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Feb 2007 Issue
The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers have developed a fun program to show fourth grade children the fun and rigors of pioneer life in Southern Nevada. Decked out in pioneer clothing, the DUP ladies present an activity-based program created by experienced educator Shirley Howlett.
The children learn of the Spanish Trail and the importance of the Las Vegas meadows as a water source. They learn of Brigham Young’s colonizing and his opening of the Mormon Fort in 1855. While the program is presented, the children shake their own cans of cream, which turn into butter. Then they each get the opportunity to pretend to do laundry using an old-fashioned wash tub, scrub board and lye soap. Then they hang the laundry to dry on the line with clothes pins.
The week before the program, the classroom teacher is given clay and paint and the students make their own marbles. Then during one of the rotations in the presentation, the students learn how to play marbles. They also make button spinners and are given a piece of horehound candy. So students leave with marbles, button spinners and a sweet taste of pioneer life.
If you are interested in having this program presented to the fourth graders in your school, contact Natasha Matkin-Hayes at garryh1111@aol.com. For more info on the DUP visit www.dupinternational.org.
