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Making history come alive
  
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Fremont Elementary School students get in character to visit Colonial America during a lesson.
By Angela Hokanson
Outfitted in stockings, bonnets, dresses and petticoats, Fremont Elementary School students Vanessa Young and Carolina Maranian described some of the clothing styles of Colonial America to their classmates on Wednesday.
The two 10-year-old girls were playing the parts of the owners of a colonial milliner’s shop — or fabric and clothing store — during a series of presentations fifth-graders put on at the school about life in the colonial era.
The girls showed examples of some of the many items the colonists wore on a regular basis, from breeches and waistcoats for men, to corsetlike “stays” for women.
“Women’s clothes are very beautiful, but they’re very uncomfortable to wear,” Carolina told parents and fellow students.
It wasn’t considered appropriate for women to show their ankles or their elbows, so they donned stockings and long-sleeves, she added.
Vanessa was surprised by the amount of work wearing so much clothing required.
“I had no idea they wore so many layers of clothing,” she said. “They wore several petticoats. I’m just wearing one.”
The presentations were the culminating event in the students’ recent study of colonial times, teacher Sherri Downer said. Downer has the students study colonial occupations of their choosing because it focuses their attention on the lives of every day, ordinary people of that time, she said. Students wrote and created the skits and presentations.
Brian Clark, 10, played a colonial doctor who was explaining his craft to two potential apprentices.
He explained how draining blood from patients could get rid of infections, and how doctors sometimes combated fevers by tying dead fish to a patient’s feet.
“They had a lot of absurd rumors, which they thought worked but really didn’t,” Brian said.
When one of the doctors-to-be expressed an interest in working in an apothecary shop, Brian answered, “Absurd. Most women work in apothecary shops. You will be my apprentice.”
Aidan Velasquez, 10, played a cabinet-maker, who made much more than just cabinets. Cabinet-makers also built furniture, and many other items made of wood, he said.
“The most lucrative item prepared by cabinet-makers were coffins,” he said.
Watching the other students’ presentations gave Aidan a chance to take a look into the lifestyles of other kinds of colonial people, he said.
“I just knew about my occupation,” he said. “I didn’t really know about theirs.”
ANGELA HOKANSON covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3238 or by e-mail at angelahokanson@latimes.com.
The two 10-year-old girls were playing the parts of the owners of a colonial milliner’s shop — or fabric and clothing store — during a series of presentations fifth-graders put on at the school about life in the colonial era.
The girls showed examples of some of the many items the colonists wore on a regular basis, from breeches and waistcoats for men, to corsetlike “stays” for women.
“Women’s clothes are very beautiful, but they’re very uncomfortable to wear,” Carolina told parents and fellow students.
It wasn’t considered appropriate for women to show their ankles or their elbows, so they donned stockings and long-sleeves, she added.
Vanessa was surprised by the amount of work wearing so much clothing required.
“I had no idea they wore so many layers of clothing,” she said. “They wore several petticoats. I’m just wearing one.”
The presentations were the culminating event in the students’ recent study of colonial times, teacher Sherri Downer said. Downer has the students study colonial occupations of their choosing because it focuses their attention on the lives of every day, ordinary people of that time, she said. Students wrote and created the skits and presentations.
Brian Clark, 10, played a colonial doctor who was explaining his craft to two potential apprentices.
He explained how draining blood from patients could get rid of infections, and how doctors sometimes combated fevers by tying dead fish to a patient’s feet.
“They had a lot of absurd rumors, which they thought worked but really didn’t,” Brian said.
When one of the doctors-to-be expressed an interest in working in an apothecary shop, Brian answered, “Absurd. Most women work in apothecary shops. You will be my apprentice.”
Aidan Velasquez, 10, played a cabinet-maker, who made much more than just cabinets. Cabinet-makers also built furniture, and many other items made of wood, he said.
“The most lucrative item prepared by cabinet-makers were coffins,” he said.
Watching the other students’ presentations gave Aidan a chance to take a look into the lifestyles of other kinds of colonial people, he said.
“I just knew about my occupation,” he said. “I didn’t really know about theirs.”
ANGELA HOKANSON covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3238 or by e-mail at angelahokanson@latimes.com.
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