School Programs
From Peace to War
The American Revolution: War Comes to Drayton Hall
Students learn to describe and interpret the American Revolution as it played out in a real place with real people and learn to identify and evaluate the
ideas and beliefs that shaped decisions and actions.
In hands-on, inquiry-based stations, students learn about leaders, such as William Henry Drayton, Francis Marion, and Thomas Sumter, and about the common soldiers of the British and Continental armies, who encamped at Drayton Hall as part of the campaigns for Charleston.
Students are taught about uniforms, marching drills, camp life, and the Navy. They learn to describe and evaluate how the Revolution affected people in South Carolina, from plantation owner John Drayton and his young wife Rebecca Drayton to an enslaved African American named Sam, who escaped to freedom.
Civil War: Soldiers and Civilians
Students learn to describe and interpret the reality of the Civil War from diverse points of view. They'll also hear about the path towards the war and the debates along way.
By completing hands-on activities, students learn to describe what it meant to be a soldier and how they fought and lived. They compare and contrast the experiences of those on the front lines and the homefront, including those of civilian men, women and children, as well as the contributions of African Americans, enslaved and free.
By synthesizing this information with their on-site experiences and their imaginations, students make interpretive conclusions about the Civil War.
"As a teacher I cannot think of a better way to bring history alive for our students. They live in one of the most historic areas of the country. These programs give students the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with history that might not be available to them otherwise."
-- Leslie Lavender, Oakland Elementary School
SC Curriculum Standards
