Colonial Trade Research Has Begun

The fourth grade students selected their colonial trade this week for their upcoming research project.
The class spent a fair amount of time pouring over piles of books to learn a little about each trade so they would be better informed when making their selections.

We have had two lessons this week pertaining to their research. One lesson prepared them for how they will go about finding and recording their information, and the second was spent discussing what an apprenticeship was back in the 17th and 18th century. We looked at copies of primary source indenture contracts from the PA Historical society to better understand what the expectations were of the young apprentices. One contract was for a young girl learning the trade of a housewife and the other for a young boy who was to be a cordwainer (shoemaker). The female students were very alarmed that their were not equal opportunities for girls in that time period. The subject presented a great opportunity for discussion and an overwhelming sense that they were glad to live in this time period.

Once the students knew their trade assignment, they quickly wanted to know what kind of earnings they could expect, so we then looked at incomes from 1775 and the value of a dollar back then. Many were shocked to discover what little money was paid for services rendered during that time period. They marveled at the idea that the cost of a doctor's visit during the day (5 shillings) would vary so greatly from one at night during inclement weather (2 pounds).