Attention Teachers: Utah Programs for Schoolkids in October
October, Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park (Fairfield, Utah)
School Group Field Trips: October 1 to October 30
Hear a first-hand account of life in Johnston’s Army, view cannon and musket fire, experience the life of a soldier by marching, drilling, making candles and adobe bricks; play Pony Express games, experience class in a 19th century schoolhouse, view the Stagecoach Inn and Camp Floyd Commissary. Reservations required, minimum group size, 75.
October 3 to October 30, Edge of the Cedars State Park (Blanding)
ART-N-FACTS For KIDS Junior Archaeologist After School Program,
Tuesdays from 3:00 PM until 5:30 PM,
Free program for 4th through 7th graders
Join us on Tuesday afternooons (excepting Oct 3rd) for the after school program that takes kids on an archaeological adventure! This program, paid for with a grant from Utah State History, synthesizes, science, art, curation, and past and present Native cultures of the Four Corners.
October’s schedule includes:
October 3: “Earth, Fire Water” - features Gregory Holiday instructing students in the art of traditional pottery making, kids will make their own pots to take home**Tuesday, October 9th 2007: How Old is It?
In this week’s session, students will learn about a few of the archaeological methods used in dating artifacts. We will create a “stratigraphy box” that will be used in one of the upcoming museum exhibits. Students will learn about serigraphy (dating with ceramics), dendrochronology (tree ring dating), “relative” dating, and dating artifacts by stratigraghic layers. Each student will have their own “unit” to excavate, record, and take home.
Tuesday, October 16th 2007: Getting the Point
After a look at a few of the stone projectile points (arrowheads) on display, students will watch and learn from master flintknapper, Gregory Nunn, as he instructs students in the art of crafting stone tools and projectiles. Due to the potential for injury, this will be demonstration only, as students will not be making their own arrowheads from stone. Gregory Nunn is a well-known flintknapper from Moab who has perfected the ancient tradition of crafting stone tools. He has just returned from a trip to Denmark, where he taught workshops in knapping fine stone tools.
Tuesday, October 23rd 2007: What’s for Dinner?
Back by popular demand! This week’s adventure was one of the most popular from the 2006 season. What foods comprised the diets of the folks who once lived at Edge of the Cedars Puebloan community? How did the foods affect their health? This week, students will learn more about the Desert Grocery Store and view some of the plant remains possibly used as foods. We will also talk about horticulture, the tending of wild plants, and contemporary Pueblo gardens. Students will help to process meal and have an opportunity to taste various foods made from various meals and wild foods.
Tuesday, October 30th 2007: Fabulous Fibers
In this closing session, we will look at some of the fragile textiles, blankets, and sandals in the museum collection and have fun learning about a few of the techniques for crafting clothing 1000 years ago! Students can use small looms to create their own small weaving from cotton warp and yucca. We are also hoping to have a primitive textile artist here to demonstrate and teach the students this session (artist to be confirmed).
Saturday, November 3rd: Junior Archaeologists’ Field Trip and Picnic
All students who attend at least four of the seven weeks of the series will qualify as “Junior Archaeologists.” All Junior Archaeologists will be invited to participate in a field trip to visit one of the unique cultural resources of the area. Students will use their skills to identify artifacts in the field and understand more about the folks who lived in the area 1000 years ago. Permission slips and destination will be sent home by mid-October and parents are invited to participate in the field trip.
Source: Utah State Parks
To read more about the desert, go to DesertUSA.com.