Readin', Writin' and 'Rithmetic!
Fourth graders experience school as pioneers
by Carrie Veal
May 20, 2009
The fourth graders of Mrs. Veal’s class at R-7 Elementary enjoyed going back in time for two days at the Snowball School located at the Nebraska Prairie Museum. A simulation of school in the late 1800s included spelling bees, geography bees, mental math, reading aloud, and memorization. The students were assigned as members of families varied in age which endured hardships that families typically would have encountered in the 1880s. Each student memorized poems by Robert Louis Stevenson to be recited in front of the class. Many pioneer games such as “Baby,” “Red Rover,” “Jacks,” “Graces” and “Annie Over” were enjoyed. A special guest, Jim Ostgren, spoke one afternoon about his Chickasaw background. The highlight of the experience was washing clothes with a washboard and bringing their lunch in a pail. The students gained a new appreciation of our modern conveniences and the educational system of today.
