Exploring Minnesota: Chisholm

For our first field trip of the year, we headed up to the Iron Range. We went on that day with a specific purpose in mind, so we weren't altogether disappointed when we found a museum closing not only for the day, but for the year. We'll definitely check that out another time.

I guess we were still in Monkees mode when we got there.
Our target destination was Iron World -- we wanted to hear Charlie Maguire! When I learned of the concert he would be performing with area elementary students, I didn't realize the extent of the interconnectedness of things. His performance was part of a traveling Smithsonian exhibition, Key Ingredients: America by Food. Once again, we saw the shift away from the agrarian lifestyle and people's ability/desire to produce their own food. That shift and its consequences have been the focus of much of my own study over the past several months.
Grace quickly found the applesauce, made using the same tools we use here at home.
After learning from the exhibit, we settled in to enjoy great stories and songs by Charlie Maguire. He was accompanied by several 4th graders playing the spoons and jaw harp. We were pleased to hear many familiar favorites that night.