Stuhr
Museum Games & Fun!
How
would you explain it?
Read this story
about a 12 year old girl named Lucina who traveled on the Mormon
Trail in 1853, and then answer the questions below.
Camping
at Night with my family
During the
day our wagons traveled about fifteen to twenty miles. At evening
time we would halt to camp. The first wagon would come to a stop.
Then the second wagon would pull up and then stop a little behind
it and next to its side. Then the third wagon, and so on, and
so on. Soon all the wagons would come to a halt almost next to
each other and form a large circle. Inside the circle was like
a corral formed by wagons. We would stay inside for safety.
After the
men had taken care of the animals and our mothers had fixed supper
and we children had helped with the chores, we all finally had
some time to relax. Sometimes if there was enough wood, the men
would build a big bonfire. They would clear off a level piece
of ground. If we camped close to the river the men would dampen
the dusty ground with water and pack it a little. Then we would
have a dance for those who weren't too tired. My older brother
played a violin, and he was very good at it. Other men played
mouth organs (harmonicas), and another man an accordion. The rest
of us would all sit around the fire, have a sing song, or listen
to others telling stories. Before we knew it, it was time for
us children to go to sleep.
1. What was
used to make the corral at night?
2. What were children expected to do when the wagons stopped at
night?
3. Why did the men put water on the ground?
4. Who played the fiddle during the dances?
5. How many kinds of musical instruments are there in the story?
What are they?
This activity
is taken from This is the Place: The Story of the Mormon Trail
by William E. Hill, Hill House Publishing. www.hillhousew.com
These activity books are sold at Prairie
Treasures, Stuhr Museum's gift shop.
