My dd's fourth grade class is going on a field trip to the little red schoolhouse next thursday. They are supposed to dress in the clothng from that period : 1900s-1930s

I have no idea where to get anything like that. I found one adorable outfit on ebay but i'm afraid it won't get here on time if I did win it.
I'm thinking of having my mom make a floral skirt with elastic waistband, that sounds like it would not be too hard (i have no idea, i don't know how to sew like she does ) and have her wear a white shirt with it.

Another thing, they are supposed to pack a sack lunch. Something the children from that period would bring to school to eat. I can't for the life of me find any info on that on the internet!

I remember doing this field trip when I was 9 years old. It was fun. THey get to make applesauce, spin wool, sew witha hand crank machine, and use a printing machine and then the second half of the day they spend in the one room school house drawing on slates, learning western reserve history, reading lessons and a spelling bee.

They get prizes for the most authentic costume (i won when i went!!... I think I won a pencil) and most typical lunch

By Happynerdmom on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 09:01 am:

A pencil is not worth going to too much trouble for a costume, LOL. Yeah, I would just do a long skirt and a long-sleeved white shirt. Not sure about lunches...maybe just an apple, a hunk of bread, a piece of meat?! I have no idea!

It sounds like she'll have tons of fun!

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 09:30 am:

The children in the 1900s to 1930s packed sandwiches, apples, and if they were lucky, a couple of cookies - no big difference but no TastyCakes or convenience food. My mother used to speak of cold meatloaf sandwiches (yuck) but I know she also had baloney sandwiches and liverwurst sandwiches in her lunch box.

Little girls in that period wore knee-length to mid-calf length skirts and white long-sleeve blouses - not long skirts. In the late 1800s very early 1900s you didn't put your skirts "down" until you put your hair "up", around age 15-16, and that was only in the early 1900s - once you get into the 1920s short skirts were in for every age.

I'm not sure a floral skirt is appropriate - it was much more time and labor intensive to do laundry then, and most little girls wore dark skirts or dark dresses with white collars and often wore pinafores over their school clothes to keep them clean for wearing another day.

By Kate on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 09:39 am:

Ditto Ginny, floral skirts would not have been worn. A dark gray or a navy would be the most likely. I'd go with the mid calf length, personally, as knee length wouldn't look that out of place today. (neither does mid calf, but those aren't as likely to be seen on a fourth grader these days, therefore mid calf would stand out more as being a 'costume') Definitely try for a high neck, long sleeve blouse.

I'd go with the dark gray, myself.

Good luck!

By Kate on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 09:41 am:

The American Girl, Samantha, is that time period. If you have the books, look thru them, or if you have the movie, zip thru it. Mind you, Samantha was wealthy so you should look more at Nellie's clothes, which would have been more the norm.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 12:10 pm:

Sarah's Dress

Another view

I made a dress for Sarah's trip and it's been worn so many times. Do you want me to ship it to you?? My kids went in 4th grade, too.

By Bellajoe on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 02:51 pm:

WHen I went, I wore a longer brown skirt with a floral print. And probably a white blouse. I don't think they are going to be THAT picky since you can't exactly go to MACY"s and buy something like this.


Dawn that is adorable! You made that? I love the bonnet!

By Brandy on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 03:20 pm:

Dawn that is so sweet of you to be willing to send it to her = ) your an awesome woman ...

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 04:11 pm:

d-klein @ charter dot net for more information

Yes, I sewed that! I only had a week's time. I made the dress and the bonnet for the field trip and got the pinafore done by Thanksgiving.

By Nicki on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 07:12 pm:

Dawn, you did a great job on Sarah's dress! You are a good seamstress.:-)

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 07:51 pm:

Thanks.

By Bellajoe on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 01:43 pm:

Dawn, i emailed you

By Bellajoe on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 01:44 pm:

did they have lunch boxes or just a bag or pail to hold their lunch?

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 06:06 pm:

I think they told us that they only used pails. I can't remember what we used.