Our day at Yorktown was slightly miserable because it had snowed in the night and, being Georgians, we didn’t have any boots.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed Yorktown so much that our family went back for an extra day at the end of the week so that we could see things we had missed the first day.

Our ten-dollar Homeschool Days ticket from the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation gave us 5 days of access to both Jamestown Settlement and to Yorktown Victory Center.  The ticket price includes a 2 hour guided tour and a 1 hour grade-level classroom experience.  These are musts, in my opinion, so register early enough to take part in the classroom experiences if you are thinking of going to Homeschool Days in the future.

We started our day with a walking tour around the Victory Center.  There was a re-created 1780s farm, complete with a house, kitchen, tobacco barn, crop fields, and herb and vegetable garden.  We enjoyed looking around the farm, especially warming ourselves by the indoor fires as we spoke to costumed interpreters about life on the farm.

The boys especially enjoyed the re-created Continental Army encampment, where we learned from historical interpreters what it was like to be an American soldier in the Revolutionary War.

The bitter cold, wet conditions gave me a new appreciation of what it must have been like to be a soldier (I thought of those who served at Valley Forge, with no shoes or appropriate clothing or housing).  We were grateful that we could get a hot meal at lunch in a warm building.  At the encampment we saw little tents meant to hold six soldiers, and a pot of beans (which would have been served 3 times a day).

The men that fought the war to gain our independence paid a high cost, with many privations.  At least the nasty weather gave us a deeper appreciation of that.

There is also a beautiful museum with many displays about the Declaration of Independence, the Siege of Yorktown, and the impact of the war on the lives of several ordinary people.

In the afternoon, the children each attended another hands-on classroom experience, similar to what they were able to do at Jamestown Settlement.

The K-2nd grade class examined tools and materials that would have been used on a small Virginia farm to explore what life was like at that time.  My youngest son absolutely loved grinding salt with a mortar and pestle and pretending to write with a quill pen.  Costumes were brought out at the end of the class and he enjoyed dressing up in a colonial boys’ outfit.

The 3rd-5th grade class had lots of fun solving a mystery by analyzing primary source documents and reproduction artifacts.  In the process, they learned about the lives of ordinary 18th century Virginians.

The oldest group attended “Life of a Private”.  My teenager was selected as the “Private” in question, and he got to don all the clothing and gear of a Continental soldier, even holding a real musket.

We really enjoyed our day at Yorktown Victory Center, but I must say that the highlight for us was the end of the day, when we drove over to the Yorktown National Battlefield.  There was only just enough time before dark to walk around the snowy battlefield, but the boys loved every minute of it.  They ran the full length of the field, each one undoubtedly engaged in a battle in his own mind.

We knew that we had to go back, as we had only scratched the surface of what there was to do at the National Battlefield.

On the last day of our trip we had planned to get an early start for our last destination, Chincoteague Island (of Misty fame), but we decided to leave a little later so that we could head back to Yorktown National Battlefield.

There was no charge to walk around outside on the grounds, but the museum inside cost $10 for ages 15 and over.  Again, just as at Historic Jamestowne, I was able to get this fee waived by filling out some paperwork about the educational purpose of our trip.  Here is a link to the requirements for getting a fee waiver.

We explored the museum, which was small but very well done for children.  There was a ship to walk through, a children’s exhibit area, and several of George Washington’s artifacts.  There was also a movie, which we enjoyed.

My favorite part was touring the battlefield.  We purchased a CD in the gift shop for $5 and set out in our car.  The narrator on the CD and several well marked signs told us exactly where to go.  At each stop, there was dramatic narration about what had occurred in that location.

A highlight for us was walking around Redoubts 9 and 10, which were seized from the British by the American and French infantry on October 14, 1781.  We extended our driving tour beyond the main sites and took an alternate route which led us past fields that had housed equipment, a military hospital, the camps of various generals, and more.  It was a very pleasant drive and led us to imagine what it must have been like to be on those very fields at that turning point in history.

We returned to the Visitor’s Center and ran around the battlefield a bit more.  The boys could have spent all day just doing that, but we had to hit the road for Chincoteague Island.

