Time Travelers Colonial Life: Day 9

For Day 9, we completed Lesson 14: Villages & Cities

We learned about how villages differ from cities and what types of stores you would find in each area. The heart of either community is the General Store. Here people would gather for church (if there wasn't a church building), have school (if there wasn't a seperate schoolhouse), purchase needed items, was the main gathering place, post office, and so much more.

We also mapped the 13 original colonies. We were puzzled at first that there were 2 Massachusetts on the map, thinking this might be an error, but as we read more, that was the way it was back then.

We also created postcards from 4 different areas; Boston, New York, Williamsburg, & Philadelphia. The assignment was to write a post card to someone back home as if you were visiting the location during colonial times. Or to write a brief history of the location mentioned on the postcards. Here are a couple samples from my children:

Jessica:

(New York)

Dear Grandma Marie,

We walked to the market today. I got some beautiful fabric to make a new dress. Can't wait to see you again.

Love, Jessica

Holly:

(New York)

Dear Mom and Dad,

We went to the general store and bought eggs. We fried them up and ate them. They were good.

Love, Holly

Timmy:

(Williamsburg)

~The Governor's Palace~

Building began in 1706 and was complete in 1722. It too many years to build due to the mounting expense. It sits on 63 acres on the cities north side. It had 3 floors; 3,380 sq ft. each, a cellar with 11 wine bins, & an iron balcony at the center upper window. 9 governors lived in the original house (including Thomas Jefferson). The original house burnt to the ground in 1781 & was rebuilt in 1934.

We were also blessed with a wonderful Show and Tell. Another family went to see some colonial ships that were in our area, and they brought back with them a Tea Brick. When the Boston Tea Party happened, they didn't dump loose leaf tea into the harbor, they dumped Tea Bricks. This is 1 section of a larger brick. If my memory is correct, there are 8 blocks like this one that makes 1 larger block, that is stamped with the mark from the company that made the brick. The larger block can provide tea for a family in China for an entire year. That is a LOT of tea!

How do you use this brick you ask? Well you put it in the pot of hot water and let the tea turn to the desired color you wish it. Then remove the brick and set it aside until you desire more tea.

As you can imagine, all this compressed tea must have made the harbor very tea'ie.