Back to the 1800s

What do bonnets and hand-forged nails have in common? They were both hands-on learning tools during a recent field trip.

“We saw the kitchen with the blacksmith’s tools,” said Nick DeNoda. “We got to play with them a little.”

Second-grade students from Primrose Elementary School have been learning about early Americans. They took their learning back in time with a trip to the Elephant Hotel in Somers, where they met with local historian Doris Smith. Students were able to look at, learn about, and touch artifacts from the 1800s.

“There was a wedding quilt, bonnets, and shoes,” said Olivia Kennedy.

“We learned that they needed to leave some stuff behind because they could only carry the most useful things,” said Zoey Romano.

In the pioneer-style kitchen, students learned how people used to cook in wood-burning ovens, and they were able to touch some of the cooking tools, such as bellows, heavy pots and pans, and kettles. They also saw various pieces of clothing and were even able to try on bonnets.

“We got to see the pioneer kitchen. The fireplace was huge,” said Vivian Richardson. “They put bricks in the fireplace to help cook food.”

Students also watched a demonstration from a real-life blacksmith who crafted items such as nails, hooks, and dining utensils. The blacksmith spoke about the long line of ancestors he followed into the field while showing the students how metal was heated in a fire pit and then shaped into the necessary tools.

“He hammered the metal, then cooled it off in the bucket of water,” said Nick. “When it went into the bucket, it looked really cool because it was all steamy.”

This field trip allowed the students to bring their learning to life with hands-on demonstrations and artifacts, while also connecting the students to the rich history of their local community.