People from all over the upper Midwest looked forward to attending the Lake Madison Chautauqua. It was more than just a family vacation, it was also a time for meeting old friends, learning new things, listening to important people, enjoying famous entertainers and just having fun.
Tent
Life - The tent life of the Lake Madison Chautauqua
is especially delightful and give it a pre-eminence
as a place to spend a summer outings. The
sense of safety which is felt; the freedom from anxiety
and care that is enjoyed; the happy, healthy social element
that abound; the spirit of kindness, courtesy and respect
that prevails - all combine to make it the "Tenter's Paradise." |
Pretend you are attending the Chautauqua with you family. The year is 1900.......
You and your family will be renting a tent for the week, but will need to take supplies for sleeping, eating and relaxing. Help your family get ready by packing the essentials. Which of these items could you take with you in 1900?
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| Learn
more about it:
What invention are you curious about? Check out when it was invented by searching Google for "item+invented" or learn more about inventions @ The Invention Dimension Want to know more about camping? Go to Coleman for Kids |
What will you wear?
Alright, you're going to the lake for a week of camping and living in a tent. You are probably thinking shorts and t-shirts, right? Think again! In the early 1900s you would probably dress like this:
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That's right! Girls would have worn white dresses with lots of starched ruffles and long black stockings. And, would you believe boys would have worn knee britches (pants) and they also would have long stockings. Little boys would have worn dresses!
Check it out:
Little girls
Boy's
clothing styles
By the way, do you want to know
what your mother and father would have worn? Check these
out:
The
Costume Gallery
Shirtwaists
Turn
of the 20th Century
20th Century Costumes
Men's
Wear
Of course,
you will want to go swimming while you are at the Chautauqua. Don't
forget to pack your swimsuit. That's right - long black
stockings even when you're swimming!
Okay, let's get real! Plan what you would need
if you were going to the lake for a week and stay in a tent today. Go
to Land's End and pick out a pair of jeans,
a shirt and sweatshirt, and a swim suit. How much would it
cost?
How far is it until we get there?
Figure out how long it will take your family to get to the Chautauqua grounds from your hometown. You will be traveling by horse and wagon and bringing your milk cow. You will be able to travel about 3 miles per hour. Use Mapquest Click on Driving Directions to figure the route and distance. Start with your town and state - End with Chautauqua SD
The Chautauqua Grounds
The Chautauqua Grounds isn't just one building, it's a whole collection. There is the Grandview Hotel, the Auditorium, the swimming Pavilion and the depot. And, of course, there is the campground where your family will be setting up their tent. Get acquainted with your new 'home' away from 'home' by taking a walk around the Chautauqua Grounds.
Print and cut out the pictures of the different buildings at the Chautauqua grounds. Add to your display by making trees, people, tents, and other things you think you would see on the grounds.
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Variation
Musical Hoops Another way to play is to place hula-hoops on the ground, one less than there are children. When the music stops, the children must stand in a hoop. Remove one hoop, but not a child for each round. Continue until there is only one hoop and all of the children are in it. |
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Jail Break^ The children will choose
someone to be it. The person who is it counts one
o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock rock, four o'clock,
five o'clock, six o'clock rock, seven o'clock, eight
o'clock, nine o'clock rock, ten o'clock, eleven o'clock,
twelve o'clock rock, midnight! he then tries to
find the others who have hidden. When someone is
tagged, |
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Clever "Character" Game One of the company leave the room. A name containing as many letters as there are persons remaining is chosen, and to each one a letter of the name is assigned. Each is expected to choose a character whose name begins with that letter. The one outside is called in and told were the name begins and ends, all, of course, sitting in the order of the letters. He has either a certain time or so many questions allowed him to find out each letter and thus spell his way to the end. Case, Carleton B. Parlor Games and Parties for Young and Old, Shrewesbury Publishing Co. 1916
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Spelling Bee Two leaders are chosen and a 'teacher.' The leaders each chooses alternately one of the company at a time, to represent his side, until all have been chosen and stand in their places in two lines. The teacher, who is supplies with a book , then gives out a word to the person at the end of the line to her right. If the word is correctly spelled the next word is given out to the person at the end of the opposite sie at her left. If this person fails to spell this world correctly she must immediately leave the line, and the same word is put to number two on the opposite side. If the word is correctly spelled she is privileged to choose one person from the opposite line to step over to the foot of her own line. Another word is then given to the opposite opponent, and so on down the lines. It often happens that two equally proficient spellers are pitted against each other for some time, when the contest becomes very exciting. Linscott, Mrs. Herbert, Bright Ideas for Entertaining, George W. Jacobs & Co. 1905 |
Mind Your Manners
Children in 1900 were expected to know and use good manners. Youth's Educator for Home and Society was published in 1896 as a guide to good manners.
Check out the chapters for children. What do you think? Have times changed? Take a couple of online quizzes and check your manners.
Just For Fun
You might think that music
videos are quite modern, but, did you know they were popular even in
1900?
Try
making a music video of your own. Use PowerPoint. Choose
a song and select pictures to go with it. Use transitions
and custom animation to give it movement. Time your music
to play throughout the whole presentation. Be sure to document
your sources!
These were some of the predictions that people made in 1900 for the next century. How many of them came true? What do you predict for the next century?