Friday, July 5, 2013
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
Fourth-grade students at Robinwood Lane Elementary School took a trip back in time with a visit from a group of Civil War re-enactors June 5. The students learned about the Civil War through language arts books they read throughout the year, as well as in history class.
“We usually take a day like today to just celebrate and let them see history in action,” said Jeanette Tamulonis, social studies and science teacher. “They enjoy it.”
The re-enactors brought items, such as guns and flags, for the children to see and even touch.
“They’re always surprised when it’s a wool uniform, how scratchy and hot it is,” Tamulonis said.
The group of re-enactors portrayed soldiers from both the North and South armies. They showed the students various flags to give them an idea of the many changes the Confederate flag went through. They also demonstrated how guns used during the Civil War worked.
The demonstration wasn’t new to Jacob Burkey, a student at Robinwood. He has seen the re-enactment before.
“It’s really cool,” Burkey said.
Classmate Dominic Massacci agreed. He said it was easier to understand what he’d been learning after seeing the re-enactment.
“I understand it a lot now,” Massacci said. He particularly enjoyed the shooting demonstration.
Massacci also thought it was interesting that a former Robinwood student was participating in the re-enactment. Brandon Russo, now 14 and in the seventh grade, became interested in the Civil War in elementary school. He said he’s still researching the war.
Alexcia Benson said the presentation wasn’t what she expected. She thought the re-enactors would read from books and talk to them about the Civil War and slavery, but wasn’t expecting the demonstrations.
“So I think it’s pretty cool,” Benson said.