On Friday, January 22nd, the fifth-grade students took part in a virtual field trip experience with Liberty Hall Museum. The facilitator from Liberty Hall, dressed as a colonist, led the students through a program called, “From Crown to Country.” The students learned about William Livingston, the governor of New Jersey during the American Revolution and a signer of the Constitution. They saw colonial artifacts, like a bed warmer, quill pen and chamber pot. Additionally, they learned about the role of taxes in causing the revolution, like the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Tea Act of 1773.
Throughout the program the facilitator discussed perspective and taught about the “unsung heroes” of the war such as people who were enslaved and women. Though the field trip format was unusual, students remained engaged throughout the experience, and at the end of the trip, had a tough decision to make…if they lived during this time period, would they have remained loyal to their king, George III? Would they have been patriots and fought for their independence? Or, would they have been like the Quakers and remained neutral? All in all, it was a great experience and helped to bring history to life!