On any other day, Xavier Silverio of Belle Mead is a fourth grader at Princeton Academy — but this week, he was a colonial farmer who wakes up at the crack of dawn everyday to help feed his
On any other day, Xavier Silverio of Belle Mead is a fourth grader at Princeton Academy – but this week, he was a colonial farmer who wakes up at the crack of dawn everyday to help feed his village.
”Being a farmer was a chief economic activity of the colonial times,” said Silverio as he adjusted his straw hat.
Silverio was one of the 19 students, or rather tradesmen, who opened up his “shoppe” to a crowd of parents, teachers, staff and students on Dec. 11 for the fourth grade’s 2013 Colonial Fair.
After a month of preparation, the students brought their social study lessons to life when they transformed the school’s library into a thriving Colonial village dubbed “Zamoranosburg.” The village was full of bakers, blacksmiths, cutlers, apothecaries, printers, gunsmiths, tanners and other tradesfolk who were eager to explain how they make a living.
”They all put so much time and effort into this,” said fourth grade assistant Dee Harris. “It’s great to celebrate their learning journey and all their hard work.”
Right outside Zamoranosburg was the bustling Eye of the Hawk Tavern, or the former Princeton Academy foyer, which was filled with folks dancing and partaking in Colonial inspired grub such as gingerbread, flapjacks and some cold cider to wash it all down.
”By adding food, music, happiness and joy, that’s something you know the students will hold on to,” fourth grade teacher Asela Zamorano. “That’s how you remember things.”