Earth Group - Ox-Cart

Transdisciplinary Theme: Where we are in place and time

Central Idea: There are similarities and differences between the way people lived long ago and the way people live today.

The children in the Earth Group started our group time with the story "Ox-Cart Man" by Donald Hall. In the story, a 19th century farmer loads up his cart with the produce from his farm, and home-made items from his family, and takes them to the city where he can sale everything. Then, he returns back to his farm to start growing and making everything again.

"What are some similarities and differences between you and the people in the story?" I asked the children.
Mila - "We have cars. We don't have to walk far away." (In the story, the man walked ten days!)
Paxton - "We buy those things(candles, mittens or brooms) in the stores! I don't make them at home."

Then, we used play dough and toys in our school to make their own ox-cart.

"This is my ox-cart!"

During group time, the children were showing their interests in transportation and how people travel now and in the olden days. Here is a link that we watched together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G_K12Lu0lQ