Pioneer Program

For several years the North Mankato Taylor Library has “adopted” a 4th grade class from a local elementary school. We plan monthly programs for them at the library with the help of their teacher. The library pays for school bus transportation for the class during months when the weather is too nasty for walking. November’s program featured Jessica Potter, from the Blue Earth County Historical Society, who presented an hour-long educational pioneer program to the class. She taught the students about the struggles of pioneer life in Minnesota and created a “covered wagon” with masking tape on the floor. The students were all given an item to be moved across the country. As a class, the students had to agree upon which items to take aboard the covered wagon and which items to leave behind. Jessica did an outstanding job with the program. Library staff had seen it before, but learn something new every time. At the end of the program, the students left the library to find a covered wagon waiting to take them back to school. The driver, Gerry Buse, regaled the students with stories of covered wagons and led a sing along on the way.