Washington County—The Laundress’ Taking a Break Bobbi Anderson
Bringing history to life…
The state’s historic sites are notable for commemorating and celebrating Nebraska history. Through reenactments of living history, the public is entertained as well as educated. Living history at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park brings to life the story of the early westward expansion of our country. The park hosts several living history weekends a year that feature volunteers recreating the lives of soldiers and civilians who lived and worked in and around this former western outpost. Fort Atkinson was established in 1820 on the recommendation of explorers Lewis and Clark. The fort was important to the early fur trade, Missouri River traffic, and Native American relations and was active until 1827. Much of the historic outpost has been reconstructed and interpretive work, such as these laundresses attending to their duties, is scheduled periodically during the summer. Applicable Nebraska Social Studies Standards (Grade 4): Economics Government (4.2.10.a. Identify goods and services funded through state government) Geography The World in Spatial Terms (4.3.1.a. Read local and state maps and atlases to locate physical and human features in Nebraska) Places and Regions (4.3.2.c. Identify and classify regions (e.g. counties and cities across Nebraska) Application of Geography to Issues and Events (4.3.6.b Identify questions that help explain the interrelationships of human or physical geographic characteristics of places (e.g., A community is located on a river floodplain with fertile soil and water for transportation, irrigation, and human consumption.) History Chronological Thinking (4.4.1.d Examine the chronology of historical events in Nebraska and their impact on the past, present, and future.) Historical Comprehension (4.4.2.a. Describe and explain the relationships among historical events, people, ideas and symbols including various culture and ethnic groups in Nebraska by era) and (4.4.2.b. Describe how Nebraska and the Great Plains Region have changed over the course of time using maps, documents and other artifacts) Multiple Perspectives (4.4.3.a. Distinguish how various sources relate their perspectives of Nebraska history) and (4.4.3.b. Compare and contrast primary and secondary sources to better understand multiple perspectives of the same event) Students will Analyze Pasts and Current Events, Issues and Problems (4.4.4.b. Explain alternative courses of action in Nebraska History), (4.4.4.c. Describe how decisions affected events in Nebraska), and (4.4.4.d. Describe the cause and effect relationships among key events in history) Historical Research Skills (4.4.5.a Develop questions about Nebraska history.)
A Few Quick Facts About Washington County:
• Washington County was founded in 1854 and organized in 1855 • It was named for George Washington, our country’s first President • Its area is 393 square miles • Blair is the County Seat; before being permanently established in Blair in
1869, the County Seat was located in Fort Calhoun and DeSoto • The area was explored as early as 1739 by Pierre Antoine and Paul Malleet
who were on a trapping expedition to Canada • Fort Atkinson was established in 1819 and served as a key Midwestern
outpost until its abandonment in 1827 Discussion Questions:
• What is the meaning of “living history”? • If you could go back in time and “relive” an occupation, what would you like
to do? (i.e.: blacksmith, soap maker, candle maker, etc.) • What is meant by a trapping expedition?
Additional Resources: Fort Atkinson http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb4.pdf History of Washington County http://www.co.washington.ne.us/history.html and http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/reports/washington_county.pdf National Register of Historic Places http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/washing.htm Settlers’ Homes http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb5.pdf Nebraska Childhood http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb11.pdf What’s for lunch? http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb12.pdf Pioneer Children: School http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0501_0108.html Keeping Warm http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0501_0108.html Pioneer Children: Games, Toys and Recreation http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0501_0108.html Pioneer Women https://www.boundless.com/u-‐s-‐history/textbooks/boundless-‐u-‐s-‐history-‐textbook/the-‐gilded-‐age-‐1870-‐1900-‐20/the-‐transformation-‐of-‐the-‐west-‐149/pioneer-‐women-‐794-‐2429/
Lesson Plans about Prairies http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-‐literature/jrees.html Books About Living on the Prairie for Elementary Students: If You Were a Pioneer on the Prairie by Anne Kamma
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