Students From McLean High School Visit Library of Congress for Special Research Lesson

McLean High School students in the school’s Living History class will participate in a special research lesson at the Library of Congress on Tuesday, January 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. McLean High School is a Fairfax County public school.

The field trip to the Library of Congress will include a special research lesson by the head reference librarian for early American history, including information about the library’s print, rare books, and digital collections. Students will learn how to request books at the library in order to delve into sources specific to the historical character they are studying. Research classes at the Library of Congress are usually taught to professional researchers and university students.

The students are focusing on historical figures from the Colonial and American Revolution periods as part of the Living History class, unique in Fairfax County high schools and in its first year at McLean. Students thoroughly research and practice a character they select within the appropriate historical era, then engage in performances at historic institutions such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, James Madison’s Montpelier, and elementary schools in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Characters can include statesmen, soldiers, scientists, philosophers, foreign dignitaries, artists, musicians, wives and daughters of 18^th century historical figures, merchants, and farmers. Students perform in authentic voice, manner, and attire.

Prior to their visit to the Library of Congress, the students will attend a presentation by a James Madison re-enactor, who will discuss how to develop a character. Students incorporate period clothing, language, and mannerisms while providing their audiences with the human side of historical content learned in class and through research.

The class grew out of the school’s Project Enlightenment Historical Re-Enactment Club, which is open to all students at McLean; its goal is to nurture awareness and appreciation for American heritage through the  performance of interdisciplinary recreations of 18^th century life. Students in the Living History class, in grades 11 and 12, assume leadership and organizational roles in the club.

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Posted by News Staff on Jan 9 2012. Filed under McLean. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.