To the Revolution
November 14, 2016
We took the boys to the National Archives this weekend to see the Declaration of Independence. (The Constitution and Bill of Rights are there too, but for whatever reason Noah decided the Declaration is the most exciting of the three, and thus the main attraction.)
Noah and Ezra brought out their Williamsburg hats (paired with Marty McFly and Star Wars outerwear), and also along for the trip were Noah's favorite history book, a Bionicle and of course, miniature American flags for others.
(Oh, and a stack of Lego Mixel building instructions that have become incredibly important to Ike for some reason. Hobbes and Mister Doorknob stayed home this time.)
We spent more time getting there, waiting in line, and browsing the gift shop than we spent viewing the actual documents. They're a lot more faded than I remembered, and Noah wasn't able to make much out beyond the title and one loop of John Hancock's signature. So he decided to buy a replica and read that instead, using the text from his book to help him decipher the cursive handwriting.
His ultimate goal is to memorize the entire thing. I do not see that being all that difficult for him, actually.
After the gift shop the boys were ready to leave, but then changed their minds and asked to walk through another exhibit, one that pointed out that the founding documents did not originally apply everyone in America. This one stoked self-righteous rage in Ezra, as he looked at photos and documents about slavery, the Civil Rights Era, womens' suffrage, immigration and citizenship. He chose a small blank journal from the gift shop, in which he plans to write letters to both Hillary and Trump.
Or maybe mostly just draw some Angry Birds comics. He hasn't decided for sure.
We'd gotten a late start so we weren't able to hit any of the other locations on Noah's wish list, so we promised to get back downtown more regularly so he can revel in the history nerd awesomeness of it all, of this great nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
(Also, Ike found a pinecone! It was a pretty great day.)
To have all this right in your backyard. Oh, the jealousy!
Posted by: Julie | November 14, 2016 at 01:23 PM
Yep, Doctrine of Discovery hiding in plain sight in our founding documents:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unfundamentalistchristians/2016/11/things-we-dont-talk-about-dapl-and-the-doctrine-of-discovery/
Good on you for having those hard conversations with your kids. ❤️
Posted by: Christina Krost | November 14, 2016 at 01:24 PM
I love this. Way to celebrate the interests of your kids. And a great way to start a conversation about big issues and the history of our country. Don't know if he's already found it, but Noah may enjoy the Crash Course US History videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s.
Posted by: Lindsey | November 14, 2016 at 01:37 PM
History Alive is my favorite history curriculum. I love those books and the people that created the curriculum are also amazing people and teachers.
Also your kids are amazing and you are obviously doing a great job.
Posted by: Cait | November 14, 2016 at 01:40 PM
Well played! A great choice for a tough weekend.
Posted by: SarahB | November 14, 2016 at 02:32 PM
Do you know this by The Fifth Dimension? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9EHmvN8wp8
It's the Declaration set to music. I sang it in high school chorus. Might not be to Noah's taste, musically. But still pretty cool.
Posted by: Heather Z | November 14, 2016 at 04:33 PM
We spent some time at the Lincoln Memorial this weekend - and also with the Albert Einstein statute across the street at the National Academy of the Sciences. Ask Noah if he might be interested in adding the Gettysburg Address to his list! The beginning of the DoI is wonderful, but the list of grievances is less so - you've got some serious anti-Catholicism and anti-Native American sentiment in there. The part of about "bring[ing] on...the merciless Indian Savages" was a particularly nasty way to treat the folks who helped the British win against the French so we could *keep* that frontier territory in the first place, and "the free System of English Laws" that were abolished "in a neighbouring Province" were the ones that forbade Catholics in Quebec to vote or stand for office. (You know, because that was the majority religion there.)
Very healing to be near old Abe. Will be going back there frequently, I think.
Posted by: Emily | November 14, 2016 at 06:00 PM
Ha! "Also, Ike found a pine cone." So funny. What sweet, smart boys you have.
Posted by: Jenny Pecht | November 15, 2016 at 09:59 AM
Your boys give me hope for the future and I'm in absolute adoration of his history nerdiness. ~ L
Posted by: Lauren | November 15, 2016 at 10:14 AM
You are making me miss living in NoVA with all that DC has to offer just across the river. My Zen spot was at the Lincoln Memorial looking up at huge Abe and then out onto the vast national mall. Be sure to take advantage of being so close to history
Posted by: Andrea | November 15, 2016 at 06:27 PM
I bet Noah would love the Constitution Center in Philadelphia! One of my favorite museums, and it's super interactive.
Posted by: Anna | November 15, 2016 at 07:18 PM
I'm all excited that Noah is using the History Alive series. GREAT books written for kids to really love History. Yeah!
Posted by: Stacy | November 15, 2016 at 10:01 PM
Love how much Noah appears to just love history with such a passion. Also how passionate Ezra is about equality and social justice.
Have you checked out the Crash Course US History playlist on YouTube? It's really informative but in easy to manage and interesting chunks!
Playlist: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s
Posted by: Amelia | November 15, 2016 at 11:24 PM