[MR] RE: *WH* Demo any one?

[C. Brian Towey]

> Some of us are now in the process of putting together Quick and Dirty 
> Lesson Plans for future Demos to have available.

My family and I recently did a three-hour, living history demo for a nearby
private day school.  It was not an SCA-brand event but, with one notable
exception, everything we did would work just as well under the SCA banner.
I'll be happy to share our best ideas.

First, we talked about the "middle ages" and what they might be in the
middle between.  This was a new idea for the kids.  They had all heard of
the fall of Rome, but really had not thought about spending a thousand years
looking backward to a superior age of wealth, power, and knowledge.

We dealt out 3" x 5" paper "index cards" with the names of 14th C items of
clothing and armor.  We laid out a wide variety of replicas, and had the
kids walk around and lay the cards on the item they thought might match.
Gauntlets were easy; fillets and couters were not.  I collected up the wrong
cards, dealt them out again, and gave them another chance.  The children
enjoyed this very much, since they got to be up and about.  It was much
better than having them in their seats raising hands.

The principal dropped in, and we dressed her in a riveted hauberk and steel
arming cap.  Sword in hand, she toured the neighboring classrooms.

I asked an older girl to count (but not show) how many different articles of
clothing she had on.  To much giggling, others in the class followed suit.
Naturally, we pointed out, in the middle ages also people wore many
different bits, and knew all their names just as we do today.

After we revealed the right answers for the index cards, and talked briefly
about each item (why is that called the "gates of hell?"), we did a craft
project: mail.  I gave each kid a $1 box of plastic shower curtain rings,
the kind that snap closed, plus a coat hanger.  (This was the only expense
for the demo).  At that large scale, and without tools, they could easily
make a few rows of four-link mail.  Meanwhile, my wife put her garb on.

Next up was target practice with a small onager (ping ping balls) and
crossbow (quarrels tipped with rubber erasers).  I left them firing away,
with my kids retrieving balls, while I stepped out to put on my own garb.
All the while, children were trying on hats and child-sized armor, and
playing with the larger armor bits.  The nice thing about armor is that they
can't hurt it.

Finally, I had volunteer "squires" help me armor up, threading points
through the mail and tying bits of plate onto my transitional kit.  I put on
my "nametag", i.e., surcoat, and explained that when most people can't read
and your face is covered, you need big, obvious signs to avoid friendly
fire.

*NOTABLE EXCEPTION* Yes, I know that the next activity is not suitable for
SCA events.  In fact, I made the teacher and all the children say out loud
in chorus, "This is not an SCA event."  I don't want to hear anyone
complaining about it.

Once I was armored up, I gave them a rattan "sword" and let them have at me.
"Come on," I taunted, getting into my Flemish character.  "You swing like a
Frenchman."  A few of the eleven-year-olds had murder in their eyes, but I
was in no danger, wearing a very heavy kit.

After every child had gotten a few swings, my wife answered questions while
the kids helped me off with the harness.  Then, we packed up and left.

A three hour slot is forever if you are lecturing, but not bad at all if the
children are all busy with some craft or activity.  

I would love to hear about favorite classroom ideas from others who have
done demos.

Your servant,

Charles Fleming