Making Civil War clothing just part
of hands-on learning for these students

At a recent Battle of Richmond Living History Program, a woman asked one of Sharon Graves’ students where she got her Civil War dress.

“I made it,” the student smiled. “We make all our clothes at school in our social studies class about the Civil War.”

The pleasantly surprised visitor was impressed. But what the student didn’t tell her was that by sewing her own period dress, she was just following her teacher’s curriculum of learning what life was like during the War Between the States.

“I want my students to appreciate the past,” Graves, an eighth grade teacher at Richmond’s Clark-Moores Middle School, emphasizes. “They discover that history is fun when it’s hands on.”

As coordinator of the Battle of Richmond’s annual living history event, Graves has devoted eight years to giving her students a hands-on experience they don’t forget. Sharon is assisted by some 30-40 students from her classes who help plan and coordinate the activity and work with those attending. Also, her students voluntarily spend a Saturday learning about the demonstration and instructional stations, what type of questions may be asked, and what each presenter will be providing.

The students are so well trained they also become guides and teachers themselves, and last year, several served as presenters. All are attired in period clothing, dresses for the girls and shirts for the boys, that they make themselves.

The clothes-making activity began some two years ago when three girls in Graves’ classes made their own dresses. Last school year, boys joined in and 12 dresses and 12 shirts were made and worn. During the academic year, more than 20 students hand-sewed clothing every Thursday afternoon in the Clark-Moores Library from 3-5 p.m. They began research on their Civil War project last August and continued with the project right up until the beginning of the Living History Program on May 12.

“Most of our students don’t know how to sew when they start,” Sharon said. “We give them some basic knowledge, teaching them how to thread a needle, do hem and straight stitching and tie a knot. Then, we turn them loose.”

Well, not actually. Graves and Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) volunteer Emily Burns were there every week, answering questions, making suggestions and helping solve problems.  But some times, that’s not necessary. This year, six students already knew some basics.

Eighth-grader Nancy Martinez, however, was not one of them. But, it turned out that Nancy was a natural. She took to sewing like a duck to water and immediately began to produce the dress she wore during the May 12-13 event.

“First of all, I took my own measurements, cut out the material, then began sewing,” Nancy, 14, explained.

Last Thursday, she brought the dress to Burns and asked for her opinion. Emily’s smile told it all.  Nancy had done “just fine.”

Dress- and shirt-making, however, is not just an individual task. All students help each other, Graves noted, pointing out that several boys have become sufficiently skilled to lend classmates a hand.

Sharon teaches six social studies classes and a total of 144 students. Students who may not have chosen her Civil War program as eighth graders, often return as high school students and ask if they can participate in and help with the Living History Program.

By assisting with BORA Civil War activities, Graves’ students earn 20 hours of community service credit. In addition, they prepare a classroom technical presentation to teach their classmates, utilizing such things as power point, videotape, digital storytelling and websites.

Sharon has designed the Living History Program to complement the social studies curriculum concerning Kentucky history. She contacts teachers in surrounding communities and invites them to bring classes to one of the two-day school sessions.

The event has gained in popularity every year. A record 1,167 students from schools in a five-county area attended in 2011.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited and experience Civil War-era life through stations of activities and demonstrations that were conducted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

Sharon was frustrated last year because she had to turn away some schools that could not be accommodated.

“We expanded to 25 stations this year,” she said, “which allowed us to take care of the increased interest.”

Graves is particularly proud of her students when she turns a group of fourth- and fifth-graders over to them and hears her young people “give the history of the battlefield and answer questions.”

“I’m equally proud when I see my students teach their researched topics to elementary students,” she added. “Our students have done their homework, know what they’re talking about and can’t wait to do it again. They’re bubbling over with enthusiasm and sharing all that occurred with each other.”

In addition, by making their own clothing, they continue to impress.  Appearing as their 19th century ancestors is part of the learning process.