Beech Tree News Network

The kids of Butler County need your help in learning about the history of Kentucky.  The 3rd Annual Kentucky FolkLife Festival will be coming up in September.  This year there will be 2 festivals in Butler County.  Morgantown Elementary School is having one on Friday, September 12th and North Butler Elementary School is having one on Friday, September 19th.  This event’s main sponsor is the Green River Chapter, National Society, of the Daughters of American Revolution. 

At last year’s Kentucky FolkLife Festival, kids had a great time enjoying Kentucky history first hand through a living historical presentation style.  Students were able to rotate around to each station with their class to listen, learn, and ask questions.  Exhibitors at each station would talk with students.  Many people were dressed in time period costume.  Some people were dressed in today’s clothing.  Often students were able to pick up and touch items.  Some students were invited to participate in a dance around the May pole.  Students heard wonderful live Bluegrass music.  They were able to sit down and experience a tea party.  There was a petting zoo with animals that might been in pioneer times.  They saw some horses with a wagon.  Students helped to tack and tie a quilt.  Students saw, did, and learned so much more!

So, how can you help Butler County’s kids, you might ask?  Well, we are in need of people to come on festival day to share information with the students.  We can’t pay you for your time.  But, we will provide you with cold water to drink throughout the day and a free lunch to fill up your belly. 

What would you possibility have to share with students, you might ask. 
Here are some ideas that we have:
Basket weaving    Tatting    Candle Making
Butter Making    Soap Making    Making Rugs
Furniture    Farm Animals    Horse & Buggy/Wagon
Historical Clothing    Quilting    Laundry on Washboard
Cooking over a fire    Tacking Quilts    Whittling
Weaving    Making Quilt Tops    Pottery
Knitting    Crocheting    Gardening for the home
Sewing Clothing    How Transportation has changed - examples
Bluegrass Music    Examples of Instruments    Hat/Bonnet making
Home construction    Tractors from long ago    Crops
How homes were lit    Shoe repair &/or shoe making    Bee Keeping & Honey
Preserving Foods (canning, dehydrating, smoking, etc.)
Photography    Hairstyles of men & women    Dishes in the home
Games that kids played    School in pioneer times    Jewelry making long ago
Story Telling    Glass blowing    Chickens & eggs
Holiday celebrations    Sheering Sheep    Spinning Wool
Cookware of the time    Making jams & jellies    General Store
You may have some ideas we haven’t thought of.  If so, please let us know!

If you can come and share with students and help them learn on one or both of these days, please contact us so we know you will be coming.  Those days again are:  Morgantown Elementary School is having one on Friday, September 12th and  North Butler Elementary School is having one on Friday, September 19th.  Students rotate with their classes throughout the day from 8:00 to 2:30.  You can set up your station either that morning, before the kids begin coming, or in the evening on the night before, after school is let out. 

To help create a realistic setting for this learning experience, this activity will be held outside.  Feel free to bring a shade tent if you wish.  We have a few shade tents available.  In case of rain, this event will be held inside the school building.  We hope to see you there!

Please contact us if you will be able to attend one or both of these dates, or if you have any questions.
Diana Flener  (cell) 270-792-2126   (email)  [email protected]
Christine Coleman (cell) 270-999-1683  (email)  [email protected]