STUDENTS TO REENACT BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE

The Redcoats are coming to Cheyenne Mountain, once again! On May 18, over 250 Fifth Graders representing all six elementary schools in the Cheyenne Mountain School District will join together for their eleventh annual reenactment. For these students, this is a unique opportunity and a chance to learn about history in an experiential, "hands-on" way which is often hard to do when teaching history. They will be reenacting a day from the Battle of Brandywine, the first battle of the British Philadelphia Campaign of 1777, as a culmination to their studies of early United States history.

The Battle of Brandywine, which occurred in the spring of 1777, was a crucial point in the war for Independence from Britain. British general Sir William Howe, then commander in chief of British forces in America, and 18,000 soldiers reached American positions along Brandywine Creek, during a march on Philadelphia, which was the capital of the United States. The British made a frontal attack at the American force of about 10,000 men under General George Washington, before attempting a full-scale attack on its right wing.

The surprise attack on the American right was made by the British general Charles Cornwallis. The Americans were forced to fall back, and Washington ordered a withdrawal to Chester, Pennsylvania. American rearguard units blocked British pursuit, and Howe was unable to reach Philadelphia until September 26. British casualties totaled about 600; American, about 900 killed and wounded and 400 men taken prisoner, according to Encarta.

This historical reenactment, under the direction of Darrell Osburn and his team from You Can Live History, will be filmed and turned into a short educational documentary featuring the students. The Battle will take place at Portales Field south of Broadmoor Elementary between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. Parents and community members are welcome to come and watch, but are asked to park near the school, away from the field and walk in.

Students have practiced, rehearsed and trained with Mr. Osburn and their teachers for about 8 hours prior to the main event. Their training included learning about the uniforms, how military life in the late 1700's is different from today, hearing stories and music from the time period, and thinking about how it might have felt to be a person living at the time of this war.

The teachers of D-12 have worked hard for weeks to prepare students for their culminating historical experience by teaching units on the revolutionary war across the curriculum. This culminating event for our American Revolution unit is one our students remember and talk about for years, and one that meets several state social studies and history standards, as well as a few reading and writing standards.

In class during the weeks leading up to this event, children have studied many historical individuals and learned about daily life in the 1770's in New England. Students have read novels, such as Johnny Tremain, The Fighting Ground and My Brother Sam is Dead to better understand the issues of the times. They have read and written essays and had discussions about different points of view held at the time period, and those who held them. They have watch films such as April Morning and others.

They read and hear about the relationships the United States developed with France, Spain and other countries. Students also learn the names of many important American heroes and cultural icons such as Ben Franklin, George Washington, John Hancock, Abigail Adams, and others. They learn about some of the main influential personalities on the British side, as well. Fifth Graders learn about the Declaration of Independence, and the basic ideas of our Nation's founding and the Constitution.

All of these historical people and events come to life when we allow students to "play" a role in the revolution themselves.

Parents have made donations, held fundraisers, and paid fees in order for every child to wear a costume and participate in this memorable and sometimes dramatic experience. The cost to participate is $45 per child, paid to Osburn and You Can Live History. For that, they are given a basic uniform, the 8 hours of "guided practice" and special lessons and stories from Osburn and his company. Then they get to participate in the battle reenactment.

Most students look forward to this event all year as the big event of fifth grade in D-12, and for some it is a watershed moment when classroom learning about history comes together with some sense of the realities of war. Students not only learn about history, but also get mini-lessons in self-discipline, teamwork and media literacy. They learn that making a movie, especially when trying to stick to a historical script, is not all that easy. Kids are tired and dirty when it is all over, and most are ready to shed their uniforms and go back to class when it is over. Then they get to debrief with essays and discussions about the experience.