The 11^th Texas Cavalry is prepared to come to your school and perform a Living History program that will work hand-in hand with your curriculum.  We have been invited out to several schools around the Houston area and beyond with a great deal of success.  It is a cost effective, “hand’s on” interactive learning experience your students will not soon forget.

School Day at the Hondo Heritage Festival 

The 11^th Texas Cavalry was asked to attend the Hondo Heritage Festival and give a living history demonstration to the students from the Median Valley and Hondo schools.  We set up 5 stations along with an introductory from Kathy Grava and Susan Gibson, to demonstrate different aspects of the civil war in the 1860’s.  The students were entertained by Kathy as she informed the kids of the number of clothing articles a woman had to put on simply to go for a walk, they came up with 17.  Then they were divided up in 5 groups and sent off to the different stations.   The buses pored in one after the other from 9:00 until 2:30.

Col. Wil Gibson told about Texas during the civil war and went on to talk about the history of the 11^th Texas Cavalry,  about the tactic’s used during the war and how they had changed since Napoleon’s days.

Berry Hyle, our Chaplin told of the duties expected of a Chaplin during the war and was asked by one group of students to pray for them.  It was a very touching moment.

 
Michael Bunch and Beth Willis talked about how the canon’s were used, how they were moved around, the different types of canon’s and ammunition used.  They then demonstrated the firing of a mortar and canon.

 
Terry Teague, who is from the Hondo area demonstrated  the different black powder rifles, hand guns and saber’s that were used during the period.  He demonstrated the safety  issues and how to load and fire the guns.

The last station was Andra Grava.  He talked to the students and using a volunteer piled on the clothing and equipment a soldier would have to carry as he marched the long journey. The students were amazed at the weight.  One asked “How did they survive carrying all this day after day, much less have the energy to fight when they go to where they were going”.

Children are curious and love to learn when we make it interesting and exciting for them.

Let us help you help them want to learn.