A Day at Heritage Park

The blackboard in the Old School House complete with lessons from 1910.

Making bannock for all to try.

         During Social Studies, we have been learning about the first settlers of the prairies. We have learned about the land, the climate, the resources, and the schools of 1910. As a class, we have explored how our communities came to be and people learned to work together. We have also worked together on piecing together the past through comparing our own lives today with those of kids 100 years ago.
         A week ago, all Grade 2's and a few Grade 3's were given the chance to visit and explore Heritage Park in order to make history come alive. At Heritage Park, the Weedon school stands with many of the original school supplies inside. It was originally built for two families in the town of Weedon where 18 students between grades 1 and 8 were educated. The school contains books with original lessons, slate boards, a pump organ and a wood burning stove which is still used.
        Ms Gloge and Miss Code dressed the part as schoolteachers from 1910 in order to make the experience more memorable. First, students were able to park their ponies (which we had made the week before) in the barn behind the school. We learned about and practiced some of the old school routines and got the chance to use some of the slate boards. We also learned a couple of outdoor games, such as Red Lion, which were played by children who attended school there.
         During the day, we were also given the chance to learn about daily life at home by two of our wonderful guides. Students explored the Livingston House and were given the challenge of finding various objects that would have been different than what we use today such as a closet, toys, a stove, and a sink. They then passed out some of the toys that were popular at that time (Jacob's Ladder, tops, and ball in a cup) to play with and share.
        Finally, we were taken through the fur trading fort. We discovered what was traded at the post, learned a traditional dance, and tasted some bannock which was made fresh in front of our eyes. We also talked about how different communities were formed when the Europeans came to the prairies and how life changed over time.
       We all had a fantastic time at Heritage Park and are grateful to our guides! The entire class certainly learned quite a bit and gained an appreciation for our community's past.

Enjoy this recipe and video for making Bannock if you wish to try it!
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/bannock.php