Flynn Clinic Number 2

Today we had another Flynn Clinic with Susannah!  We worked together to improvise a skit on how Vermont became a state!  We first warmed up with some exercises.  We passed around an imaginary artifact that a settler may have brought with them on their journey to Vermont from other colonies. We tried to show how heavy the frying pan may have been or how carefully we had to handle the musket.  We then packed our imaginary packs and journeyed around the classroom showing how heavy it may have been, how hot and sweaty we may have gotten, where we would have stopped for a cool drink and finally how we would have set up or nightly camp, fire and all.  Based on where we landed in our journey we split into small groups.  Within those groups we formed a family or a group of friends or workers.  These groups bought land from "Sam Speculator" for 20 Pounds!  At this time Vermont was known as the New Hampshire Grants.  We created our homesteads by building houses, planting crops and hunting and collecting food.  Time passed and soon the King sent a note to the New Hampshire Grants that their land was owned by New York and the must pay 5 Pounds to continue living on the land.  This started the battle between New York and New Hampshire over the land we now call Vermont.  Lastly, we the settlers found themselves where at the Tavern debating whether they should fight for their land or simply pay NY the 5 Pounds.   Ethan Allen brought the settlers together for this debate.  He was willing to fight for Vermont to be a state/colony, separate from New Hampshire and New York.

Written by Hayley and Bevan