Today we embarked on an adventure to round out the week. During the trip, we learned what it would have been like to live as a Native American long ago. On the property of Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR), there are many types of trees that are useful now and were useful long ago. We learned that some trees were used to make tools, boats and even used for medicinal purposes. Vines that cover the trees were used to tie and bind for instrument use. Native Americans could not visit a local grocery store to get food. They had to hunt and gather their food from the forests in which they lived and use the surrounding resources to help them to do so. Baskets were woven and spears were fashioned to catch fish, and shells were even used as spoons and bowls. Speaking of bowls, we got to mold some clay to make our own “pinch pots” just as Native Americans would have done to fashion vessels to hold food, water or items. It was quite an experience to do some of the things that Native Americans would have done!

Here are some pictures of us making our own “pinch pots.”

We also talked about how Native Americans from long ago lived very differently than we do today. Here we are giving some examples of things that we have now that would not have been around many years ago.

We took a hike through the forest which led us to the river where many wild life live. We talked about all the different types of animals that use the river as a food source as well as a home. We even learned that a beaver family lives right by the shore of FOR and even used some of the trees from their property to build a den. We even found this cool tree that looks like it has been made into a jack-o-lantern!

We enjoyed a picnic lunch under a covered picnic table area and had just enough time for a quick picture before the rain began. It was a great day!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Fischer and Mrs. Wilcox 🙂