Aside from food investigations, we are attending workshops and touring museums to learn about history. Yesterday, we attended a workshop on Slavery in New York. One of the key tasks was to find an artifact of some sort and describe it then develop inquiry type questions that lead students to deeper answers. The object I chose was “Uncle Ned’s School.” The artist created this in 1866, and knowing that date is, perhaps, the key to the sculpture. I had several key questions to help guide students in an inquiry based lesson.
- What is the artist trying to say about slavery? Reconstruction?
- Why is the date the sculpture was created important to understanding the work?
- Why is it titled “Uncle Ned’s School?”
- Who is teaching whom?
- What does this statue tell you about Uncle Ned and slavery? Reconstruction?
- What does this statue tell you about the little girl and slavery? Reconstruction?
- What about the little boy laying down? Why is he in the sculpture?
- Is the book symbolic, and if so how?
- Why is Uncle Ned shining shoes?
- Whose shoes do you think they are?
- Does this have any symbolism?
In some discussions with teaches, the book was viewed as a focal point where Ned who represents the former enslaved and the little girl who although enslaved represents youth and the future. The book is seen as the path to a better future and it is through learning that one can be free. Ned it seems is shining his own shoes as he is barefoot in the sculpture. This would indicate that he not serve others and can look after his own needs. As a slave a personal shoe shine may not have been necessary, but now symbolises getting prepared for a whole new journey.
In the afternoon we toured the Natural History Museum. It is an awesome pace.
