Plimoth Plantation Field Trip

"How Now!" or "Good Morrow!"  These were just some of the greetings we heard today as we stepped back in time to the year 1627.   

Leaving Boyden during the pouring rain didn't damper our spirits as we eagerly awaited the sights, sounds and smells of Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Mass.  Students glimpsed what life would be like for the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people of the 17th century.  

In preparation for our trip, Kathy Devlin (Maggie's aunt) who portrays Susannah White Winslow in the Village, spoke with the fourth grade last week via Skype.  She gave suggestions on how to make the trip more meaningful.  Asking lots of questions, offer to help someone with a chore and speak to many people about the same subject, she felt would provide a wonderful learning experience.  With these tips we were ready for an exciting visit.

Making our way through the pathways to the Pilgrim Village and the Wampanoag Village really gave one the feeling of stepping back in time.  The rustic paths led our group to Pilgrims and Native people who were dressed in authentic clothing.  The pungent smell of wood smoke from the cooking fires filled the air.  Buildings and fences looked like those only seen in books. The damp weather contributed to the feeling of authenticity.  


Hopefully, students will have a greater appreciation for the finer comforts that we so take for granted.  After seeing small one room homes (which often housed six to ten people), beds on roped frames, thatched roofs, glassless windows and dirt floors, students learned that life in the late 1600's was rather harsh.  

We spent just over 2 hours touring the villages, but it felt like it was the blink of an eye.  It was a wonderful day filled with learning and wonder.  Ask your child to tell you about their favorite part of our trip.