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

[Cecilia Jaeger]

Wow that sounds wonderful.  Might make a good children's activity or
a track for University.

Cassair

C. Brian Towey wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
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