Exploring South Dakota history: Family fun night takes families back in time

By: 
Esther Noe
Elementary school families were invited to step back in time for the Parent Involvement Parent Teacher Organization (PIPTO) Explore South Dakota History Family Fun Night Feb. 10. 
In the past PIPTO has held science, literacy and math Family Fun Nights, but this was the first history event it has done. Between parents, students and siblings, 152 people attended. 
In the commons area at the elementary school, children could pan for gold, write with a feather pen, touch animal hides from The Outdoor Campus, study South Dakota symbols and even excavate mini “fossils.”
The South Dakota food table was another popular attraction where attendees could sample the state drink, dessert and bread. All the food was prepared by Krull’s Market. 
“They made everything for us,” said PIPTO chairperson Rachelle Winter. “It was really nice of them.” 
Among these stations were high school students from the theater department who were dressed to depict different South Dakota historical figures like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Peter Norbeck. 
Children were also encouraged to dress up from a part of South Dakota history for the evening. Some of these costumes included pioneer girls, cowboys, mountain men and rangers. 
To increase the history learning opportunity, PIPTO also invited five experts to speak to attendees about different topics from South Dakota history. 
“It was really well received,” said Winter. 
The first stop was Mount Rushmore 101 with National Park Service Ranger Matthew Sweigart. Sweigart spoke to the families about the original vision for Mount Rushmore, explaining that it was started as a way to bring tourists to the Black Hills 
He also explained the carving process, saying “90 percent of Mount Rushmore was carved using dynamite. They were so good that they could get within two to six inches of the finished surface.” 
From here, he showed the attendees the different tools used to break down and smooth out the final layer. The children especially enjoyed stretching a measuring tape to see that an eye from Mount Rushmore is about 11 feet tall and a nose is about 20 feet tall.
The next stop was South Dakota Rock Hound with Donna VanNess. VanNess taught attendees about the difference between minerals and rocks. 
“A mineral is made up of one kind of substance. It is a compound that repeats itself over and over again,” said VanNess. “Rocks are more than one kind of mineral.”
From here, VanNess explained the differences between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, specifically the ones found in the Black Hills. She even had physical examples that children were allowed to view up close and touch. 
Every family left with a small rose quartz, which is South Dakota’s state mineral. 
In the South Dakota Rails and Trains room Rick Mills, with the help of the 1880 Train mascot Chug, told the attendees about the 1880 Train. 
“We’re very lucky here in Hill City that we have a train right here,” said Mills. “It’s fun to watch, and in the summer you hear it all the time.”
To demonstrate the different roles it takes to run a train, Mills had volunteers try on hats worn by conductors, engineers, brakemen and firemen. After all the hats were handed out, Mills explained what each volunteer would be responsible for if they worked on the 1880 Train. 
Over in the Old Time Crafting room teachers and teenagers volunteered to help children make dream catchers and corn husk dolls to take home. 
Finally, Emily Hiatt, a naturalist from Custer State Park spoke on “What’s the Use of a Buffalo?” 
With a large display of buffalo bones and objects made from buffalo hide, Hiatt explained to the children that years ago the Native Americans did not have a Krull’s Market or dollar store. Instead, they had to make everything they used out of the things around them like buffalo. 
Hiatt showed the families the different uses for buffalo hides like making rawhide, leather, clothes, shoes, teepees, traveling cases and bags. They could also use the wool to keep warm or make ropes. 
She explained that buffalo bones could be used to scrape hides, straighten arrows, make sleds, be used as toys and be used as paddles or shovels. Each family got to pick out an arrowhead before leaving. 
“It all went really well,” said Winter. “We had lots of volunteers which really made it possible.” 
Winter also said, “I think everyone learned a lot and enjoyed time together as well.” 
In the future, PIPTO would like to organize another history-themed event and explore even more parts of South Dakota history. 

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