By: Sheila Crowley
Murray County News Staffwriter
During the 1800’s Americans were moving west. Pioneer life was difficult for all members of the family — children and parents worked together to grow crops, build and maintain their home, and care for the animals.
To help understand a little more about what living conditions were like in pioneer life the second-grade class has lessons relating to this era of time.
At the conclusion, they annually hold a pioneer day. The event encourages the students to dress as pioneers and pretend they were back in that time period.
Last Friday the students traveled back in time as they visited the Murray County Historical Museum. There, the students were introduced to life in a traditional home…the Wornson Cabin located behind the museum. During this time they learned how the family cooked, what a typical day was like, how they stayed warm, and the basic necessities of pioneer life. Students viewed the small living room area space and glanced at the kitchen space. They even had the opportunity to put a cotton towel thru the wringer washing machine.
Next up was learning how to make butter. Luanne Parker, a former MCC teacher, gathered the students and preceded to share how butter was created back in the day. She started the instruction by asking what butter is made of and where it comes from. Parker informed the children that after the milk is gathered from the cow it’s put in a milk tank and as it settles the cream (or fat) floats to the top. This is skimmed off and put in a churn to start the process of making butter.
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