Students in Mrs. Zellers third and fourth grade gifted and talented class traded in their jeans and t-shirts for aprons and suspenders today.

WARSAW — Students in Jane Zellers’ third and fourth grade gifted and talented program traded in their jeans and t-shirts for bonnets, aprons and suspenders today. A total of 17 students traveled back in time to not only share their research of the pioneer time period, but to immerse themselves in the settler way of life.

Though a considerably less distant trip into the past than the bi-annual medieval project students in the class take, Zellers’ students still got to step into a “time-machine” to both learn and share information on the Oregon trail, Santa Fe Trail and more. The day began with students sharing with their parents things they had learned during their lessons on pioneers, which began just after Halloween. The children performed skits for parents detailing topics from the Eerie Canal to the Louisiana Purchase.

Students were invited to learn how to wash clothes using a washing board.

Following the student written skits, a pioneer feast was held. Guests were treated to foods our early settlers would enjoy, such as venison stew, cornbread, ham, vegetables and more. Following a short break back to the present day for recess, the little pioneers began breakout learning sessions, where they could learn about the settler way of life in a hands on approach.

Students were invited to quilt/sew, churn actual butter that would be eaten on bread for a snack in the class later, wash laundry with a washing board, make cornmeal, create scented sashes to fight pioneer body odor and even make cornhusk dolls. In addition, the children were able to play “pioneer games” learning how to play with tops, shoot marbles, pick-up-sticks and avoid letting a falling feather touch the ground.

“I like all of the activities,” exclaimed Carter Shepherd as he excitedly spun the cornmeal wheel. “This was hard for the kids who were pioneers but I can do this easy! And with one hand!”

Though student Aubrie Robbins noted she was not a huge fan of her pioneer dress, she commended our forefathers for their industrious spirits.

Students weren’t the only ones getting to walk in the footprints of pioneers, many parent volunteers also dressed in colonial garb to join students at the stations. Luke Wielgot, three time pioneer parent, and Andy Manes, a first time pioneer parent, both helped students at the cornmeal station with Wielgot fully clad in period clothing.

“I’m very impressed with this,” stated Manes as he helped students move cornmeal from the grinder into small bags they could take home. “I’m definitely going to dress up next time though.”

Parent volunteers shoot marbles with students during a pioneer games break.