Field trips and fruit loops

Earlier this month, my children and I met our field trip group at Stagville Plantation, in Durham, North Carolina.  The home was originally built in the late 1700s and by 1860, the family owned about 30,000 acres and 900 slaves.  This plantation was the largest in North Carolina.  I just love visiting historic homes and enjoyed our visit.  My kids - not as much as me.  But the boys really liked the hands on activities they got to do in the visitor's center before we took our tour.

I've been to quite a number of plantation homes in the south, and was surprised at how plain Stagville was.  However, we learned that the owners owned other homes.  Maybe those were fancier.

the Stagville Plantation home

back of home

 During our visit, we learned that the character Addy, from the American Girls book series, was based on Mary Walker, a slave who escaped from Stagville's owners in 1848.  (There is actually going to be a "birthday party for Addy" on April 9, at the plantation. Info is here.  If you live local, and have daughters that are big Addy fans - they can learn more about the real slave that Addy is based on.) 

Unfortunately we didn't get to explore the out buildings behind the house.  We next went to see an enormous barn on the property. 

Little fans - don't leave home without them!

The barn was so big!

Inside views:

Tabby - I liked the way the light came in around her

Finally we visited the slave quarters.  In order to try and combat sickness that the slaves suffered from - think hot, muggy summers with mosquitoes spreading illnesses - the owner had some really sturdy houses built for slaves.  Each house had room for several slave families.

Slave house

Hunter was frustrated because he kept trying to ask questions about the electricity or other modern things that had been installed in the home and one of the slave houses.  But the tour guides didn't understand and kept blowing it off with "Yes that was added later.  The original home did not have it."  Um, yes he knew that much ....

Recently Solomon went through a fruit loop crafting phase.  I bought a box of the Walmart brand of "fruit loops."  (Best $2.50 I've spent in a long time!) There were so many different things to make with them, thanks to Pinterest inspirations.  The first day I gave some to Solomon, he ended up eating a bunch after making a picture.  We don't eat "sugar cereal" in our home so I guess his body wasn't used to it!  After a while, the boy was totally hyper and loudly singing songs and being extra silly for a long time.

Here are some of fruit loop pictures he made (with some help here and there) over about 2 weeks.  This was a great activity for him to work on quietly while I was doing schoolwork with Hunter.

I cut out the plants and fish and drew the fish bowl.  Solomon glued everything down.  Hunter added the filter/pump.

 

 

a sugary snack break

fruit loops onto a pipecleaner to make a candy cane

Solomon enjoyed the fruit loops activities so much that Hunter decided he simply had to try it once.  He made a Hunter kind of picture (I don't remember what kind of machines they are):

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24