An American Story

Chalkboard notes about American history that contain nothing but dates and facts are boring – they are responsible, in part, for me being a terrible history student when I was a child. As a parent, I am always looking for ways for my children to see history come alive.
“Centuries of Childhood: An American Story” is a travelling exhibit at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center that educates children about life in early America in an interactive way. The exhibit introduces visitors to five new friends: Onatah, a Native American girl; Jacob, a newly landed Jewish immigrant; Michael, an African American boy who moves from the South to Chicago; Gregory, a boy living in colonial times; and Clara, a pioneer girl who travels out West with her family.
In each section of the exhibit, visitors learn about the activities, lives and family traditions of the featured character. One of my children said after learning about Onatah, “I got to dress up like Pocahontas!” My children thoroughly enjoyed fishing with short fishing rods while sitting in a canoe.
Some of the other highlights of the exhibit included a Native American longhouse, a covered wagon, a train exhibit complete with a ticket counter and a dining car, an immigrant ship and an apprentice shop. All of the exhibits were age-appropriate with excellent fine motor activities.
This exhibit is a must-see! It appeals to both boys and girls from age 18 months to fifth-graders. My kids and I spent about 45 minutes in the exhibit, but we spent at least two hours at the center.
Tip: The best day of the week to visit is Saturday because there are crafts for the kids to make that are related to the traveling exhibit.
– Cindy Imlay