History History Works 2007

Fourth graders from area schools attended “History Works” at the Harlin Museum on October 23, 24, and 25, 2007.  The 360 students represented the following schools; Fairview, Glenwood, Howell Valley, Junction Hill, Richards, South Fork, and West Plains Elementary.  Previous to attending the half day events, students viewed information about Lennis Broadfoot and his sketches of work life in the Ozarks in the late 1930’s at www.watersheds.org.  Each student attended four sessions while at the museum.  During the tools session, Jim Decker showed students many of the tools used during this time period including a draw knife, cross cut saw, a hand corn sheller, a corn planter, and a rabbit trap.  Students enjoyed getting to touch the tools and feel how it really felt to use them.  Students were introduced to three of Broadfoot characters, who told them about what life was like in the early 1900’s.  Lennis Broadfoot, portrayed by Jem Duffin, Aunt Nancy Rasor, portrayed by Marideth Sisco, and Jess Thompson, portrayed by Al Vance, brought the Broadfoot drawings to life with their accounts of everyday life in the Ozarks.  Rick Scarlet brought his “three legged mule,” a tool for holding wood while a craftsman shapes it with a draw knife or spoke shaver. Each fourth grader experienced using a spoke shaver under the watchful eye of Scarlet, who also demonstrated how a shingle was made.  For most students, drawing with charcoal just like Lennis Broadfoot, was a first time experience.  After a lesson on how to use charcoal, presented by local artist Pat Hight, students tried to capture Broadfoot’s style by sketching an animal or person.  Artist, Will Roach, helped the young artists complete a finished charcoal drawing.  

Grade Level Expectations for this project
See Historyworks Fall 2006