Elsa "Ali" Hughes

In New Mexico, discussions about early American history have focused more on the Spanish influence than on English colonization. In order to broaden her students' historical knowledge, Hughes plans to take advantage of the upcoming 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement to make the history of the country's first established English settlement come alive at Hope Christian School. Hughes will give her students the opportunity to learn more about the contributions of Englishmen to their country through a re-creation of colonial life. The initiative, "Jamestown, New Mexico-A Living History Museum", will reconstruct homes, shops and buildings. Participants will visit each exhibit and engage in hands-on demonstrations and interactive discussions. Students will have first-hand experience as colonists themselves. They will dress as blacksmiths, jailers, wigmakers, weavers and more while teaching and sharing the colonial traditions after they have researched their respective roles. This program will not only teach them what colonial life was like during that period, but they will gain skills in oral presentation, goal setting, teamwork, time management, organization and critical thinking. Hughes resides in Albuquerque.