I think the reason this was our favorite place was because of the sense of history we felt, standing on ground that had played such an integral role in our nation’s history.  This was not a re-created village.  This was actually the real deal.  The Yorktown National Battlefield is less than 10 minutes from the Yorktown Victory Center, and should definitely not be missed.

We went to Virginia for Williamsburg homeschool days.  Of course we couldn’t miss Jamestown or Yorktown while we were there.  All three of these historic locations are within 10 to 30 minutes drive of one another.

The Jamestown and Yorktown Foundation held their homeschool days during the same time frame as Colonial Williamsburg, making the timing of this trip even more appealing.  For $10.25 per person, we were able to get entrance to both locations for 5 days.  Included in the price of admission was a 2 hour guided tour in each location and a one hour age-appropriate, hands on classroom experience.  Children under 4 were admitted free.
Dates for fall homeschool days have already been published: September 11-26, 2010.

Our guide was excellent, and it was wonderful to start our trip with an overview of Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in America.  There are three important outdoor areas at Jamestown Settlement:  a re-creation of the Powhatan Indian village, replica 1607 ships and the colonial fort.  Costumed interpreters met us at each location to give us more information about how to burn out a log to make a canoe, how to navigate a ship and what life was like in the fort.

After our tour we thoroughly enjoyed walking through their fantastic museum.

The children each participated in grade-level hands on classroom experiences.  These classroom experiences at Jamestown and Yorktown were one of the trip highlights for us.

Our preschooler did a program called Living with the Indians.   He and his classmates were able to handle and analyze clothing, bone tools and pottery of the Powhatan Indian culture.  He learned how to make rope out of marsh grass and each child was able to touch dozens of replica artifacts.  Our preschooler gained more from these one hour hands on experiences than from almost anything else we did.  He was thoroughly in his element, touching Indian bows and arrowheads, pots, tools and baskets.  The museum educator was excellent with the children, really drawing them out with insightful questions.

I can honestly say that I felt refreshed as a teacher by my participation in these hands on classrooms.  I realized anew how important it is to provide hands on experiences, particularly for young children and kinesthetic learners.  I’ve often made use of hands on projects, but it is easy to let a commitment to them slip through the cracks, since they require so much effort and time.

I also liked the way the educator led the children to make deductions about what they were seeing and hearing.  She asked lots of questions and the children were very engaged in the conversation.  Many times I find myself telling my kids facts, “lecture style”, rather than helping them deduce those facts through thinking about what they’ve already learned.

I came back with a renewed vision and commitment to hands on projects and discussion.

Our middle boys’ class compared and contrasted the Powhatan Indian, English and African cultures that came into contact during the 17th century, while our oldest son learned more about the 1607 voyage to Virginia by exploring period navigational tools.

Some of my children felt Jamestown was the highlight of the trip.

After our time at Jamestown settlement, we went to the Historic Jamestowne national park.  This is a separate area, run by the national park system, and requires a separate admission fee.  If memory serves, it cost $10 for ages 15 and up, but we were able to get the fee waived by filling out some brief paperwork stating that we were homeschoolers and that we were using this trip in conjunction with our homeschool studies.  We were able to fill out this paperwork on site, but you can also do it in advance and bring it with you.  Here are the requirements for homeschool fee waivers.

We loved the Historic Jamestowne National Park.  It was wonderful to stand on the shore and look upon the site of the first landing in 1607.  The children loved the statues of Pocahontas and John Smith, and the park was a lovely place to walk around.  We recently watched a program (through Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips) about archeology in Jamestowne, so it was fun to see the actual dig site and to walk through the museum and see all the artifacts they have unearthed.  We are loving the electronic field trips, by the way, and for a few more weeks you can still purchase them at the substantially discounted price of $49.  You can learn more in my post about the EFT’s, or click on the link above to purchase a subscription through the Homeschool Buyers Co-op.

We just returned from a wonderfully educational week at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.  This was one of the best field trips we’ve ever taken, and I hope you’ll consider going if it is ever within the realm of possibility.  It was well worth the 10+ hour drive, and added a great deal to our studies this year.

