5th graders at Hazelwood Elementary School experienced Colonial Life first-hand when Camp Flintlock came to visit.  Camp Flintlock conducts Colonial American school field trips on school campuses or at their campsite in Four Oaks, NC.  They were established in NC in 1999 by Mr. & Mrs. Tim Langdon and began as a summer camp.  While at Hazelwood, students learned about early American history, from the Colonial period in history to the Revolutionary War.  This is part of the Common Core’s Essential Standards in Social Studies for 5th graders.  All day long out on the track at Hazelwood, these students got to experience what it would have been like to live in the time of George Washington, Molly Pitcher, and Daniel Boone.

Our students experienced:

  • Indian War Paint – Students were told a story about how a colonist was captured and transformed into a Native American to replace one of their slain warriors. They had their faces painted to look like Native Americans.
  • Dress Up and Store – Both boys and girls were dressed in colonial attire and learned about the differences in culture and clothing for each gender. Students shopped for colonial artifacts in the “store”.
  • Quill and Ink – Students used real feathers and ink to practice writing their name and alphabet in colonial script. Important documents such as the Declaration of Independence were discussed.  Students learned it took two days to actually write the final copy!
  • Block Printing – Students got to see how block printing was done back in Colonial Times.  They made a block print of a Plott Hound which we learned is the mascot of the Camp Flintlock organization.  The Plott Hound is also our school’s mascot.
  • Indian Bead Necklace – Students learned the importance of trading and made their own necklace out of glass beads.
  • Cord Making – Students learned the art of making rope and cords….as well of the skill of patience.
  • Colonial Games – Students learned how colonial children had fun! They also had a few fun rounds of “tug of war”.

Submitted by:  Carol Clarke, Hazelwood Elementary School