I am long overdue for a post, for that I extend my apologies.  Certainly this post would be about nothing other than, Coloma!  What a trip! Literally and figuratively.  After arriving to the site, we unpacked and were debriefed about the expectations of the next two days.  The students were given a 'gold pouch' on which they wrote their Coloma name (Quick-Find Christensen, reporting!).  After the debrief the students met in learning groups and did various stations that, for lack of a better description, re-enacted the life and times of people in the Gold Rush period.  They had to work together to build a shelter, purchase items from the general store, make cornbread on a dutch oven, wash clothing by the river, keep copious notes in their logs, and of course, PAN for GOLD!

The night concluded with a hoe-down and bon-fire.  We sang songs, watched skits (involving one nameless 4th grade teacher ::eh hem::) and had just a general good time!

The next day we packed up and headed out to the State Park.  We looked at the original sites (mills, homes, general stores) and had a quick lunch before heading back.

After the long drive... and the long stay... I was pleased to be met with Thanksgiving (break).

Ask your child to tell you the chant they learned... "Gold-panning, gold-panning, drinking coffee-coffee-coffee-coffee, Gold-panning. Eureaka! Eureaka! Uh huh, uh huh".