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History Lessons Come to Life With MSS Living History Day

Main Street School fourth graders rotated through different stations and engaged in hands-on learning activities from Feb. 27-28 as part of the annual Living History Day. As part of the experience, they gained a deeper understanding about Native Americans, enslaved Africans and European colonists during the 1600s and 1700s.

The students learned about wampum and designed their own wampum belt. They explored tinsmithing and created patterns that tinsmiths commonly used in their work. They also learned about different games played by the various groups of people and played a Lenape game called Deer Button. Each activity was viewed through the lens of a Native American, an enslaved African and a European colonist. 

“By asking themselves, ‘Whose story is this?’ the fourth graders gained a deeper understanding of what life was like for these different groups of people living in America during this historic time period,” Principal Joyce Chapnick said.