Field Trip Photos

Here are the pictures from our field trip to Farmsteading at Thornhill.  

Farmsteading at Thornhill 

This program focuses on the Louisiana Purchase and early Missouri history, which parallels the arrival and life of Frederick Bates, the 2nd governor of Missouri. Students help prepare their own meal by hauling wood and water and observing open hearth cooking. Activities include rail splitting and candle dipping. Students get a hands-on understanding of the frugal lifestyle of Missouri’s settlers in the early 1800s.

**Pictures are in reverse order.  These start at the end of our trip and go to the beginning.**

We visited the home's cemetery to see where the family was buried. 

We learned how to build a fence from split rail wood.  We also got to try our hand at splitting wood ourselves.  Watch out for that hammer!

 Smokehouse for smoking their own meats.

The old blacksmith shop.

We had to learn how the kids and families got water back in 1820.  They had to carry it themselves!   They carried almost 37 pounds on their shoulders.  Our kids.... a little less.

This was the best part for me.  I really liked to see the kids chopping and slicing their own food.  We made vegetable soup.  They did a great job.  Into the slop bucket with all the scraps!

 We learned how they used to have to wash their hands.  We also learned how they made their own lye soap for hand washing.  The water was cold in those buckets!  

 Mr. Wayne our class's tour guide.

 We got a history lesson in the house on the Louisiana Purchase from Ms. Micah.