Do you have the heart of a pioneer?
That's not a bad question to ask a fourth-grader — a fourth-grader who may not know much about pioneers except that they came across the Plains in covered wagons; a fourth-grader whose time has come to learn more about the history of his state; a fourth-grader who still has a lot of time to decide who and what he wants to be.
To help find the answer to that question, Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts has developed an assembly program of pioneer music, stories, games and more, called "The Heart of a Pioneer," that it has been presenting to fourth grades throughout the state.
The program is co-sponsored by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers; This Is The Place Heritage Park; A.R.T.S. Inc; Clog America; Beck Leather and Crafts; and Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks.
When a school signs up for the program, a team of docents from DUP and This Is The Place visit in period costume to tell about the pioneers, show artifacts and help students prepare to participate in the assembly.
The students learn pioneer games and dances, they learn to play with pioneer toys, they can participate in a writing contest for poems about the pioneers, and they learn how to write a song to some familiar music.
On the day of the assembly, which usually involves the entire school, the band Willingly, comprised of Clive Romney, Lindsay Griffin, Dave Compton and Gary Vorhees, presents a program of song and story; the fourth-graders demonstrate the games and dances they have learned, a half-dozen or so winning poets read their works (and the winners get a free pass to This Is The Place) — and everyone has a great time.
"We were thrilled to have the program," says Julie Miller, principal at Wasatch Elementary, which recently hosted the assembly. "The program is interactive, exciting and experimental. That's the best way to learn."
And, she adds, all the material is taken directly from fourth-grade curriculum.
In its first year, the Heart of a Pioneer program has been performed in more than 30 schools, reaching more than 17,000 students. (The charge for the program is $175, which helps defray the cost of materials and travel and includes a CD of the songs as well as a packet of materials. For more information, call 801-924-7534 or go to thisistheplace.org or dupinternational.org.)
At the assembly, Willingly sings about such things as Brigham Young's meeting with Jim Bridger; "Diggin' in the Dirt," using a hoe and shovel for musical instruments; irrigation; the small amounts a handcart pioneer could bring; interacting with native cultures; and where exactly Utah is on the map.
"It's the funnest thing I've ever done," says Vorhees. "But it also has a real impact on the students. It's genius, the way they are involved."
Compton sees his main job as "adding as much silliness as I can; the kids seem to like that. We try to keep it lighthearted. But we also hope they learn what they need to know to get an A on the test."
It's an enjoyable way to present Utah history, adds Griffin. "It's a lot of fun, and the kids get really excited. But we share important messages."
The kids not only learn about history, but also about what it took to be a pioneer. "You have the heart of a pioneer," Romney tells them, "if you have the courage to do something you've never done before, or if you are willing to find a way to do what is necessary even when you don't have the best resources. You do, if you care about your neighbors enough to help them even when you may not have enough, or if you are willing to put aside your own needs for the good of the community."
Romney, a driving force behind the program who wrote most of the songs and materials, hopes the students will learn a greater appreciation for these values — values the pioneers lived, but values the students can also incorporate into their lives.
He hopes the students will appreciate "the sacrifices the pioneers made to come here, and the ingenuity they employed when they got here. It was amazing what they did — such a different and creative approach to settlement. Within 10 years, they had a thriving civilization. In other places the natural order of things took much longer."
Whether we have pioneer ancestors or not, "we all can appreciate Utah heritage and the pioneers," says Shauna Hart, in charge of DUP outreach. "And we hope the students and their parents will come to places like the DUP museum and This Is The Place to learn more about the pioneers."
The assembly is "fabulous," says Marged Kirkpatrick, special projects coordinator for This Is The Place. It reinforces the notion that "Utah is a great place to live," she says. "But it also shows the students that if they have the courage to do hard things, nothing is impossible."
The program helps them learn in a different way and helps them play in a different way, says Romney. The children learn such games as Button Whizzers, Hoops and Graces, Climbing Bear, Hoops and Stick-Pull.
"Who knew you could have such fun with things that are found in any barn?" says Romney.
The kids also had a lot of fun with the Virginia Reel. "I loved it the first time I did it," says 10-year-old Vivien Hansen. "But I really loved the whole thing. It was really amazing."
"It was fun and educational," added Anna Howard. Anthony Hohlios also liked the way a shark (called Wyoming) came and took a bite out of the corner of Utah to give us our present shape.
The fourth-graders are a lot of fun to work with, says Romney. "I didn't spend nearly long enough in fourth grade," he jokes. It's a good age, he says, to think about these things, to get an understanding of what the first settlers of the state endured, and an appreciation of their abilities, and to think about their own lives.
"The dedication and ingenuity of the pioneers are what we need today to solve problems. Instead of looking for the next new thing, maybe we should look back. Looking back gives life context. We live out of context if we don't look back."
Do you have the heart of a pioneer?
It's not a bad question for us all.
E-mail: carma@desnews.com