School Visits
Lesson Plans
INTRODUCTION
The history of any area is found in its stories: the stories that people tell each other over and over again; the stories that are written down in diaries and as personal recollections to share with wider audiences; the stories that appear in newspapers, magazines and books; the stories contained in the public record of marriages, births, deaths, land purchases and sales; and the stories that are evident in paintings, old photographs and postcards. Each teller of the story brings a new perspective to the telling and makes a connection between the past and the present, between the lives of those who were here before us and the lives we lead in those same communities.
In telling the stories of Zadock Pratt and his many accomplishments again, we intend to make connections between the earnest, young visionary who built a tannery (and, indeed, a whole town) in the wilderness along the Schoharie Creek, and the other pioneers who braved the rigors of the Catskill Mountains and laid the foundations for the towns of Windham, Ashland, Jewett, Lexington, Hunter. We intend to make the connections among the geographic features of the area, the historical events of the time, and the personal qualities of the people that came together in the early 1800's to begin settling in the High Peaks of the Blue Mountains.
Central to the story of Zadock Pratt is the story of his tannery. It was his tannery that determined where he would purchase land and begin building. What were the demands of tanning that drew Pratt to the land in the Hardenburgh Patent known as Schohariekill? We will look at what distinguished Pratt from the many other tanners who set up shop along the rushing waters of the Catskills, throughout Delaware, Greene, Schoharie and Ulster Counties. Why does Prattsville bear the name of a tanner while few of the other surrounding towns do? What set him apart from his peers?
Let's begin......
Essential Questions to guide our explorations:
What can we learn by studying the past? What are the important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs and traditions from New York State and United States history that illustrate the connections and interactions of people and events across time and from a variety of perspectives?
What effects do local ecology (weather, altitude, water, forests, etc) have on human settlement in a specific area? How have those factors affected the development of the Northern Catskills?
How does an understanding of our roots affect the decisions we make for the future of our family or our home town?
What personal qualities were needed by our ancestors as they built homes in the wilderness? What personal qualities should we emulate as we build for the future? Are they very different or very similar?
Each of the following lesson plans will focus on a story about Zadock Pratt's life and/or accomplishments. The suggested activities that accompany each story can be adapted to suit the particular curricular needs of your grade level or subject area. It is hoped that they will serve as a springboard to additional activities you develop for individuals or groups of students working together.
