Cedar Ridge Elementary School

1. Isaiah Thomas and the Printing Press

Students meet the Massachusetts revolutionary printer, Isaiah Thomas. They will learn about his life as an apprentice printer and hear the five things that the British Government did to try to control his press in the 1770s, and how Thomas narrowly escaped with his life. Students will discuss current restrictions on the freedom of the press and what steps are required to become an informed citizen in a world of biased media, which is sometimes controlled by the state. Students will also have the opportunity to operate an English common press (the kind of press in use during the American Revolution) to print a copy of a document of historic significance.

2. Rope Maker

Where does rope come from? Today, a child might answer "the store," but in colonial times, every child knew that getting rope began with planting hemp. For the roughly 90 percent of kids who were raised on farms, they would harvest the grown hemp plants and begin a long process to separate the fibers from the woody stock then "lay" those fibers into a strong rope using a rope twisting machine. In this presentation, students will make strong rope from rough fibers. Along the way, they’ll gain an appreciation for what life was like at the founding of our nation.

3. Village Cooper

18th-century coopers in America were crucial figures, transforming wood into essential household items through a blend of artistry and practical skill. Their craft involved sourcing and preparing suitable woods, creating the various components from wood to create buckets, barrels and casks, and assembling this parts with the help of metal bands to create water-tight vessels. In this presentation, students will have a front-row seat to see the process of creating these containers that were foundational to colonial domestic life. They will hear that the primary avenue to success in the American colonies involved beginning at a young age to develop a skill and applying that skill to meet market needs.

4. Colonial Militiaman

Experience the American Revolution firsthand! This presentation brings to life an American colonial militiaman, detailing the practical necessities of war. Explore the essential gear carried into battle, including a leather haversack, powder horn, and tin canteen. The presentation focuses heavily on the period's weaponry: a detailed examination of the flintlock musket, its operational mechanics, and the importance of the bayonet in close combat. Learn how this crucial equipment was maintained and used by citizen-soldiers who fought for independence. This is a look into the soldier's life, defined by his tools and weapons.