The History

After introducing myself, this session leads into the stories, descriptions and explanations that arise from the children and teacher's questions concerning the war.

I try to make this a two-way, interactive experience, so that the children can take advantage of working with an experienced historian, roleplayer, interpreter and teacher rather than simply watching a presentation or video.

This session can also involve demonstration of the weapons and other trappings I bring along with me, as well as perhaps reading from documents I have.

Option: Marching drill

Weather and playground space permitting, this is a good, physical exercise which gives the children a feel for the kind of drill that soldiers practised (sometimes) every day, as well as a much better idea of what exactly was involved in a battle. It is a far cry from modern warfare! They will get to know their left from their right, as they wheel, turn, countermarch, etc.

Option: Description of a Battle

An involving way to give an account of a battle is to go outdoors and have the children represent bodies of men involved in the battle. They move about according to my instructions, allowing a visuospatial perspective on the descriptive story of the battle. Obviously I take care to instruct the children so that they don't get over excited with this exercise.

Option: Creating work for a display

This can involve most of the children sketching me, my weapons and/or other possessions, while others interview me and take notes to write up as information for the display.

Photographs could be taken too, or elements that arise from any particular topic you want me to focus on during the earlier sessions.

Option: A Wargame!

This takes half a day and can form the afternoon session when I do a full day with one class, so that I stay in role all morning and only come out of role in the afternoon. It is always more effective to meet and work with the children as a character first, when they have never seen me 'be myself'.

This involving session utilizes a large map and miniature soldiers to learn about a Civil War battle. The children already have an idea about the types soldiers involved and their weapons (from the morning session) and now peruse the map with me to learn about the local terrain. Then they divide into groups to work out and write down their detailed battle plans. I then show the children what might have happened if their plans were attempted! The session ends with me showing the children what actually happened in history, now that they properly understand the map and representative units. This fascinates the children as they compare what happened 360 years ago to their own little battles.

NB: The children's battle plans might even be incorporated into the display mentioned as an option above.