Tualatin Historical Society Sponsors

Reality Experience for 180 4th-5th Graders

Tualatin Heritage Center will become the terminus of the Oregon Trail on May 22-23 as 180 4th-5th graders from Tualatin Elementary School load up their wagons and spend the day experiencing real pioneer life.

The students are now forming family groups as they study Oregon history. Their final test is to pack lightly and plan their food and equipment for their trek across town. Jars of cream will be “churned” into butter on the way. Real hard tack will become part of lunch and snacks later that day.

At the Heritage Center, volunteers are setting up stations for hands-on activities: identifying old-time household tools, spinning wool, making tin necklaces and art, sewing a button on clothing, braiding a rug, making candles, playing home-made games like marbles and jump rope, washing clothes on scrub board and planting a garden.

Evie Andrews, retired Tualatin Elementary School teacher, will be the school marm for a mock one-room school where students will practice penmanship with quills and arithmetic with chalk boards. A dunce cap and stool sits in the corner as a reminder of discipline from days gone by.

The project is a joint venture between Tualatin Historical Society and Tualatin Elementary School. Based on evaluations of this first effort, discussions will be underway with Byrom and Bridgeport Elementary Schools for future field trips.