Camp Floyd field trip

I read that Camp Floyd, which is a historical site about an hour away, was having a "Johnston's Army encampment" day during our unit. Johnston's Army is the army that came out to Utah during the "Utah War," and we members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have no warm feelings toward them, that's for sure! It was in 1857, a little before the Civil War, but the uniforms and weapons of the soldiers were similar to Civil War times. And Camp Floyd is the place they were stationed. So I decided we'd go out there for a field trip.

We'd seen Civil War reenactors before at Fort Douglas, which is right in Salt Lake City. But I'd never been to Camp Floyd. I was surprised how small the State Park is, and how little there is to do. Ha! I would never have gone there if there weren't this event being held, but even with the event I was glad we'd brought a picnic so it didn't feel like a total waste of a trip! And it got more fun after the re-enacting soldiers started showing us things like how to fire a musket and what was in their knapsacks. There were even some fun little old-fashioned games over in a nearby field. So we did have a good time.

Gus rolling hoops

Carrying water

Stick horses

Building a log cabin

There's a little museum inside this Inn, which was a stagecoach stop and a stop for the Pony Express. There are some interesting period artifacts and furniture inside.

This is a key from the telegraph machine that was here

The hugest lilac tree I've ever seen!

Our favorite part was when the soldiers showed us how to load and fire real muskets

This soldier also had an authentic army rucksack with the items a solider would have carried—comb, razor, tooth powder, sewing kit, etc.

Clementine had fun just running all around!

On the way home there was a cool storm that framed Mount Timpanogos perfectly!

Vortex Cannons and (Yarn) Yama Men

We talked about Civil War weapons and then made Vortex Cannons, which aren't really the same thing as Civil War Cannons at all, but they're fun, anyway! You just seal up all the air in a box, cut one hole in it, and bang it on the sides to get an air vortex to come out! It's pretty easy to knock over a whole stack of styrofoam cups with the blast of air. Here's a video where they put smoke in the air so you can actually see the vortex!

The Vortex Cannon--Student Science

This was an interesting video about the many steps for loading and firing a musket and cannon.

Musket Drills and Firing Cannons

This video shows a musket firing in slow motion. Really cool.

Slow motion musket firing

And here are our vortex cannons in action. Takes a minute to get them pointed the right way, but you can sure tell when you've got it right!

We did an activity where we made yarn dolls like the children in the 1800s might have played with. My grandma called these dolls "Yama Men," for some reason, so we do too! (There's even a little song my mom would sing while creeping the Yama man up to tickle your chin…"The Yama Yama, the Yama Man, He will catch you if he can! So run for your mama, 'cause here comes the Yama, the Ya-ma Man!") 

Basic instructions are here, but it's easy to fiddle with once you get the hang of it! The kids through Teddy had no trouble making their own.

I can't say it's a very neat activity, though! :)

Daisy made a whole Yama Family. So cute!! I loved the baby especially.

Junie made different colors, and Yama Mamas as well as Yama Men.

Goldie made lots of cute ones too, but somehow all I have a picture of is this cute little puff of a baby.

Kind siblings made some Yama Men for Ziggy (or did I make these? can't remember now.)

Teddy made a really cute Yama Bunny, after which Gus demanded a "Yama Caw" for himself.

So with great ingenuity, I made one. My masterpiece!

Gus loved him! He slept with him for quite a while. Of course, these guys inevitably fall apart after a few weeks, and then you're finding yarn all over the floor and throwing them out in frustration, but never mind that—they are fun till that time comes! :)

WWII D-Day resources

Image from wikipedia

Innovations used on D-Day

Why was it called "D-Day"?

Scenes from D-Day, then and now

More "before and after" D-Day pictures

"Funny" tanks (used on D-Day, and beyond)

The video about the "crocodile" flamethrower tank at that last link is broken, but here's a better one anyway. This tank is terrifying! I can't imagine seeing one of these coming at me.

Military Aircraft

Before this unit, the boys had been mostly into Commercial Aircraft, but Sam had always loved military aircraft when he was young (and still) :), and once we read about them, we loved them too! The capabilities of the fighter jets, the bombers, and the stealth planes are just amazing—and of course, we only know about the stuff that has been declassified! I find it fascinating to see of all the technological innovations that have happened in just the last half-century.

This document was very useful for learning WHY military planes are called what they're called. Knowing that "F" is for "fighter" and "B" is for "bomber" and "X" is for "experimental" aircraft goes a long way to helping you remember which planes are which!

You can find lots of documentaries on YouTube telling about the various military aircraft (we aren't the only ones who find them fascinating, obviously!). We chose some of our favorite aircraft to watch videos about, but there were many more we didn't have time for. We especially liked
This one, about the SR-71 Blackbird,
This one, about the F-14 fighter jet
This one, about the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
This one, about the huge C-5 Galaxy. (We got to go inside one of these at the Point Mugu Air Show!)

This DVD from the library was fascinating, as well. I love aircraft carriers! Just the thought of landing a jet on one of those tiny moving targets in the middle of a heaving ocean fills me with dread, but I'm glad there are pilots who thrive on it! It's cool to see how the catapults work, and the arresting hooks that help them stop.

We also learned more about some of the weapons the military uses. Here's a site about laser-guided bombs that we found helpful.

Toilet-paper tube cannons

Another soldier activity! I told you my children loved military stuff. I wonder if this will be different in a few years, when I'm teaching the Revolutionary War to all my girls? Who knows---Daisy loves weapons too, for now!

Related: 

Air vortex cannons (this also has a good video link on how cannons are loaded)

Abe's Civil War Final Project about artillery

This was a simple craft we just made up as we went along. Toilet paper rolls with cardstock wheels attached. A long tail on one end to weight the cannon. (That part has a name. I've forgotten it. Trail! I think it's the trail, not the tail.) Cotton balls for cannon balls. A straw for launching the cannon balls, and which can double as a ramrod. We made a whole battery of cannons and then launched volley after volley at each other. Lots of fun!

Rolling musket cartridges

We learned how the soldiers made cartridges for their muskets---these were little pre-made packets of gunpowder and bullets that made loading the muskets go a lot faster. First you tear off a square of paper and wrap it into a cylinder shape around the end of your "musket" (ours was just a dowel).

You end up with a hollow cylinder, closed on one end

Pour in your "gunpowder"

Add a bullet on top

Twist the open end closed so nothing falls out

And you have a finished cartridge! Make a whole bunch of these and you will be ready for battle.