Thread: Help with History.....

I am not a secondary teacher - but when I taught elementary (for 19 years), I had a collection of historical costumes that I wore when I taught various social studies units. Back before education in Texas sank in a morass of frenzied teaching to the state test, I used to build thematic units around various periods of history. I would "dress the part" and play the role of a historical character. I also brought period music to school that I played in the background.

My favorite costume was the complete Renaissance outfit of a Spanish Conquistador. I had custom tailored leather hip boots, baggy pantaloons, a puffy sleeved shirt, a doublet, a steel breastplate, and a steel "combed morion helmet." I even had a fake pointed beard and mustache and I also carried a staff with the Royal Spanish flag.

It was loads of fun - and a big attention getter.

If you're interested in doing something similar - check to see if there is a local reenactment group in your area. Since you're doing European history, you might check to see if there's a group called the Society for Creative Anachronism in your area. They're a national group and have a website at: [url="http://www.sca.org/"]www.sca.org/[/url]

Best wishes,

David

(Sometimes known as Hernando Coronado, "Capitan de los Conquistatordes en Mejico")