Here’s our very first podcast!  Meadow Farm is a historic farm in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The farmhouse was built in 1810. It is now a living history museum. Many historic breeds of farm animals live here. In this video we attended a special event called the Harvest Festival.  Find out how the South made sweeteners since they couldn’t get any sugar; learn how they prepared tobacco for the market; investigate some of the simple machines they used; watch how they made baskets, cloth, and metal tools by hand; finally take a tour of Dr. John Sheppard’s home and get a glimpse of everyday life during the Civil War times.  Come on!  Let’s go trekkin’! (Trouble watching the YouTube video? Try Vimeo or direct link).

Two of Dr. John Sheppard’s family slaves, Tom and Pharoah, warned him of a slave revolt on August 30, 1800.  It was known as Gabriel’s Rebellion, after its leader, a tall 6’2” Henrico slave named Gabriel.  Dr. Sheppard warned Governor James Monroe (who would later become president), and the rebellion was ended. Gabriel was captured and put to death in Richmond.  On August 30, 2007 Governor Tim Kaine formally pardoned Gabriel, saying he was motivated by "his devotion to the ideals of the American revolution - it was worth risking death to secure liberty... Gabriel's cause - the end of slavery and the furtherance of equality of all people - has prevailed in the light of history,"  Read more about Gov. Kaine’s pardon. (Image is a drawing believed to be Gabriel, but maybe not - Source)


This is a Google map of Meadow Farm. Use the +/- button in the bottom right to zoom in or out.


This is a 360 view of Meadow Farm. Take a look around!



This is an old Flash game about the simple machines at Meadow Farm. We got it to work using Ruffle!



This is an old Flash animation about the history of Meadow Farm. We got it to work using Ruffle!


Social Studies

K.2 (2015) The student will describe everyday life in the present and in the past and begin to recognize that things change over time.


K.4 (2023)The student will apply history and social science skills to recognize Virginia’s earliest communities by

a. identifying examples of historical events, stories, and legends;

b. identifying early communities, changemakers and contributions of leaders, including but not limited to Indigenous tribes, farmers, traders, early settlers minorities, women, and

children;

c. recognizing that places change over time;


1.4 (2023) The student will apply history and social science skills to understand Virginia’s history by

b. describing how life in various Virginia communities has changed over time; and

c. identifying local cities or counties on a map of Virginia.


VS.7c (2015) The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues that divided our nation and led to the Civil War by describing the roles played by whites, enslaved African Americans, free African Americans, and American Indians.


VS.7 (2023) The students will apply history and social science skills to understand the key people, events and issues of the Civil War and Virginia’s role by

b. describing how the institution of slavery was the cause of the Civil War, and secondary factors that contributed to the secession of the southern states;

d. explaining major events and issues that divided Virginians and led to secession, war, and the creation of West Virginia;

g. evaluating the experiences and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and enslaved and free Blacks and their allies during the war


USI.9 (2023) The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the cause, major events, and effects of the Civil War by

a. describing how slavery and its expansion was the primary cause of the cultural, economic, and constitutional issues that divided the nation and was the catalyst for secession of southern states;

b. describing the differences in the economies of the North and South, growth of agriculture and industry, and how those economies impacted the outcome of the war;


Science

K.10 (2018) The student will investigate and understand that change occurs over time. Key ideas include

a) natural and human-made things change over time;

b) living and nonliving things change over time;

c) changes can be observed and measured; and

d) changes may be fast or slow.


3.2 (2018) The student will investigate and understand that the direction and size of force affects the motion of an object. Key ideas include

a) multiple forces may act on an object;

b) the net force on an object determines how an object moves;

c) simple machines increase or change the direction of a force; and

d) simple and compound machines have many applications.