[TheForge] living history demo for elementary students-whatwouldyou talk a

Thu Aug 28 12:24:04 EDT 2008

Yes, Aubrey, I do twists often.  I preceed a twist with the words, "Now,
it's time to do a little magic."  I pass the piece around afterwards,
(cooled in water and my hand run all over it with words of "you see that
I am running my hand all over it before I give it to you."  There is
"magic" in letting them hold onto something that was just very hot.  

I also talk about specialization, Nail makers, latch makers, hinge
makers.  Big towns had specialization due to market needs and
efficiency.  Nail makers and chain makers were up until recent times
female.  They could do the work just as good as a man, and the metal
pieces weren't too heavy for them.

Until recent times, a farm child would learn to use the forge as he
would learn to tie his shoes.  Because on a distant farm, if something
broke, someone had to fix it.  Going into town was not usually an
option.

At places that allow it, I let one of the grownups pick up a hammer and
whack on a piece of 3/8.  I tell them to hit it hard.  When they don't
get much result, I say that the metal is laughing at them (judiciously
so as to not offend), they need to get its attention.  Then I will
sometimes draw a piece of 1/2" square out to a point in one heat.  The
explanation is that experience tells me where to hit it, and practice
makes my swing hard.  Sometimes I will look slyly at the wife and tell
the crowd "soto voce" that I fear that my wife may take up
blacksmithing; as I look sideways in fear.

All the Best

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Washington,
Aubrey O.
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:05 AM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: RE: [TheForge] living history demo for elementary
students-whatwouldyou talk a

One thing that I've discovered amazes adults and children alike is a
twist.  I pass something around that has a twist in it and ask them how
they think it was done.  Many have no idea at all, others guess strange
and difficult forging techniques or special tools.  Then I so a twist
for them and amaze them with how simple it is.  Some pretend they knew
it all the time and others slap their foreheads because they didn't
think it could be so easy.

I agree with everyone who has said you need to keep talking.  Tell
stories, tell history, but above all, describe what you are doing and
how it works.  Many of the kids (especially the older ones) will want to
stay and watch as long as the adults will let them.

A true story:  I was demoing at a med fair one morning and a group of
high school age kids dropped by to watch.  After a few minutes, most of
them moved on.  But three teenage girls stayed behind; they sat on the
grass and watched me for an hour asking intelligent questions.  Then
they jumped up and ran off.  In a few minutes they came back with their
boyfriends.  All six of them watched for about another hour.  Then one
of the boys jumped up and ran off.  In a few minutes he came back with
the high school shop teacher.  By the end of the day those three girls
had probably watched for about 3 hours and the shop teacher was making
plans to set up a smithy in the high school shop.  He had also gotten
information about how to join ABANA and our local affiliate.  I made a
rose for each of the girls.

Aubrey

________________________________________
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu [Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu]
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:07 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [TheForge] living history demo for elementary students
-whatwouldyou talk a

Have several 3-5 minutes spiels.  This way you can easily slip from one
to another and make it seem like one.  Upon more than one occasion have
I had to pick up something and ask "who have I told about this?"  Short
spiels fit the time allotted or the attention span; and also keep you
from wondering how long these people have been here.  If you get one
hanging over the rail moon eyed and slobbering, he/she will be obvious,
and will be there when the crowds have gone for more detailed info on
how to start hammering.

I also have info on the local abana affiliates to tell them.

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
firecracker131 at verizon.net
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:49 PM
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