Working Together,
A Story of Pioneer Children in the 1850’s
Summary – A play (or Reader’s Theater) about pioneer children doing their chores and discussing life in pioneer times.
Objective - To use hands-on tools to teach children about daily pioneer life in a fun way.
Key Vocabulary that needs to be pre-taught
Carding, drop spindle, washboard, washtub, clothes pins, biscuit cutter, butter churn, kneading dough, smoke (as in smoking bacon), smoke house, hen house, slab of bacon, scorch, clothes line, household chores, managing, splitting rails
Pre-teach the chores that are done in the play:
Using a rolling pin to roll out dough
Using a biscuit cutter
Ironing
Using a washboard
Using wool carders
Using a drop spindle
Using a butter churn
**Teachers in Lane County can check out a Traveling Trunk of artifacts that includes the items listed below by contacting Heather Klym at Riverbend Elem. in Springfield, OR (541)988-2511 or
Resources included:
*Set of 20 books “Picture the Past - Life On a Pioneer Homestead” by Sally Senzell Isaacs, appropriate for grades 2- 5.
*DVD “How Things Are Made – A Wooden Bucket” You can order this DVD at http://www.beaverbuckets.com/Catalog_DVD_A%20Wooden%20Bucket.htm
References:
1. http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/hand-carding.shtml (how to card wool)
2. http://www.columbuswashboard.com/ (how to use a washboard)
3. http://www.mielkesfarm.com/spndl_inst.htm (drop spindle directions)
4. http://www.antiquestoves.com/history.htm
(picture of cook stove)
5. http://www.lhf.org/cgi-bin/gygsite.pl?2~0 (other useful information)
Materials Provided
Wool-some pre-carded, some to be carded
washtub rolling pin set of wool carders
washboard biscuit cutter 2 drop spindles
clothes pins beater wooden butter churn
bowl water bucket iron wooden spoon skillet
egg basket Dutch oven
Materials you will need to supply:
small table & chairs, fake knife, clothesline (rope)
piece of light brown construction paper decorated to look like a slab of bacon
rolled up brown butcher paper, to look like firewood
stools
a medium sized box decorated to look like an old wood stove (see website above)
Play Doh (biscuit dough)
A stick for guiding the pigs
Two shirts - One for ironing and one for washing
Set up - The set should be designed to look like the inside of a pioneer cabin without the walls. To create this look:
Secure ends of clothesline to something sturdy near the back of the “set.“ Hang one of the shirts on the clothesline using the clothespins. This will be the shirt that is to be ironed in the performance. Create a “front door” that actors can go in and out of. Place the stove (decorated box) off to the side of the set. Place the iron on top of the “stove,” and the biscuit making tools on the table near the stove. The children will pretend that they have the ingredients for making the biscuits then use the Play Doh to resemble the finished dough. Place the wood offstage and the water bucket and pig guiding stick next to the set exit but where the audience can see them. Place the wool, carders and drop spindle in the basket on the set next to the stool. Place the washtub with the washboard, “dirty” shirt and clothespins in it, off to the side but in a spot where they are visible.
Characters:
Mary, eldest sibling, (manages other children) - Actor’s name______
Elizabeth (cuts out biscuits, gets eggs) – Actor’s name ______
William (chases pigs, gets bacon) - Actor’s name ______
Thomas (chases pigs, gets water) - Actor’s name ______
Ma – Actor’s name ______
Pa – Actor’s name ______
Uncle Jake – Actor’s name ______
Henry (wool carding) – Actor’s name ______
Annie (drop spindle) – Actor’s name ______
Eliza (churning butter) – Actor’s name ______
Eli (washes shirt & irons shirt) – Actor’s name ______
As the play begins, some characters are in the house doing chores and talking. The rest are off stage waiting for their entrance cue.
Thomas, Ma, Pa and Uncle Jake are off stage making pig noises. Annie is using the drop spindle, Eliza is churning butter and Henry is carding wool.
William and Thomas (run to look out the window and see that the pigs have gotten into the garden and are eating the family’s vegetables).
William and Thomas (together) – Get out of there pigs! Shoo!
Mary (to William) - Get out there and chase those pigs out of Mama’s garden. There won’t be anything left to eat.
William - ( grabs the pig guiding stick and runs out of the house yelling at the pigs to get away).
Elizabeth - Yeah, last time they ate all of the carrots, my favorite!
Thomas - I sure wish Papa and Uncle Jake would get that fence built.
Mary - They’ve been so busy working on the barn that they haven’t had time. We’ll just have to keep an eye out for those pigs.
Thomas - Better yet, let’s get Papa to make ham and bacon out of them. Yum! Then we won’t have to worry about them.
Mary - Yeah, but then we won’t have any bacon or ham this winter.
William (walks back into the house, puts the stick back and sits on the floor) - Those pigs are stubborn. I had to send the dog after them to get them out of our garden. Next thing you know it will be the pesky deer into the vegetables.