Colonial Williamsburg holds their Homeschool Days twice a year, in spring and fall.  Jamestown and Yorktown cooperated with them by holding their homeschool days at the same time.  This meant we could get access to special programming for homeschoolers, as well as heavily discounted admission, at all three places.

I’ve heard there is more to do at CW in the fall, but that the crowds during that time are a force to be reckoned with.  Granted, there was a bit less going on during spring homeschool days, and the weather was pretty cold.  But the crowds were low, we easily got in to everything we wanted to do, and the rates on condos simply could not be beat.  I shared a 4 bedroom condo (designed to sleep 12) with two other homeschooling friends and our 9 children, and we were able to split the cost of $275 total for 5 nights between the three of us.  Eating breakfast and dinner at the condo and packing lunches kept food costs economical, too.

There was so much to see and do that I’ll publish separate posts about each location.  I want to make sure you get all the links and information you need, should you decide to take this trip yourself.  This post will cover Williamsburg, the next one will be Jamestown, then Yorktown, and finally Chincoteague Island, VA, home of the wild ponies and “Misty” fame.

Currently, this link for homeschool days at CW only has information about the spring program, which is already over.  They should update this link with information for future dates, however, so you may want to bookmark it.

We spent two days at Colonial Williamsburg.  It would have been wonderful to have a third day, but we were able to do much of what we wanted to, especially since the crowds were light.  Spring homeschool days at CW are focused on the trades, whereas the fall homeschool days are more about politics and government.

Visiting the shops was a highlight (we especially liked the printer, the silversmith, the wig maker, and the gunsmith).  The children had lots of questions to ask the interpreters, and they learned so much about a variety of trades.

The younger boys had the opportunity to drill with a soldier, learning how to load and hold a musket, stand in formation, and fire.  Our oldest enjoyed listening to a special Q and A session with General Washington.

Sitting in the courtroom and observing some colonial trials taught us a lot about the laws at that time, and was a highlight for everyone.

The boys loved the baker, too, especially their pretzel rolls and gingerbread.  They also sold a refillable mug for $11, good for unlimited refills for one calendar year.  We bought one mug early on the first day, and got our money’s worth keeping it full of hot chocolate, cider, coffee and tea each day we were there.  Usually our kids drink water whenever we go out, so this was definitely a highlight for them, even though we all had to share one mug…the bottomless hot chocolate will ne’er be forgotten.

One afternoon we stopped by The Cheese Shop for bread and some fresh cheese.  Everyone had recommended this place and it did not disappoint.  We managed to get a bag of bread ends, which we were told we had to try.  At just $1 per bag, there were plenty of french bread ends for the 5 of us to snack on.

There were a few walking tours available for homeschoolers, but you had to sign up in advance for these.  By the time we registered, two weeks before homeschool days, the extra tours were all booked.  There would have also been an extra $5 per person fee for these tours.  In this regard, Jamestown and Yorktown were both more homeschool friendly, with plenty of space on their walking tours as well as excellent hands-on, grade-appropriate classroom experiences at both places, all included in the cost of admission.

The tickets for Colonial Williamsburg homeschool days cost $8 per person for a 2 day pass or $11 per person for a 5 day pass.  Children 5 and under were admitted free.  This was a huge savings over their regular price: a two-day winter pass regularly sells for $38 for adults and $19 for youth.  It was also very enjoyable to meet other homeschoolers from around the country while riding on the bus and participating in the programs.

We are currently studying colonial times in our homeschool.  The timing of this trip couldn’t have been better for us.  The boys had read enough that they could really appreciate what we were seeing and doing.  Now that we are home, they are making lots of connections in our current readings.  For example, we just read D’aulaire’s book about Benjamin Franklin and the younger boys all remembered seeing the printing press, talking to the printer, and touching the type.  When we read about Franklin’s printing career, they noticed things in the illustrations which they had seen in the printer’s shop.

We love Thanksgiving! I take the opportunity every year to help my children gain an appreciation for our nation, which was founded by Christians seeking freedom from religious persecution. Here are some of the resources we are using in our family.

