Cecilia Yeager ran through the gymnasium using a wooden stick to propel a large wooden circle forward.
The fourth-grader was having a lot of fun playing hoop and stick Thursday morning, but Cecilia learned that being a child in America during colonial times wasn't all fun and games.
"It's hard because you had to do a lot of chores and go to school early," she said.
Faith Christian School in Westminster held its annual colonial festival Thursday, celebrating the beginnings of America in the 16th through 18th centuries. Students, teachers and several parent volunteers dressed up in Native American or colonial garb and got a taste of what it would be like to live in those times.
Students learned colonial dances, made soap and cough syrup and played traditional colonial games, all of which involved items made out of wood or other natural materials.
Third-grade teacher Anne Howard said the festival is a culmination of the students' American History unit.
"This is a fun way to bring it to life for them," she said.
In class, students learned about the life of a colonial child. Many were surprised children had to wake up so early and do chores, even before they ate breakfast, and went to school for nine hours each day.
During one classroom lesson, the Faith Christian students used a quill and ink to write, just like was used by colonial children, Howard said.
All the children carried around their handmade haversack Thursday to store their crafts, which they were able to take home at the end of the day. Many had questions about how to play the traditional games, such as hoop and stick, the Game of Graces, colonial jacks and tabletop nine pins.
"The kids can actually play games like they are colonial children," Howard said.
Third-grader Katie Martin enjoyed making the cough syrup, which was made out of lemon, honey and water.
"It tasted really good," she said.
Her friend, third-grader Delaney Maher, said making the soap was fun because she got to mix a lot of different colors. She was surprised children had to attend school for so long every day.
"And kids didn't get to sit when they ate," she said.
Fourth-grader Paul Levenson liked making crafts and playing games, but wasn't too excited about being paired up with a classmate to dance.
"It was awkward," he said.
Parent volunteer Amy Martin said she and her husband have been helping out with the colonial festival for many years. They've had four children attend the school.
In past years, a colonial storyteller came in to meet with the children. Different crafts were made and different games were played, as well, such as dipped candles and Jacob's Ladder.
"It's a great experience," she said. "The kids will be able to go home and explain all about colonial life."
Her son, Wesley Martin, was so interested in colonial life after the festival that the family visited Colonial Williamsburg, Va.
To wrap up colonial day, students got to witness fourth-grade teacher Amy Maher go on trial for stealing a hog. Teachers and parent volunteers acted out the courtroom drama to give students an idea of what the judicial system was like during that time period.
When the jurors deliberated after they heard witness testimony and Maher put in a "not guilty" plea, students were split as to whether they believed she was guilty.
The crowd erupted when the jurors came back with a unanimous guilty verdict, but some still didn't believe the decision.
"I think she's innocent," Delaney said.
