Fourth grade overnight

More now from Zoe’s recent overnight. As described in the school’s newsletter:

Fourth graders spent last Wednesday to Friday in a three-day simulation of the gold rush in “1855 Hangtown” (conveniently transplanted to Camp Tawonga), where they engaged in the everyday experiences of miners, merchants, teachers, and children of the 1850s.

In their mining teams, students panned for gold in the river, built fires, cooked their own miners’ meals, learned about the local flora and fauna of the area, and square danced. They even took part in an old-fashioned spelling bee in the makeshift one-room schoolhouse.

The activities in Hangtown helped the fourth graders better understand how difficult life was in 1855 and were a great way to build on their yearlong study of California’s history. Some came home with gold, others lost it all in the Hangtown Saloon on their last day—but all brought home nuggets of knowledge about a legendary era that shaped California’s future.

“It was so exciting to see the students panning for gold in the cold river, hiking and learning about the wild plants in the area, and cooperating and problem-solving by making their own Miner’s Meals,” says teacher Valerie Welsh. “One student exclaimed after his group had finally eaten, ‘This is the best meal I have ever had! It really makes me appreciate all that goes into making a meal.’”

And, some photos…

-M

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