Ms. Fraser's 4th Grade: Historic Deerfield

Wednesday the two third grade classes took a trip back in time. We traveled to Historic Deerfield to learn what it would have been like to live in this area in the 1700's. Students got a chance to participate in a variety of hands on activities. They cooked in the hearth kitchen, they carted wool, wove on a loom, they visited the Sheldon house, and visited the one room school house. Our class started our day by touring the Sheldon house. We learned some interesting facts while touring the Sheldon house. For example, did you know that bedroom weren't just for sleeping? During the colonial time period bedrooms were the perfect temperature for storing potatoes, turnips, and squash during the winter months. Also, just about every room had a bed in it, including the kitchen!

From the Sheldon house we made our way over to the one room school. The students had lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Students quickly learned that our school marm was quite strict and expected near perfect behavior. The favorite activity in the school house was definitely writing with the quill pens! Everybody wanted to be the one the school marm picked to put their nose in the hole for "misbehaving". The lucky student was Jenaily, who was a great sport about it. (I think some of the other students were definitely jealous that she got to do that.)

The one room school house

Ready to learn

Jenaily and Samara during our reading lesson


Our school marm

Our class rules

Jenaily got picked to put her nose in the hole

Happy boys!

Sarafina and Kateri look ready to learn

Practicing writing on the slate boards

Lucas gets some help from Ms. Giardi

Writing with quills-a favorite!

Lucas tries writing with a quill pen

Look at that concentration!

After spending some time in the one room school house our class split into two groups for cooking and cloth making. To make cloth, first students had to learn about the job of carding wool. Students learned that if they lived during this time period this would be their job. After students carded woll and created a wool log they got a chance to weave on a loom.

Ms. Faith, our teacher, for wool carding

Lucas and Riley

Caroline gets her cards ready

Ben cards his wool

Lucas

This is a wool log

Ms. Faith uses the spinning wheel

Learning how to use the loom

The students also got a chance to cook in the hearth kitchen. One group of students made corn bread and the other group made homemade applesauce.

It was a great field trip! Thank you to those parents who were able to rearrange their schedules so they could join us on our field trip! Also, the students were great listeners and very well behaved while we were at Historic Deerfield. I am so proud of them!

We got back to school in time for the Fall Fun Run! Another great way to spend a fall day!