OFE News Release
Area Students to Participate in Colonial Day at the Capitol
January 29, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Approximately 1,000 Oklahoma fifth-graders will be traveling back into American history on Thursday, Jan. 31, and Friday, Feb. 1, when they participate in the ninth annual Colonial Day at the Capitol. Most events will take place from 9:40 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol building.
Highlighting this year’s Colonial Day will be a special appearance by Colonial Williamsburg historical interpreter Richard Schumann, who portrays well-known American revolutionary leader Patrick Henry. Henry is perhaps best known for his passionate speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses in March, 1775, in which he proclaimed, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Schumann will be joined by Oklahoma-based reenactors including Stephen Smith, as Benjamin Franklin, and Whit Edwards, who portrays a Revolutionary War soldier.
During Colonial Day, youngsters dressed in Colonial costume will recite the Bill of Rights and participate in a debate between patriots fighting for independence and loyalists to the British king. During teacher-led sessions, students will play colonial games, learn early-American dances, practice writing with quill and ink; and test their skills as junior archaeologists.
Colonial Day is coordinated by teachers who have participated in the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute through a fellowship program administered by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Cheryl Burke of James Griffith Intermediate School in Choctaw serves as coordinator of the Jan. 31 Colonial Day, while Teresa Potter of Fisher Elementary School in Moore and Jan Morris of Cleveland Bailey Elementary School in Midwest City are coordinating the Feb. 1 event.
“Colonial Day is an engaging and action-packed day of learning that brings Colonial history to life for Oklahoma students,” Potter said. “Kids really enjoy visiting the capitol, meeting with character interpreters and participating in all the interactive sessions.”
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence will recognize the winners of its Colonial Day Literature Contest during opening ceremonies at 9:40 a.m. Thursday and Friday in the House chambers. Patrick Henry will present a plaque and $100 savings bond to literature contest winner Hunter Antonisse of Nicoma Park Intermediate School on Jan. 31 and to Manuel Hogan of Cleveland Bailey Elementary School on Feb. 1. The theme of the annual contest is “What it Means to Be An American.”
Elementary schools participating in the Jan. 31 Colonial Day at the Capitol are L.W. Westfall Elementary, Nicoma Park Intermediate and James Griffith Intermediate School of CHOCTAW; Flowermound Elementary School of LAWTON; and Hilldale Elementary School of OKLAHOMA CITY. Schools participating on Feb. 1 are BLANCHARD Intermediate School, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School of Duncan, Cleveland Bailey Elementary School of MIDWEST CITY, McLOUD Intermediate School, Soldier Creek Elementary and West Nichols Hills Elementary schools of OKLAHOMA CITY, and YALE Elementary School.
Colonial Day at the Capitol is made possible with support from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Oklahoma, Charles L. Oppenheim of Oklahoma City, Residence Inn by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The event is also funded in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed during Colonial Day do not necessarily represent those of the Oklahoma Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For information, contact Brenda Wheelock, Colonial Day liaison for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, at (405) 236-0006.