Western Fun

We have FINALLY finished this chapter of our studies. It seems like every time I thought we were finished with it, something else would pop up and we would go right back into it! Did I mind? Yes and no. The grand finale was more than what I expected. God is so faithful and good!
We were studying a chapter on early American History and the first 15 US presidents. I was blessed to already have everything I needed. I thought that was enough, until I began to read some more and realized I really wanted the children to learn about The Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail-two things I never learned about in school. (I am a army brat and by the time we were ready to cover the topic, we moved and when I got to the new school, they had just finished it). A friend of ours from church loaned us the game Oregon Trail- too much fun! I would advise it for older children who like computer games. Amazingly, I was able to make it to Oregon City the second time I played. The first time, I died from scurvy and starvation because I didn't hunt and pick berries properly. I couldn't hunt because I didn't buy enough ammunition at the last trading post we passed. So sad. The other wagon trainers buried me so nicely and then I got the big, "GAME OVER" Geez, they could have broke it to me gently. lol (BTW, Thanks Brianna)
Anyway, I wanted the children to make covered wagons- once again, because I never did. They turned out better than I expected. We just some shoe boxes and hot glued the paper across the opening and added a few pipe cleaners to give the paper some stability. The children made items that would be needed in a real trip west. It was fun! Oh and we made weels from the lids of the shoe boxes.
We learned about the California Gold Rush. Then, I wished there was a way to have my children to pan for gold so they could really understand the books we were reading from that time period. Little did I know my prayer would soon be answered.
While looking at a website of our local Indian and Western museum for someone else, I stumbled across an offer they had to get a membership free! Not only that, but within the week they were having something called a West Fest. So, I got the info and we went. It was waaaaayyyyyy more than I expected! It solidified everything we had been learning in this chapter of Weaver- my children even got to pan for gold!!! I had fun, my children had fun!!!! Of course I took pictures and I even got a little video or two.
First are the pics, second is a video of a guy who was really funny and loved yodeling, and the third is a video of a woman doing rope tricks and such. Enjoy- we did!

The Yoddler (sp?)