Throughout the semester, the first-grade students at LaSalle Elementary School have been exploring the past, present and future.  They’ve used stories in books and of their own families and their personal autobiographies and timelines as learning models.  It wasn’t until late January, however, that they could actually visit the past with someone from the West Baton Rouge Parish Museum.

Linda Collins, who portrays Grandmother Marguerite for the museum, visited the classes and brought a few artifacts with her.  A pioneer of the 19th Century, Grandmother Marguerite told the children many stories about her life in the past -- the way they lived, how they plowed the land and how they grew their own food.  Every member of the community worked together so there would be food in the winter and crops to sell.

“The children were amazed to learn that she had to pump water from a well for cooking and cleaning.,” said LaSalle Elementary Principal Laura Williams.  “They could not imagine living without running water, lights and indoor plumbing.  When she described the out house, how every member of the family used the same bath water to bathe and told student the family members only bathed on Saturdays, all of the children grimaced.

While the grandmother talked, students like Autumn Guerin (pictured) took turns churning the butter to make fresh butter and buttermilk – a chore children might have been assigned at that time.  Afterwards, the children were sent to “Back into the Past” work stations, where they washed clothes on a washboard, dressed up in period clothing, stirred a pot in the fireplace pretending to make a roux, cleaned out the barn, brushed the horse and ground coffee beans using a hand-operated grinder.  They also got to play with toys of the past, such as wooden spinning tops and shredded fabric woven and tied to form a ball, dolls made out of corn husks and more.