William Beckman

Beckman's "Making the Fur Trade Come Alive" program is an immersion lesson that focuses on the fur trade era of the Great Lakes and combines reading, art, woodworking, sewing, building, music, and writing. During the program, students read and write about the fur trade, then "become" characters from the era, trading goods and exploring the hardships of the time. Students also recreate artifacts of the era, such as canoe paddles, leather pouches, or clothing, presenting their pieces to the class and explaining how they were part of the fur trade. The program allows students to gain a better understanding of the era and encourages creative and independent learning.