STMA: Pioneer Settlement Field Trip for First & Second Grade
In January, the first and second-grade class enjoyed a field trip to the Pioneer Settlement in Barberville. The children were able to see first-hand how the pioneers in this country lived in the 1800s.
Pioneer Settlement
The guided experience included so many hands-on learning opportunities for the children and was truly unique. We were greeted by the instructors and hosts who were dressed in period clothing. They gave us our schedule for the day, and we began our tour.
Spinning & Weaving
The children first went to the spinning class. There they were able to handle raw wool and learn how to spin it into yarn using their hands, a drop spindle, and a spinning wheel. The next stop was the weaving class. Here the children were able to see handlooms of many sizes and for different purposes. They were then able to weave a few rows of fabric on the giant loom.
Workshops
The students then moved to the candle room. The instructor explained the process for dipping candles by hand, and why candles were so important to pioneer families who lived without electricity. As was done at this time in history, the children were then invited to dip candles!
Outside, the children met Farmer Dennis and were able to visit peacocks, chickens, goats, and sheep. They were able to pet and feed the animals as they learned how each was used by settlers. Thankfully for Mrs. Goodwin, the hay was far from the visiting area!
Onto the woodworking shop, the children were able to handle some of the tools used to make furniture and kitchen utensils. They drilled and shaped wood samples with the hand tools and found out that it was hard work!
Our final guided stop was to the log cabin. A tiny two-room building was home to a family of nine! The children were able to learn how a household was run each day and the chores that had to be done. They were able to pass a jar of heavy cream as they listened to Miss Nicole and shake it into butter. Once finished, the children got to enjoy some pretzels with the butter they had made.
A Trip back in the History
Our guided tour ended with a picnic lunch. We were able to freely tour the rest of the buildings after lunch such as the church, school, pottery barn, blacksmith shop, post office, train station, and turpentine still.
This field trip made many connections to Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the literature the children had just finished. We also discussed many saints that lived during this time in history, such as Magdelena Sophia Barat, John Vianney, Theresa of Lisieux, and John Bosco.
Thank you to our good teachers and the generous chaperones of the day!
