[TheForge] living history demo for elementary students - what would you talk about?

[Andrew Vida]

Let them know that the blacksmiths made possible just about every bit of 
technology they know today.  The chain would be too long to go through 
in detail, but you could make an abbreviated one.  Your video games have 
to be made by computer. Computers have to be made by machines.  The 
first machines were made by hand with basic hand tools.  Those basic 
tools were all designed and created by the blacksmith.  So as you can 
see, without the blacksmiths from long ago, almost nothing you use and 
enjoy today would have been possible.

Something like that.

Keep it brief, keep it simple, keep it exciting.  That will maintain 
their attention.  You could even walk the chain with questions... "How 
are video games made?..." and so on to the hand tools... "and who made 
the first hand tools?..." and there you are at the blacksmith's front door.

Eric Klaus wrote:
> Greetings all,
>   I've been asked to take over as a demonstrator at an annual living history
> day for elementary age students.  Its a great event for educating youth,
> with demonstrators ranging from blacksmithing to corn shelling to weaving to
> making of candles, rope, soap, etc ....  We get about 20 minutes with each
> group of 10 to 12 kids.
> 
> so, given the audience, what kind of TRUE facts would you talk about to an
> audience of grade school kids about?  Looking for little tidbits to talk
> about while demonstrating that will help keep their attention.  Maybe a few
> tall tales, too, to test their deductive reasoning ... ;-)
> 
> Eric