4th-graders live history at Rendezvous

Idaho fourth-graders spend part of their school day learning about the people and events that shaped Idaho, from pioneers to miners to Indians.

That curriculum came to life last week at Ponderosa Elementary School in Post Falls for about 90 fourth-graders at the Rendezvous, an annual event that began more than a decade ago as an end-of-the-year celebration. Volunteers staffed about 10 stations that offered lessons in archery, horseback riding, timber cutting and more.

“Each of these stations should bring some sort of relevance to what we’ve learned,” said fourth-grade teacher Tim Rice.

Kids had differing opinions about which activity was their favorite.

“I think this might be the best because we’re going to eat,” said Jacob Eroyle as he walked toward his group’s next station, a lesson in cooking with cast-iron pots. Volunteers had traditional Dutch desserts for the children to sample.

For Zack Todhunter, nothing beat cutting logs with a crosscut saw.

“The cooking was my third favorite,” he added.

The archery station seemed to be popular, too. A volunteer helped the kids shoot arrows into the side of a plastic deer. The deer already was equipped with holes that fit the arrows.

Some students donned Indian suits and headdresses to commemorate the day. One boy took the cowboy route, smearing brown makeup on his face to make a beard and sporting a large-brimmed hat.

The celebration has grown over the years thanks to donations and community volunteerism, Rice said.

“All the station workers have been here before,” he said. “It runs itself at this point.”

Similar celebrations are occurring in other schools.

At Mullan Trail Elementary School, fifth-graders will be performing a play today – their last day of elementary school – about American history. The play will run from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m., when an hourlong awards assembly starts. That’s when fifth-graders with perfect attendance will get free bicycles from Parker Toyota.

“The last week of school tends to be difficult to settle in and learn new things,” Principal Mandy Surratt said. “We typically do our assemblies and special events that last week.”