Segment I - Early Life and Careers

American biographer James Parton wrote that Thomas Jefferson "could calculate an eclipse, survey an estate, tie an artery, plan an edifice, try a cause, break a horse, dance a minuet, and play the violin." What occupations match up with the items:

Using the biography of Aaron Burr, write a similar statement about Burr.
Aaron Burr could:
Make a chart similar to Jefferson's.

Both Jefferson and Burr educated their daughters at home. Both felt that their daughters should learn more than just housewifery – being taught to sew, cook, care for the home, entertain guests, play a musical instrument and carry on a polite conversation. Girls during this time period weren't expected to spend time reading.

Create a chart, outlining your typical school day and your typical Saturday schedule. Compare that to Patsy's schedule. Are there any similarities? How does your schedule differ from Patsy's?

In this letter dated December 11, 1783, what subject is Patsy studying? How does Jefferson address Patsy's "foolish predictions that the world is to be at an end soon."? Click on image of letter to read transcription. In the letter Jefferson asks Patsy to let him know what tunes she is playing. Research music in Jefferson's era to determine what tunes Patsy might have been playing and on what instruments.

Match these instruments to their names: (Worksheet in PDF format)

Claude Balbastre

In 1784 Patsy accompanied Jefferson to Paris, France. Jefferson had been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France to negotiate treaties of commerce and good will. To continue Patsy's education with an emphasis in music, Jefferson enrolled her in a convent school called the Abbaye Royale de Panthémont. She studied with Claude Balbastre on the harpsichord and became quite an accomplished harpsichordist. Research Claude Balbastre and present your findings to the class. Have students make presentations on other composers of the Jefferson-era.

Marche des Marseillois

Burr supervised his daughter Theodosia's (shown at right) studies in Greek, Latin, French, philosophy, music, dancing, arithmetic, and English composition. Legend has it that she practiced her English by writing letters to her father, who returned them promptly, detailing her errors and mistakes.

Most children during this era were taught to perform jobs that they would need to do when they became adults. Boys, once they turned 12 or 13, would assist with raising crops such as planting, harvesting and threshing. Boys often were apprenticed to learn a craft with a skilled craftsman such as a cooper, blacksmith, silversmith or tailor.

Match the craftsman with a tool or item from his trade: (Worksheet in PDF format)

	Craftsman Cooper Tailor Whitesmith Cobbler Potter Joiner or Joyner Sawyer Blacksmith Wheelwright Tanner Hatter Peruke Maker
pieces of leather

Divide the students into two groups, with one group researching Education in New England during the Colonial-Jefferson era, and the other group researching Education in the South during the Colonial-Jefferson era. Create a chart on the board in order to compare and contrast the students' findings as they share their research with the class.

Examine the illustration below and determine what activities are taking place in this colonial kitchen.

Examine these kitchens from the Jefferson-era (click images for larger view). What differences do you see? What similarities? Can you make any generalizations about the individuals who owned the house, their way of life, and where they lived?

Kitchen of John Hancock	Kitchen of George and Martha Washington
Kitchen of John and Abigail Adams	Kitchen of Washington's Headquarters in New Jersey
Kitchen of Paul Revere	Kitchen at Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Match the word below with its appropriate number from the illustrated sheet of kitchen items.

____Crane ____Peels ____Footed Pot ____Griddle ____Stoneware Pitcher ____Mortar & Pestle ____Herbs ____Beehive Oven ____Skillet ____Cake Mold ____Fork

____Copper Pot ____Crane Hook ____Trammel ____Firedogs ____Strainer ____Wafer Iron ____Toaster ____Dutch Oven ____Trivet ____Ladle

What modern conveniences do you have in your kitchen today? Are any of the items in the illustrated sheet obsolete? Which ones? Are some things done the same way today as they were in Jefferson's day? Explain your answer.