Simone's favorite subject this year is Virginia History, which is basically a study of early American history. They just finished their unit on the Civil War and took a very exciting field trip to Waterford, Virginia. They visited this one room school house which was built for the local African American population just two years after the Civil War ended. Today it is maintained as a National Historic Landmark and hosts schools across from across the county to teach them about the period by experiencing a typical school day as it was in 1880.
The whole class tries to reenact the day as closely as possible to historic traditions, and each child plays a role of one of the actual students at the school at that time. 
All of the children introduced themselves to the class in their assigned role and told the entire class about their family. Simone was assigned to represent Edith Cleggett, and 8 year old second grader -- the only child in her family that attended school.
They each got a turn practicing their penmanship with a quill pen. A huge hit with all the kids! And for what it's worth, learned that writing with a quill isn't so easy!
The kids even packed a period lunch with no modern conveniences such as tin foil, plastic wrap, or paper bags. Simone's lunch was a boiled potato, an apple, a roll, and an oatmeal cookie -- wrapped in a cotton towel.
At lunch time they also played games -- tug of war and hoops.
The whole class had a great time, and I dare say, learned a lot. I'm not sure any of them would trade their electronics and indoor plumbing to do this everyday, but it was a great experience for just one day!
Great fun to launch the last quarter of fourth grade!
