Blown Away by Plimoth Plantation

One of the most rewarding experiences I have as a teacher is taking students to historic sites and using the locations as my classroom.  In fact, it is the whole reason that One if By Land Adventures even exists.  I have always felt the classroom walls to be confining, but by having the kids walk in the footsteps of those that came before, short of building a time machine, I think it makes it come alive much more.

For the past several years, it has been a privilege to take my students to Boston to discover the roots of the American Revolution.  Along the way, we also hunt down witches in Salem and venture out to Plymouth to hang with the pilgrims at Plimoth Plantation.


Each trip brings its own unique experiences and this year was definitely one that I will not soon forget.  First off, we saw snow!  To many of you reading this that may not seem all that mid blowing, but to a bunch of Florida kids it was like an alien environment.  For many, it was the first time they had ever seen snow and they delighted in running around in it and trying to make their very first snow balls, which of course they ended up throwing at me.

Despite the snow, I think the thing that the kids will remember the most is the experience we had at Plimoth Plantation.  Being from Florida, we had lived through a number of hurricanes, but the noreaster that blew through on Plimoth day was truly memorable.  Winds were lashing us at about 60 miles per hour and ponchos were literally being shredded left and right.  We were all running around trying to find the pilgrims who had taken cover in the homes.  I have to give the kids alot of credit though, even though it was probably the worst weather we had ever experienced on a Boston trip, they hung in there and tried to learn as much as possible.  One kid biffed in the mud and a group of kindly pilgrim ladies sat him down by the hearth and let him dry off while telling him and the others stories about their lives at Plimoth.  I will never forget the site of the kid as steam was rising up all around him.  Luckily we were able to change our clothes before the flight home.

It is my hope and dream that One if by Land Adventures will allow me to broadcast live field trips like this to classrooms across the United States.  For many, actually going to the sites might not be a possibility, but it is my intention with One if by Land to bring the field trip to them.  Am seeking support and like minded people to get the adventure off the ground!  Please contact me to join up!

Lincoln Lives!

Well, I finally came full circle and finally got to see Lincoln.  I have been anticipating the film for the last few years even when it was in the development stages and Liam Neeson was attached to pot ray Lincoln.  A couple of years ago I visited the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois and just missed Daniel Day Lewis researching.  Apparently he was walking out the door as I was walking in.  I have always had a knack for somewhat bad timing.

Anyway, did I like the film?  Absolutely!  Steven Spielberg and the crew managed to pull off quite a feat in having history come alive without resorting to crazy embellishments.  History was allowed to speak for itself.  Was it all totally accurate?  Of course not, but the minor inaccuracies do not do much to warrant the film trash.

What we have is a Lincoln that is accessible to us all.  We have Lincoln as a leader, a husband, and a father.  What we see is a vulnerable Lincoln wrapped in a blanket, deep in thought, not the Disneyesque version with the booming baritone voice.  We are able to see Lincoln as an actual human being and not as some "historical figure" devoid of flaws and human emotion.

I think film can be a powerful medium to help in teaching history.  Let's be honest, for the average American, film is the most accessible medium.  I have sometimes been criticized for using movies in my teaching, but I think even bad or inaccurate films can lead to healthy discussion and debate about the importance of the real story.   The Patriot is a perfect example of this.  Yes, it is a very entertaining movie, but can one get beyond the dramatic imagery and special effects to get to the real heart of the actual event?  It is something that I have long shared with my own students.  GO BEYOND and discover the real story rather than what Hollywood dramatizes.  What I have always tried to get across to students is the importance of critically analyzing what they are watching.

I also believe that the true power of films like Lincoln and others is the fact that it might provoke people to actually learn more about the subject.  How great is it that "Team of Rivals" upon which Lincoln is based is currently enjoying renewed popularity?  Perhaps it will also encourage people to visit Springfield as well.

All in all, I believe Lincoln was well worth the wait and will only get better with a repeated viewing.  A second go round will most likely make me appreciate it even more.  Get your tickets!