Dozens of people from British history time traveled to the 1st year students’ English History and Culture classes to speak about their lives. Among the guests included rockstar David Bowie, diplomat T. E. Lawrence, author Beatrix Potter, scientist Isaac Newton, and a number of kings, princesses, and queens.
Students of the class were invited to do a little cosplay and come to class dressed as persons from British history. Each then had to act as that person and discuss their life. Some students really tried to inhabit their character (though none attempted to do a British accent) and gave not just facts, but emotional reflections on the “lives” they had led. Some came at the assignment in a comedic way, others more soberly, depending on the character they inhabited and the personality of the student.
All in all, it’s been fun to see how they could create period-appropriate costumes with the items that had at home (a lot of mothers’ jackets were worn, and several hats from grandmothers) and hear what the students believe are the most interesting and important moments of these people’s lives.
