by Madison Moser and Carmina Chinappi
from Mrs. Carr’s Class
In December, fourth graders at Village Elementary in Hilton were treated to a presentation on the indigenous peoples of New York. The presentation was given by the Parma Hilton Historical Society. The presentation aligns with the fourth grade social studies curriculum that focuses on where native groups settled across the state.
The presenters set up an array of artifacts including clothing, weapons, and tools that allowed the students to get up close to history. The presentation also included many photographs that students could examine. When asked about their favorite artifacts, many students had a lot to say. “The weapons were my favorite because it was cool to see how they used them,” said Giorgio Ruggiero. “The animal skins were my favorite because we got to see what they used for warmth,” said Cole Yunger.
Students were excited to dig deeper into many of the concepts they learned about in class. For example, Lucas Rogers said, “It was cool to see how they used the bows and arrows to hunt for food.” McKenzie Utter stated that she learned how the Native Americans used cradleboards to keep their babies safe while they completed daily tasks and chores.
When asked about the most enjoyable parts of the presentation, the students had many different answers. Nina Colline, McKenzie Utter, and Jaxon Bolender all enjoyed the various animal furs and that they got to touch them. Student Temperance Johnson’s favorite part was being able to get to see the artifacts up close. “It was like we were in the past, living their lives all over again!”
We are so thankful for the Parma Hilton Historical Society’s visit! We hope the presentation continues to spark the students’ interest in the history of their local area and New York State!
Provided photos
Students were able to get up close to history by examining photographs and artifacts including clothing, weapons, and tools.
