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Each year Amish Country News and
several area attractions sponsor a field trip for a Lancaster elementary
school. Kathy Stevens’s 5th grade class at Carter & MacRae
Elementary School enjoyed a day of learning about the Amish and
experiencing a bit of what Lancaster has to offer.
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| The students began
their day at the Amish Experience Theater watching "Jacob’s
Choice," a fascinating special effects production. They learned that
today’s Amish young people face the difficult choice of whether or not
to follow the lifestyle in which they were raised. The theater prompted
questions from the students which they were able to ask during their
guided tour of the Amish Country Homestead. In this "designated
heritage site," the children saw toys, clothing, furniture, and
appliances that the Amish use today. |
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Outside
the Amish Country Homestead. |
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Next, Mrs. Stevens and her class boarded
the bus and headed to the Strasburg Rail Road for a nine mile road on the
"Road to Paradise." Riding in the restored wooden coaches, the
students felt first hand what travel was like aboard a turn-of-the-century
steam train. The following are the students’ reflections on their
"Amish Country Field Trip." We hope that you and your family
will find traveling throughout Lancaster County as fascinating as these
students found their day to be!
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Amish
Experience F/X Theater
It was like not other. There were sound
effects and special lighting—you never know when the bell will ring! We
watched a multimedia production. It had a cannon in there and four wooden
walls for screens. There were great sound effects and 3D ghosts. The movie
moves around on 5 different screens. It was about a teenage boy that made
his own choice. In the theater you feel like you are in the movie.
My favorite part is the real cool sound effects. It was so cool. I want to
go again! They have a big bell and that is all I am telling you—you have
to see it yourself! |
| Students
are surprised to see the work (and time) required to make a quilt. |
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Amish
Country Homestead
We went to this place called the Amish
Country Homestead and this nice man showed us around the Amish house. It
was one of those big houses. We learned that the Amish do not use
electricity. We learned about their way of life. We learned about how the
Amish people live and how they dress. The first room we went to was the
boys’ room. The boys’ room was cool! They had marble games that were
amazing! The Amish are real people, they just have different ways of
dressing and doing things.
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| While
exploring the Amish Country Homestead, the kids learned about the clothing
that the Amish where (and why) and modeled a few hats! |
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Strasburg
Rail Road
The train ride lasts 45 minutes. It was
relaxing. We saw lots of farms and people. The
seats were very comfortable on the train. It was my first time ever being
on a train, and I loved it! It was awesome. The train was real big, big,
big, big and long, long, long! We
stopped to listen to the ghost train (but I know that it was just an
echo!) On the way back we had to pick up the people who were picnicking at
Cherry Hill.I had a good time—I want to go back!
I think
you should come here because it’s fun! |
| A
special thank you to Kathy Stevens and her 5th grade students: Adam
Alvarez, Shannon Bowman, Talina Bugos, Diana Gonzalez, Manuel Gonzalez,
Shanay Hansley, Andre Hardy, Sophearktra Hon, Quinshema Hudson, Jean Juin,
Shari Lane, Yaima Lopez, Doriangely Pabon, Quetesha Payne, Antonette
Perez, Jesmarie Ramos, Amanda Taylor, Efrain Vera, Jorge Guzman, Isimar
Felix. |
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