Teacher Emily Stephens said she organized the event to teach children how to compare the present to times past.

By Heather Osbourne | 315-4440 | @heatheronwfdn | hosbourne@nwfdailynews.com

DESTIN — From shucking corn to milking a cow, students at Destin Elementary School adopted the chores of pilgrim children Friday. 

“We’re doing chores like pilgrims!” said kindergartner Addison Lehrmann, who practiced drawing the number 8 on a slate Friday. “Pilgrim chores are a lot harder.”

Teacher Emily Stephens said she organized the event to teach children how to compare the present to times past.

“Children must dig potatoes, snap beans, milk a cow, churn butter, write on a slate and wash clothes with a washboard,” Stephens said. “All of these things are compared to things at their own house, like make their beds, washing dishes and taking out the trash.”

At the end of the day, students would compare chores and decide who had harder lifestyles, the pilgrims or children today.

“This is important because this is part of historical knowledge as well as the celebration of Thanksgiving coming up,” Stephens said. “Our children need to be grounded in where our country has been and how we have evolved into our society today.”