For one day each year, Shook Elementary turns into something straight out of the pioneer days.
And honestly, it sounds like the kids wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The school recently held its 36th annual Pioneer Day, a longtime tradition that mixes history lessons with a whole lot of fun. This year’s event also tied into the upcoming 250th birthday celebration of the United States.
Students started the morning with a breakfast that fit the theme. Teachers served homemade-style meals in classrooms, including “skeeter cakes,” pancakes with poppy seeds inspired by a story students had read in class.
After breakfast, the hallways turned into a parade route.
The Marshfield High School band helped recreate the city’s famous Fourth of July parade, believed to be the oldest west of the Mississippi River. Veterans carried flags while classrooms marched through the building like parade floats before students gathered for a large history performance.
Dr. Michael Dove, music educator at the school, said the program walks students through the history of the country, starting with Native Americans and continuing through westward expansion. Along the way, students sing songs, perform folk dances, play instruments, and each gets speaking parts connected to different moments in history.
But the afternoon may have been the favorite part for many students.
Fourth-grade teacher Allen Van Ness said the school tries to make the day feel as close to pioneer life as possible. Students played old-fashioned games, tossed dried cow patties for distance, competed in bubble gum contests, and ate picnic lunches outside while sitting on quilts and blankets.
There was even live entertainment with music from years gone by.
Van Ness said Pioneer Day originally focused mostly on Missouri history when it first started decades ago, but the event has grown and changed alongside the school curriculum over the years.
Even after 36 years, the tradition still seems to bring out plenty of smiles, laughter, and maybe a little friendly competition over who can throw a cow patty the farthest.
