We were glad to have the Souderton Charter School 7th graders visit us again today.  Such a polite and inquisitive group!  Here’s what our school field trips look like in the winter months:

After an introduction to the Center and finding out what students already know (this group had been well-prepared with recent study of Pennsylvania history and settlements), students are split into groups and rotate between three activity stations–Fraktur, Artifacts, and a Work and Hope scavenger hunt.

Paula Slemmer explains the origin and styles of fraktur.

Mrs. Slemmer demonstrates.

Students get to make their own fraktur creation.

Master teacher Janet Martin guides students through a collection of common household items that are not so common today.  Students guess at the uses and get to handle most of the items.

The third group goes on a scavenger hunt through our permanent exhibit, Work and Hope.  Using clues they explore over 300 years of Mennonite history– origins, migrations, native peoples, church expansion, values, geography, industry, institutions founded by Mennonites, and modern developments.

See if you can answer some of these questions from the hunt (answers below):
1. What does the word “Anabaptist” mean?
2. What book, the largest printed in colonial America, was printed in 1748-49?  Where was it printed?
3. What was the name of the county you are in before it was  “Montgomery”?

In warmer weather, Joel takes students outside for various hands-on farming demonstrations.

We are blessed to have seasoned  teachers like Paula and Janet give their time and join our staff for a little immersion into the life and art of the past.

Scavenger Hunt Answers:
1. re-baptize
2. Martyr’s Mirror, Ephrata PA
3. Philadelphia County

If you missed any maybe it’s time for a field trip to the Center!