This Fourth Grade teacher wanted to make history come alive so she is reading a book about George Washington and his men wintering in Valley Forge. If you recall your U.S. history, you will remember that conditions were terrible. Let's go back to that harsh winter:
On Dec. 19 in 1777, commander of the Continental Army George Washington, the future first president of the United States, leads his beleaguered troops into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
"Things could hardly have looked bleaker for Washington and the Continental Army as 1777 came to a close. The British had successfully occupied Philadelphia, leading some members of Congress to question Washington’s leadership abilities. No one knew better than Washington that the army was on the brink of collapse–in fact, he had defied Congress’ demand that he launch a mid-winter attack against the British at Philadelphia and instead fell back to Valley Forge to rest and refit his troops. Though he had hoped to provide his weary men with more nutritious food and badly needed winter clothing, Congress had been unable to provide money for fresh supplies. That Christmas Eve, the troops dined on a meal of rice and vinegar, and were forced to bind their bleeding frost-bitten feet with rags. “We have experienced little less than a famine in camp,” Washington wrote to Patrick Henry the following February."
So here to recreate those fierce conditions the class is listening to the story of Washington's army on the steps of the library without their coats while the temperature hovered around freezing.
The irony of course is that the teacher is bundled in her down coat. Let me assure you they weren't out there long, and I have a feeling they will remember the story for a long time.
