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Colonial Charleston Teachers
Teachers Become Students Again
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At Charleston Day School, we encourage our teachers to pursue professional development opportunities. As lifelong learners, our teachers seek academic programs that inspire them, and as a result, inspire our students. This year, five of our teachers attended the Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute.
Mr. Wascom: “The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute experience was extremely illuminating for me. All of the sites we visited had great historical significance that have helped enhance my teaching of the colonial era and the American Revolution. If I had to choose one site that was most enjoyable, it would be the Old Exchange Building. I am fascinated by the economics of history, and the Old Exchange tour provided tremendous insight into the economic activities of South Carolina and the fulcrum Charleston served economically in the colonial era. The tour also did an excellent job discussing the history of the Old Exchange building during the Revolutionary War, helping to expand my understanding of Charleston’s role during the American Revolution and the impact the war had on the city. The CCTI program did a wonderful job in providing insight on colonial Charleston, and I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the institute!”
The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute (CCTI) is a graduate course designed to connect educators with a variety of historic locations as well as exclusive educational experiences and content. Our teachers Ms. Bullard, Mrs. Shortridge, Ms. Ladue, Mr. Newer, and Mr. Wascom completed the CCTI Masters Course at The College of Charleston this past November. The Goal of the Course
The goal of the course was to ignite a passion for the Colonial History of South Carolina. The nonprofit organization, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina (NSCDASC) accomplishes this goal through its Powder Magazine Museum and in partnership with other colonial sites. At The Teacher Institute, graduate students learn to develop a crosscurricular, experiential lesson/unit plan on South Carolina’s Colonial History.
Ms. Ladue: “The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute was an exceptional experience that allowed me to take a deep dive into the history of Colonial Charleston. My favorite experience was at Colonial Dorchester where we learned about an entire planned community of Congregationalists who moved to Carolina from Dorchester Massachusetts. They created a thriving trading center that was occupied until the Revolutionary War. We were able to participate in an archaeological dig and personally interact with history.” Lectures and Locations Visited
The teachers dedicated their time over a three-month period, attending both Zoom and on-site field trips, to learn our rich history in South Carolina.
The site visits included Charles Towne Landing, The Powder Magazine, The Gibbes Museum of Art, The Old Exchange Building, HeywardWashington House, Middleton Place, The Charleston Museum, Colonial Dorchester, Fort Moultrie, and the Charles Pinckney Site.
The Zoom lectures were on “Charleston’s Colonial History” with Peg Eastman, “The Yamasee Wars” with Jon Marcoux, “The Walled City” with Katherine Pemberton, “HistoryMaking Women of Charleston” with
Mrs. Shortridge: “It is hard to pick one field trip I enjoyed most, but if I had to, it would be Middleton Place. It fits so perfectly with the colonial unit we study in 3rd grade. Middleton Place has a wonderful educational program to teach the students about what life was like during that time, including the process of growing Carolina Gold, our cash crop. I enjoyed the program so much that we went on a 3rd-grade field trip there a month later.”
From left to right: Ms. Bullard, Mr. Wascom, Ms. Ladue, Mr. Newer and Mrs. Shortridge
Valeria Perry. “Using Primary Sources” with Bailey Knight, “Using Technology to Teach History” with Brian Day, and “Teaching and Interpreting Sensitive History Topics” with Leah Worthington. Learning Outcomes
✏ Document the data of historical sites while discussing goals for the historian and how the activity was presented. ✏ Analyze, internalize, and develop student-based learning activities that are reality based to help students internalize how Colonial
Charleston developed. ✏ Develop a project-based lesson or unit, using the SCETV lesson plan template that will engage students in activities to learn about life in
SC Colonial History. ✏ Demonstrate how the teacher will involve his/her students to cross curricular subject areas through the development of the lesson plan on SC Colonial History.
Off-campus trips are a fun way to take learning outside of the classroom. We are fortunate that we are able to use Charleston as our extended classroom
Mr. Newer: “As someone born and raised in another state, I really appreciated the chance to learn more about the history of Charleston, the city that I’ve lived in and come to love over the past nine years. What I most enjoyed about this learning opportunity was the chance to visit some of the many historic sites our city has to offer, which included several of my favorite historic places to visit along with a few that were new to me.” Ms. Bullard: “The Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site proved to be my favorite “field trip.” This secluded site near Summerville showcases the remains of a New England-style township that served as a trade center for almost one hundred years (1698-1788). Visitors can walk among the ruins of an Anglican church belltower, a brick powder magazine within a tabby fort, a dock that served boat traffic to the far reaches of the Ashley River, and active archeological digs. This trip takes you beyond the crowded downtown tourist sites. It’s a great place for a family outing where the kids can run and explore!”
as there are many preserved historical sites and resources to be enjoyed by all ages.
