London Town the Seaport

Imaginative museum exhibits were researched and created by fourth-grade students at Mayo Elementary during the spring of 2010. They are on temporary exhibit at Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater, Maryland. In the spring of 2011, the exhibits will be incorporated into London Town’s school programs and tours for general visitors.

This program was generously funded by a Four Rivers Heritage Area Mini Grant.

About the Project:• Lisa Robbins, Historic London Town and

Gardens Education Programs Administrator and Karen Olsen, Education Programs Assistant visited Mayo Elementary to assist the kids with their own research. Primary source packets were given to every student.

• Mrs. Janice McDowell, Social Studies Teacher at Mayo lead the project and aided the kids in their research and exhibit design.

• The class was divided into teams of 3 to 4 students who worked together researching, designing, and creating their exhibits.

• In April, the students came to London Town for a full day field trip.

Themes:

Each team researched and created a poster exhibit dealing with colonial seaports and trade. Students chose which topic they wished to work with, ensuring that they were interested and invested in the project.

• Trade Routes• Food• Imports/Exports• Ships• Trades of London Town

Field Trip• The students were able to come to London Town for a fully-funded field trip, thanks to the grant.

• Hands-on activities brought to life what it was like in the 18th century Seaport of London Town. The kids dressed up as actual people of London Town, helped to hearth cook a meal in the Lord Mayor’s Tenement, learned about archaeology, screened for artifacts, and tried their hand at woodworking and rope making.

• Mrs. McDowell even made a poster about their trip!

Exhibit OpeningEach team ofstudents

read asummary oftheir project.

Students showing Principal Baran their exhibits.

Students had an opportunity to see the work of their classmates.

Tradespeople of London

Town

Ships

Imports and Exports of Maryland

Where Foods Originated From

And Trade Routes

Examples of Exhibit Summaries

prepared by the Students

Lessons Learned:• Students learned about the colonial heritage

of their own neighborhood.• A document camera, used by teachers in the

classroom, is very helpful to enlarge a regular 8.5 x 11” rough draft drawing to poster size.

• Students really took pride in their work and liked being able to present to the group.

• Many brought their families back to Historic London Town and Gardens to see their projects.

• An opportunity like this is so rewarding and very memorable, not only for the kids, but their families as well.

Thank You!

• This project would not have been possible without the support from:– Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of

Annapolis, London Town & South County.

– Anne Arundel County Public Schools.–Mrs. Janice McDowell, Mayo Elementary

School.