Henry – Mary, how much of this wool do I have to card?
Mary - Just a bit more, I think.
(William enters.)
Mary – Thomas, will you go to the well and get a bucket of water so we can wash the clothes?
Thomas - Why is it always me going to get the water? (Thomas gets pail sitting next to the door and leaves.)
Elizabeth – (yelling at him as he exits) Because that is a boys job!
(At the table, Mary and Elizabeth are making biscuits kneading the Play Doh)
Elizabeth – This time can I use the biscuit cutter? I am tired of rolling the dough out. You will have to put them in the oven because it is too hot for me.
Mary - Yes, you can cut out the biscuits. I’ll roll it out for you. (Mary begins to roll out the dough.)
Elizabeth - (Cuts out biscuits and puts them in the dutch oven.)
William - I am so hungry. I can’t wait to eat those biscuits. Eliza, how is that butter coming along? I sure would like fresh butter and buttermilk with breakfast.
Eliza – It’s done. When Ma comes in she’ll fix it right up. (Eliza stops churning.)
I need a break. My arms are tired.
Mary - William will you please run out to the smoke house and cut off a slab of bacon for breakfast? Be careful with that knife. (William exits)
Mary - Elizabeth why don’t you go out to the hen house and get some eggs please. Don’t upset those hens and walk carefully with the eggs. (Elizabeth exits with the egg basket in hand.)
(Thomas enters with the bucket of water and pours it into the washtub.)
Mary – Eli, will you wash Daddy’s good shirt while I finish the biscuits?
Eli- (Starts washing shirt on the washboard.)
Eli – (With a smirk) This is woman’s work!
Mary - What needs done, needs done. We all have to help and finish up. Papa said we could go down to the pond and swim today if we finished our chores. So, get scrubbing…. Thank you!
(Elizabeth returns with basket of eggs, William enters right behind her with slab of bacon)
Elizabeth - I only found six eggs this morning. That mean old white chicken tried to peck me again. I say we have her for dinner some night!
Thomas - But, she’s our best layer. So, leave her be. You just have to be sneaky.
William - Do you think this is enough bacon? I left enough for one more meal. We need to tell Pa we are almost out. He will have to smoke some more pork soon. (William slices up bacon) Do you want me to put it in the frying pan yet?
Mary - Yes, we need to get it fried up then I’ll put the biscuits on and we can start on the rest of the meal.
Elizabeth - Eli, how are you doing with that dirty shirt? Make sure you scrub hard to get those stains out.
Eli - I am, I am. Leave me be! I heard you the fist time. (heavy Sigh)
(Mary puts the bacon into the frying pan, she begins to cook over the stove.)
Henry – Mary, look how much I’ve done now. This should be plenty for Ma to make a new hat for Thomas. Don’t you think? ( Holds up finished carded wool.)
Mary - Yes, that’s enough for sure.
Mary - William, the fire is getting really low and the biscuits and the bacon will not get done. Will you please run out and get some more wood?
William- I hope I get an extra slice of bacon for all this work I am doing this morning. (William exits the stage.)
Eli - (Eli rings out shirt and hangs the shirt on the clothes line with clothes pins.)
I’m done. When do I get to eat?
Mary- Now you can iron the dry shirt Eli. Make sure you use the potholder and don’t scorch that sleeve like you did last time.
(Eli takes iron off stove and begins to iron shirt on the table.)
Thomas - Is breakfast about ready?
(William walks in and lays the wood next to the stove.)
(Eli puts the iron down, folds the shirt and puts it away.)
Mary – You kids run out and tell Ma, Pa and Uncle Jake it’s time to come in for breakfast. Hurry up now, breakfast is almost ready.
(All kids rush out and Mary continues to cook.)
Thomas – ( running back into house out of breath) The pigs are back in the garden!
Mary - Get the stick and run them off.
( As Thomas leaves he grabs the stick near the door.)
Thomas- (yelling) Shoo pigs!!
Mary- (talking to herself) Managing all these household chores is sure a lot of work. And to think, I will have to do this for the rest of my born days!
(Kids return chatting about the pigs.)
Mary – Did you kids wash up?
All kids together – Yes, Mary. We stopped at the well.
(Ma, Pa and Uncle Jake enter from working outside.)
Ma- Something sure smells good. You all are amazing. Look at that clean shirt over there hanging up to dry.
Eli- I did that Ma!
Mary - We all have been working together this morning to get the chores done. Can we go to the swimming hole after we clean up from breakfast?
Pa- You have all worked very hard doing your chores and Ma’s work. I really needed her help splitting the rails for the fence.
William- It is about time we get a fence for that garden. I am sick of chasing those darn pigs out.
Uncle Jake - Robert you sure have a fine family. I feel mighty lucky to be living here with you.
Pa – Thank you Jake. (Turns to kids. ) You kids make sure you come back in time for afternoon chores.
All kids (Cheering) - Yah hooo!
Kids quickly exit heading to the swimming hole.