Photo Albums

Bust out those good old family photos and spend the afternoon pouring over them! Get to know extended family and see if there are any traits (physical or not) that you have in common with any of them. I have about 30 photo albums that I love to look at and whenever I'm home one of my favorite things to do is check out my Mom's albums. Family history is important. Where and who we came from is a big part of where and who we are.

Take Hike

Go with your children on a "walk across the plains". Teach them about the ways pioneers traveled and express to them how much the children had to walk. Try to walk somewhere away from the city streets such as a state park or up in the mountains. You can easily find trails close to your home online. Pack a pioneer picnic with snacks your great great grandparents might have such as apples, jerky, bread, cheese, etc...

Covered Wagon

Supplies:

• rectangular box (tissue paper or shoe box) -- we used a tissue box
• construction paper
• markers
• scissors
• tape or glue

Directions:

• Wrap the box completely with construction paper (we used brown).
  
• Trace a small circle (we used a vitamin bottle) four times on black construction paper.
  
• Glue the circles onto the box as wheels.
  
• Optional: Use markers to draw a Western type picture on another piece of construction paper (or use stickers or sparkles).
  

Tape the decorated construction paper in an arch over the shoe box

Home Made Butter

Supplies:
Whipping Cream
Salt
Baby Food Jar

Directions:
Pour about 1 tablespoon of whipping cream into the baby food jar and add a dash of salt. Shake for 15-20 minutes. BUTTER!

Many years ago this is how we made butter for our bread! Now you can enjoy some of your own home made butter on your bread, just like they did!

Family History

Week 8: Family History

*Suggested Reading*

The Kids' Family Tree Book by Caroline Leavitt

Children of the Wild West by Russell Freedman

Cassie's Journey: Going West in the 1860's by Brett Harvey

I Walked to Zion: True Stories of Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

Dandelions, written by Eve Bunting

Items needed this week:

• Baby food
• whipped cream
• rectangular box (tissue paper or shoe box) -- we used a tissue box
• construction paper
• markers
• scissors
• tape or glue

Preparations to be made: Research trails around your home. Make sure you know where all of your old photo albums are!