settled in and around Brewster and often worked with, and learned from, the Native Americans to build homes and use resources to survive.
Last week, 4th graders welcomed Deborah Oswald from the Southeast Museum to kick off the social studies unit. Oswald brought replicas of artifacts, such as clothing and games. She also discussed how different and difficult life was for African Americans during this period.
“Good day lads and lasses,” said Master Craftswoman Michelle Marzziotti, “welcome to our furniture shop where we will be making treasure boxes.”
Down the hallway in Michelle Maselli’s classroom, students were apprentices and making candles.
“Do you know what the Colonists would have used to make wicks?” asked Maselli.
“Horse hair and tall reeds,” said Tatiana.
In Danielle Recine’s classroom, students were meticulously dabbing paint onto stencils on wooden boards.
“Colonists used stencils to make designs on the walls like wallpaper,” said Ben Berish,”When the Colonists came to the New World, they thought it was going to be easy, but life was hard. They had to make everything themselves. They had to make their own furniture, wallpaper, and candles. They did get help from the Native Americans who taught them how to harvest and make medications. But it was hard. There wasn’t a lot of free time.”