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Every year we read an excerpt from this book, William Bradford’s personal journal, before partaking of our Thanksgiving meal. This inspirational book traces the pilgrim’s journies, first to Holland as they sought freedom from religious persecution, and then on to America, when they felt it necessary to leave their homes in Holland behind in order to protect their children from ungodly cultural influences. This book is a testimony to multi-generational faithfulness, one which I feel it would profit every family to read.

Of Plymouth Plantation, Hardcover

Homes in the Wilderness is simplified for children, but follows along the same lines. This book contains excerpts from William Bradford’s journal along with other pilgrim journal excerpts.

We have also used the Thanksgiving Primer, compiled by staff at Plymouth Plantation and full of information for those desiring to re-create the first 17th century Thanksgiving.

Christian Liberty Press has some excellent readers for this season. Stories of the Pilgrims is at a 3rd or 4th grade reading level.

Stories of the Pilgrims, Second Edition

Following are several picture books I read annually with my children. These books all use photographs taken at living history museums such as Plymouth Plantation, giving a realistic view into what life was like for the pilgrims.

Picture Books

Samuel Eaton’s Day by Kate Waters

Sarah Morton’s Day by Kate Waters

Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast


Tapenum’s Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times

Pilgrim’s of Plymouth


On the Mayflower by Kate Waters

The Animated Hero Classics series is inspiring for all children. This video tells more about William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Plantation.

Inspiring Animated Heroes: William Bradford, DVD

Three Young Pilgrims is an excellent book for children who love lots of detail. Cheryl Harness is known for her beautiful picture books, each one jam packed with lots of information. This lovely book is no exception!

Three Young Pilgrims

I have not read this next suggestion, but it is on some of my favorite book-lists. This entire biographical fiction series gets high marks for readers ages 8 to 12, and this looks like it could be a good choice for girls in this age group. Almost Home chronicles the life of Mary Chilton, one of the 102 Mayflower passengers.

Daughters of the Faith Series: Almost Home, a Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower’s Mary Chilton

We have read Peter and the Pilgrims, and my children all enjoyed it. It is exciting and suspenseful, and tells the story of why the pilgrims decided to leave England in the first place. We have many books by Louise Vernon and all of them are excellent.


The Story of Thanksgiving is a board book which introduces preschoolers to this special holiday.

The Story of Thanksgiving

The Landmarks and Libery CD series, produced by Vision Forum, is a series of fascinating lectures, recorded on location at various important historical landmarks, such as Plymouth Plantation and Jamestown. This series is informative and inspiring for older children and adults alike who want to gain a true understanding of the Christian roots of our nation. Secular historians are “re-writing” history, seeking to hide God’s hand at work in our nation. This series gives glory where it is due, to God alone. Click on this CBD link to hear an excerpt from one of the lectures.

Landmarks and Liberty: The 2003 Faith & Freedom Tour Audio CD Set

And finally, Vision Forum has several print offerings for adults and older students during this Thanksgiving season. Last year I bought To Have and To Hold, but didn’t have time to read it. I’m hoping to get to it this year. It sounds wonderful. Here is a partial description from their website:

To Have and to Hold brings to life the exciting beginnings of America, weaving a story of adventure and intrigue with providence and perseverance in colonial Jamestown, while outlining the trials endured by our forefathers as they built this country. Read about swashbucklers, savages, and noblemen as fictional characters mingle with the real Jamestown leaders and colonists. Seen through the eyes of Ralph Percy, a valiant warrior protecting and cherishing his wife, his duty, and the honor of God’s holy law, this story will leave you with an appreciation for the sacrifice of those who have gone before, as well as a better understanding of the history of our nation.

There is also a Teacher’s Guide available for this book if you wanted to use it for school.

Check out Vision Forum for other interesting, historically based Thanksgiving resources, such as their historical music CD’s, On the Edge of a Vast Continent and Jamestown Jubilee, their Beautiful Girlhood book and doll collection, and their historical costumes for girls and boys.

Philippians 4:8