This program's objective is to give our students a chance to experience 8 different activities that closely simulate activities common in the life of a pioneer of the mid-1800s. The students make candles and rope, cook bread on a stick, do tin smithing, make corn husk dolls, create a charcoal drawing, play cards and marbles, do leatherwork, and pan for gold. They also sew a gold pouch in the weeks preceding our living history day.
Students will participate in 1850 crafts and activities in an outdoor setting. Former students state the living history field trip was a highlight of 4th grade.
Each student is expected to complete a journal throughout their day. Each station will be described and critiqued prior to leaving that station. During the following week the students will write about the different activities and experiences.
We use the Tahoe Donner Campground as our setting for this experience. Students will rotate through the 10 different stations, creating objects at each station. 4th grade teachers and many parent volunteers will run the stations and lead the groups of students through their day.
We plan this event as a group. We revise and update the activities every year. We will determine which expository texts we will use as supplemental material.
Each teacher brings to the project some classroom funds which are spent on the meal (beans, salad, drink) which the students have for lunch. (These funds are raised through our Walk-a-thon and Pumpkin Patch annual events) We are using site funds to cover half of the supplies needed for this year.
This is for Living History field trip 2023, therefore, these are anticipated buying needs for next year. This year, 2022, we are using half site funds and half class funds to cover what we need to purchase.