With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, some historic items from the Centerville-Washington Twp. Historical Society’s collection, and the creative efforts of CPVS’s integrated arts staff, first-graders were singing, dancing and crafting their way through an American history lesson.
In preparation for the Sept. 17 event, first-graders constructed quilts from paper squares, learned folk songs and practiced the Virginia reel.
“I remember learning it when I was in grade school and I loved it,” CPVS music teacher Beth Hill said. “There are many versions of the dance, but the cool thing is making a bridge with all of these little hands in the air while two people are dancing under the bridge.
‘‘It is an absolute hoot watching all of the grins and smiles while they do the dance.”
Pupils also had the chance to strum a dulcimer and a banjo, and play a washboard with spoons.
IMC director Jeannette Marshall also shared such artifacts as a candle mold and butter churn dating from the 1800s. They belonged to her grandparents.
Hill said the intent was for the children to have fun while learning.
“That’s the point that I try to make with them. Children in early America didn’t have TV, video games, and computers. They had to find other ways to have fun .... So they danced and they sang,” the CPVS music teacher said.
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