by Caroline Bredekamp for the Preston Times
The Annual EV 4th Grade Pioneer Day class project was held at the Great River Thresher’s Grounds. The students and teachers dress in clothes that would have been worn in pioneer times and while attending school in a one-room schoolhouse. Several volunteers joined the students and led sessions about basketmaking, time in a one-room classroom, making brooms, creating fall decorations with what nature provides, washing clothes with washboards and wringers and so much more. The students were challenged to bring lunch items in period appropriate containers and wraps and to bring only items that would have been available during the time period being studied. The fourth-grade students from Andrew joined the 4th graders from Easton Valley in this day long adventure.
A time period lunch was prepared and wrapped in time period appropriate materials and carried to school in a metal bucket.
An apple a day……
Heidi Lippens was appropriately dressed as a schoolmarm and held a lesson to each group as they rotated into the one-room schoolhouse on the Great River Threshers Grounds.
Kylie and Emily joined in the activities, representing the HS FFA classes. The two lead the students in floral arranging using natural elements that were close at hand.
Learning the art of basket making from one of the adult volunteers.
Luke F. chose his plant to be added to the fall pumpkin displays each group created.
Mascien and Stella are enjoying getting to know one another and take part in the Pioneer Day activities. Mascien recently moved to Preston and is experiencing many new things with her classmates.
Several of the girls donned prairie dresses, aprons and a bonnet for the day.
These three friends were enjoying their day and being dressed up for the occasion. One of them even suggested he would like to go back and live in that time period.
Tucker is washing out his socks and sending them through the wringer before hanging them on the line.
