My hat, it has 3 corners....

Home schooling here in Virginia has already proven to have some wonderful advantages. The area is SO rich in early American history that I have decided to not even use an official history curriculum but rather take advantage off all that there is to see and do all around us. We had one such opportunity just last week. Colonial Williamsburg offers homeschooling families enormously discounted tickets for 1 week twice a year. We were able to get in on the action for two days with several other homeschooling families. The girls were especially diligent to get all of their other schoolwork done so that we could devote Thursday and Friday just to our field trip. We were able to take tours of colonial buildings, watch re-enactments, do hands on activities as well as watch skilled craftsmen at work. We visited a brickmaker, a silversmith, a leather worker, a carpenter, and toured a working colonial kitchen. We also got to be involved in a mock trial at the courthouse. I was chosen to be one of the 12 magistrates. That was interesting! Caitlin was disappointed that no one got thrown in the stockade or tarred and feathered. Speaking of punishment, we toured the original jail which is famous for housing 15 of Blackbeard's crew while they awaited trial. They were made to ride to their lynchings sitting atop their coffins! Yikes!! Talk about creepy. All in all it was tons of fun. We got spend time with great friends AND learn so much more than would be possible from a book. I have attempted to tell the story of our 2 days in our Picasa Web album labeled Colonial Williamsburg. I hope you enjoy the pics, who knows; you just might learn a few things.