Engaging Children And Teaching Canadian History, Any Tips?

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Author	Replies: 3 / Views: 1,277
Harmonica Pillar of the Community Canada 1118 Posts	Posted 06/10/2016 11:45 am Hey everyone. I am doing a twice a month flea market in the nearest town to me and I have a small following. A couple youngins' I would say 10ish, have a stand there every time too. There father gets after them to stop pestering me while I am setting up but in all realty I do not mind it. They have bought ancient roman coins and local trade tokens off me and ask many smart, well thought out questions. They even asked me if everything costs more and we need more money now that it isn't silver! Also I get one timers walking through, again around 10, absolutely blown away by a coin that is 100 years old. Anyways I was wondering how to engage them in Canadian/Local history with out lecturing. Trade tokens are great as they are local and cheap. I explain to them about L.P. Fisher and what the loyalists are. From there I showed them an Aroostock War wooden nickel. Little things like that. I am trying to keep it light as not to bore them and I am also trying to keep the conversation away from certain areas as not to teach them my particular views. So far here is what I have been doing/ going to start next week: Use nickel dollars/half dollars and one dollar bills as change Fill a Red Rose Tea tin with free candy and mention the company's importance/ try to sell some Wade Whimsies (old tea proportionals) for 50 cents a pop Get a stack of Canadian Coin News to give away If asking about my Nazi regalia explain preserving history and not venerating it, ask if any of their ancestors served in WWII and have them tell me what they know, mention the Japanese Internment camp in Minto, NB (localish point of interest) Answer any general questions they may have I had a rocky childhood so I always like to try to be a positive role model when dealing with children. If I can change someone's life or make a new numismatist I would be happy. Any thoughts on what I should be doing? Edit: I called it a "coin show" but it is a flea market in a small town. Think indoor yardsale with some crafts and a few "Canadian Picker" wanna bes. I am the only coin/collectible guy. Edited by Harmonica 06/10/2016 11:49 am Report this Post to the Staff

okiecoiner Pillar of the Community Canada 5591 Posts	Posted 06/10/2016 12:25 pm I think one of the most interesting sidelines to Canadian coinage is that there was no "early" coinage for the country until 1858 and didn't mint their own stuff until 1908. Before that, Canada used the coins from the US, England, Spain and Mexico to conduct commerce. England (Canada was but a "Province" or Territory of Great Britain) allowed banks and merchants to mint their own coins and they were collectively called Provincial tokens. Many had the current Monarch on them or other symbols of Britishdom Report this Post to the Staff
Harmonica Pillar of the Community Canada 1118 Posts	Posted 06/10/2016 12:29 pm I have my eye on a particular pillar dollar but I have yet to buy one. I do have some old NB, NFLD and PEI tokens/semi-regal coinage. I will have to dig them out. I am half thinking of doing a local token display in one case and a sale case next to it. Thank you for the idea. Most children do not know we were a bunch of colonies. Report this Post to the Staff
AgCoinAu Pillar of the Community Canada 3049 Posts	Posted 06/10/2016 1:15 pm Harmonica: I honestly think you're going about it EXACTLY the right way! You're providing a point of interest and knowledge and passing it on in a very laid back but informative way! You can't do much better than that! Some tips.. the best way to start and continue dialogue is with questions... so come up with a few that you think would help to start a conversation as well as some that may pique their interests and keep them coming back. Kids love manipulatives (things to hold and touch) while they're learning so make sure that you have some examples that you don't mind if they're frequently held or touched... perhaps even dropped or "sneezed" on... I like the idea of having a copy of the CCN to give out but you may also want to have other resources that customers would want to flip through... to use as a reference .. like a copy of the Charltons or something else with lots of pictures (kids like pictures heck I like pictures!) Aside from that the only thing I can think of is that if you have a kid or two that just keep coming back with questions and wanting to see some stuff, it might be cool to give them something to remember you by. A small trinket or "token" or an older nickel or penny that you got at face value. The other day I bought two steamer trunks for $45 and I gave the person two twenties a "multicolour" $2 note a "birds" $2 note and a $1 bill from the '70's and the person was absolutely delighted... it sparked a conversation and they ended up e-mailing me about a few other items they weren't sure of selling when I was there but were willing to part with afterwards. Needless to say it worked out... so perhaps think of if someone buys something from you, and they need to get change look at that as an opportunity to give them something "interesting" for them to remember you by. Report this Post to the Staff
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