What might they have said? How would they express what they feel? What might their penmanship look like?
Anyone want to play?
I can envision this being not only fun, but educational. Imagine the research possibilities! Imagine the reading needed.
I hope someone takes me up on this idea.
What a wonderful idea for a home school assignment! It would be a very interesting way to make the historical characters come alive, teach good research skills and possibly be a spoonful of sugar to make history go down easier for those who don't "like" history. It encompasses creative writing, history, penmanship, historical research for accuracy and the finished product would be fun to share with others. It would be fun to when possible, find cancelled postage from the era to put on the envelope or better yet...design your own! Using the writing instrument of the day would be fun too!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea and since my home school days are over I guess I will do it for myself! I would love to play! One proviso... I am swamped in cukes...it is pickling time :) and the blueberries are getting the best of me so can we talk about who we would like to "be" and start the research but not actually start the correspondence for a couple of weeks? Great Idea, Thanks for bringing it up! Elle
Me again... It would also be fun to chronicle the process in our blogs and then post the letters so others can share in the fun. Tell me whatcha think! Elle
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Elle! I like the idea of taking a bit of time to determine who we will write as. I thought abit about how the characters might not have to be the actual historic persons, but perhaps a fictional character who is observing what is happening. I think the sky and our imaginations are the limits.
ReplyDeleteAnd enjoy the pickles!
I love the end result of all the pickling, but I must say that a five gallon bucket full of cukes and freshly made brine cooking away on the stove will take your breath away! Or is it the jalapenos I have drying in the dehydrator...? :) I will be tossing around thoughts on the "ghost" correspondence and send some ideas back your direction. In the past I did a self assigned project that involved a fictional character that observed some major historical events during WWII, she was a photojournalist living in Shanghai right before the Japanese attacked China. She journaled about her life Shanghai, in a little flat over an open air market, deep in the midst of Shanghai. She also wrote letters to her peers and family around the world, telling them stories from her adventures. I had a lot of fun with it. It would have been more fun if I had been able interest others in participating with me so that there would have been real letters coming in response to mine. I'll send you some scans of some of the pages from her journal so you can see what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteBoth the real characters and the fictional characters have interesting possiblities, but I think that a fictional character living in a historically interesting setting allows for more creative license. It makes it possible to add to a scenario without "changing" history... Either way this will be a lot of fun and since you introduced the idea about "ghost" correspondence, why don't you make the call about whether it is a real person from history or a fictional character. I will be happy to play either way! Elle
Ok Elle, Let me ponder for a week or so and then, you will receive the first letter! I'm thinking fictional in an historic event/time. The rest of the details will be revealed in the first letter...
ReplyDeleteStart researching June 25, 1876. The letters will be between a brother and sister. The brother is reporting on the loss of a friend.
ReplyDeleteWill do! This will be fun!
ReplyDelete