I get the opportunity to visit my 10yo son's 4th grade class next week to talk about and share my coins (they will get to hold history). My plan is to use chronology and important events in time and my coins to bring them both to life more. I'm starting with modern ones that my son has started to collect (1900's), then jumping back into early US (1800's), then British Colonial (1775 Farthing), then Columbus-era (Spanish Blanca's), then brief touches on Chinese Song Dynasty and Byzantine on our way to Roman ("What?! Gordian was only 3 years older than me when he become Emperor?!?"), then Greek, and finally proto dolphin money. I've been working on my presentation, trying to keep it simple and interesting for 10 year olds. Have any of you done talks or shared your coins with elementary-aged kids in a classroom atmosphere?
The thought of setting up a webcam and Live Broadcasting it shot through my head... but just as quickly was dismissed!
Yeah, anything that might end up transmitting a kid's image is a Really Big Deal with release forms and such. Too bad.
I once presented a series of ancient coins to a class of fourth graders as well. I did a brief presentation of how the coins were made (anvil & die), talked about some of the history behind the coins, and then passed around 8 antoniniani and sestertii to the kids. They each got a chance to hold the 8 coins in their hands, pass them to their classmates, and in general ooh and ahh over them. After the coins were back safely on the lecturn I had a question and answer session. The kids asked good questions and I tried to answer them as well as I could. Who knows?, some future collectors might have been inspired. I would do it again if given the opportunity.
My advise (if technology allows for this in his classroom) is to create a simple powerpoint presentation with images and cool little facts about each coin you will be showing off. If technology does not allow for that, keep it simple and hit a few cool facts about each coin and the era the coin was minted in. If you want to put a few facts together about coins and run it by someone else, I'd be happy to take a look at it (especially the ancient coins part). Here is a cool fact about Gordian III, he was the first Emperor whose biological father and biological grandfather were also Emperors. Other emperors could claim a father and grandfather as Emperors, but that was through adoption. We all know Elagabalus claimed to be the illegitimate child of Caracalla, which would mean Septimius Severus was his grandfather, but historians put that as pure propaganda by Elagabalus and don't believe that to be the case.
Excellent! I hope you and the kids both have fun One question which is common when talking about ancient coins is "what would it buy?", so you might want to prepare an answer for that, at least for a few of the coins.
I've taught coin classes in Cub scouts a few times, Ill probably start teaching the merit badge someday.
It'll be a great experience for you! Kids in that age group are great. I've given the children's story in church a couple of times using ancient coins but it's usually the parents of the kids who are the most interested and approach me after the service. I also hand out Widow's Mites to the kids.
It is very difficult to get kids that age to think there was humans back before the Mayflower. They can do OK with "great-grandparents", but beyond that will take good skills of triggering their imaginations. Do not be surprised if they ask if there were dinosaur in Rome during the emperors.
I haven't done a coin presentation with kids, I'd love to. I even sent some coins to my kids teachers when they were doing ancient stuff kind of hoping I'd get an invite to come in, but didn't even get a "thanks for the coins". Oh well. I have done other presentations with kids, it is usually pretty fun. They are curious and enthusiastic, but have short attention spans. Keep it moving and lively! I'm sure it will be fun for you and them, let us know how it goes!
I have not done this for such a young group. I have, however, given a presentation plus a show and tell to a group of 3rd year Classics students in a university setting. I will never forget the first question I got: "Where can I get one?"
My understanding from the Historia Augusta is that many sources said Gordian II was Gordian III's father, and some say his uncle, and the Historia Augusta treats Gordian III as the son of Gordian II...but most modern historians today go with the uncle version because it's easier to explain that way why Gordian III was in Rome and not in North Africa at the time of the uprising. So basically take your pick. I think his elevation makes more sense with him being Gordian II's son....why else would the Roman mob descend on the Senate steps to demand Gordian III be made emperor after the death of Gordian I and Gordian II, when the Senate wanted Balbinus and Pupianus? And why would the Senate then feel obliged to make Gordian III a Caesar? To me it makes more sense if Gordian II was his dad rather than Gordian III being some obscure nephew of Gordian II. Another reason I believe Gordian III is Gordian II's son is the name. If Gordian's mother was the biological sister of Gordian II, then Gordian III's father would have been from another family and we would see that clearly reflected in Gordian III's name. In a patriarchal society like the Romans, Gordian III would have belonged to his father's clan and would not carry the name Gordian but rather that of his father's family. But it would make sense for him to be called Gordian if he was paternally bound to the Gordian clan. Based on what we know about Roman naming practices that is some pretty compelling evidence there, right @dougsmit ?
I've given a talk to 5th graders before using a combination of powerpoint and samples that I passed around. Most of the students were very interested and excited to hold an ancient coin in their hands.
It can be cute to let little ones guess how long ago things happened. For example, you could show them an ancient Greek or Roman, and then scratch your head and say that there is no date. "Hmm, kids, I'm not sure how old this could be. I don't see any date! Any ideas? What do you guys think?" I love using PowerPoints to take my students through a lesson, be it history, science or vocabulary. If the technology permits it, I would go that route. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!