Heartland Museum Opens Doors for a Hands on History Day

            Tuesday June 23, the Heartland Museum opened its doors to young kids for a four-hour event. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the kids got hands on experience of historical events. As the kids began to roll in, they had bags with their names on them and nametags so the other kids and helpers would know who they were. “We were expecting around 20 kids,” Said Normajene Collier, one of the volunteers, “but only 7 showed up.” Despite the lack of bodies the kids that did show up were very excited and enthusiastic about everything.

            The kids were instructed by Luke Odland to take a sheet of paper and make a cover of their journal. “Real historians had to document all of their findings back then,” said Odland. The kids got to decorate it with markers and colorful sheets of paper. Mary Tesdahl helped Luke Odland come up with fun crafts to do throughout the day.

            After the journal covers and back pages were made they began their historical experience outside on the front porch with Melanie Maasdam. She had brought gourds from her house that were old and the kids used them to make birdhouses. First the kids had to clean them off in tubs full of water and then dry them off. Next they cut a hole in the side of the gourd, about the size of a quarter, so a bird could get through and live inside. They pulled some of the seeds out and smoothed out the hole with a file. Next it was time to stain them and make them shine.

            The kids set their newly made birdhouses in their designated spot on the porch and went to the next project. In between cutting the hole and waiting in line to stain their birdhouse the kids were given a piece of string tied to a pen. They dipped the string in wax to make candles. They had to do this multiple time as to make the candle thicker and taller.

For the complete story see the July 2 issue of the Wright County Monitor.