Dear Diary…
Prose and Poetry
The Dubois Pioneer Home was built in 1889 in the picturesque Dubois Park. Now owned and operated by the Florida History Center and Museum, it showcases pioneer life the way it was over 100 years ago.
The home, furniture, tools, and utensils are all authentic and give a glimpse of how the pioneers made their way in the early days of Florida’s history. Even the photos are real and show the actual people who once lived here on their wedding day.
This activity will give you a chance to imagine life in the 1890s, before electricity, telephones, instant food, and running water. You’ll be able to put yourself in the shoes of a Floridian pioneer.
The home, furniture, tools, and utensils are all authentic and give a glimpse of how the pioneers made their way in the early days of Florida’s history. Even the photos are real and show the actual people who once lived here on their wedding day.
This activity will give you a chance to imagine life in the 1890s, before electricity, telephones, instant food, and running water. You’ll be able to put yourself in the shoes of a Floridian pioneer.
Instructions:
Spend some time looking around the home and taking note of all the old equipment and furniture on display. Think about what it was used for, who used it, and how the days were filled in pioneer times.You are to imagine that this is your home. The year is 1890, and this is a typical day in the life of a pioneer family. You are going to write a diary entry describing everything you would do in a single day as a child in the pioneering days of Florida. You might want to draw pictures of the clothing, tools, and furniture that you would use during the day.
Begin by writing “Dear Diary, today is (insert actual date) 1890.” Here are some things to include:
What time did you get out of bed?
What did you have for breakfast?
What are your chores?
How is the food prepared?
How is the house heated?
What are you wearing?
How do you wash yourself?
What games or toys do you play with?
What tools do you use and how?
How do you light the house?
Conclusion:
A visit to the Dubois House is a step back in time and a great way to learn about how the pioneers survived the early days in Florida. Writing a diary entry is a terrific way to describe the place and all the things you saw at the home. It is also a neat reminder of your day as a pioneering child. Hopefully, you have learned some interesting facts, including how butter is churned, what a crochet needle is, how to cook without electricity, and how difficult life was in the early days of Florida’s history. You might want to make your diary look a little more authentic. Soak a tea bag in hot water and then rub the teabag over your paper. This will make the paper look old. If you scrunch up the paper into a tight ball and then flatten it out again it will also help the paper to look older. Writing in black ink will also make it look a little more authentic.Supplies & Materials
-paper-back pen
-tea bag (optional)
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My Trip
est. visit time: 0.0 hrs
Best Audience
Age: Children (4-8yrs), Pre-teen (9-12yrs)Duration: 30-45 minutes
Cognitive Level: 1-3 Grade, 4-6 Grade
Activity Level: Low
Attention Span: Med
When to do it: During Your Trip, On Location