Field Trip 2

I went on a field trip with Ammon one day during the last week of school in May. The Salmon 4th graders take an annual trip to see the Big Hole National Battlefield near Wisdom, Montana. Several weeks before going, they learned all about the battle that took place there in the summer of 1877. The students knew about the 90 Nez Perce whose lives were taken and the 31 U.S. Soldiers and American volunteers who were killed at that sight, and why the battle took place. I didn't really know about it until after we arrived, and I just couldn't stop thinking the whole time we were there about what a waste for all those lives to be lost because of such a stupid thing--the U.S. Government wanted the Nez Perce Indians to live on the reservation and the Indians didn't want to be told what to do and fled. War really never makes sense, though, does it? I felt so grateful to be able to live freely. What a sad, sad place...but we also had a fun time, too!

The bus ride to get there took over an hour, and many of the students played with their i-pods and hand-held nintendos and such! Since I have neither, I apparently came unprepared! Thankfully, the lady I sat next to had an i-pod, and we played "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader" the whole way!!!
Upon arrival, we were split into two groups. Our group consisted of just Ammon's class. Each group rotated between 6 stations around the park. Three of the stations were all about Nez Perce Indians, and three of the stations were about the U.S. Soldiers. We walked a lot that day in between the stations, so we definitely got our exercise!

We started off with the Indian stations first, on the lower end of the park. We saw where the Indians were camped before the fight broke out in the early morning hours. The tepees were never removed, and many still stand today.
At that same station, a Nez Perce man told us how they make clothing and showed several examples of animal hydes and how they are processed, tanned, and beaded. It was extremely interesting.
At the next station, a Nez Perce couple talked to us about Indian celebrations and dances and costumes. He showed us an impressive headress and they played and sang us a song.
At the next stop, the students learned a fun game involving sticks and logs that the Indians used to play. The game could go for hours and hours, and oftentimes items were won and traded through the game.
The next 3 stations were about the U.S. Soldiers on the mountainside. We hiked up and looked over the valley. We sat in the same area where some of the U.S. soldiers had sat, staking out the Indian camp below.

A Park Ranger told us a brief summary of the battle that took place on the early August morning of 1877. It made my heart sad to hear it.

At our next stop, another Park Ranger showed us where some of the Soldiers were at during the battle.

We looked at the memorial that was erected for the U.S. Soldiers and volunteers who lost their lives there.
Our last activity for the day was to lay down and learn how the soldiers dug out pits for themselves in the ground with their rifles to help hide themselves. There were several spots where you could still see where Soldiers in 1877 had done that.
We ended the day with a late sack lunch before loading the bus to head back to school. It was such an interesting field trip, and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to go with Ammon's class!