Truckin' Through Nebraska & State Play Engage Local Youth

5/8/2017

Neligh-Oakdale fourth-graders (from left, standing) Alberto Avila, Fax Gilbert, McKenna Boggs and teacher Darcy Metschke act out a scene as Italian immigrants on Monday afternoon. Students in fourth and fifth grade had roles in the play about early Nebraska life.

If you want to know about Nebraska history or just a fun fact, there’s a good chance local students can help you out.

From Monday’s Fax Gilbert play at Neligh-Oakdale to last week’s Truckin’ Through Nebraska museum, Nebraska education was as engaging as ever.

Truckin’ Through Nebraska, a hands-on experience for kids created in honor of Nebraska’s 150th anniversary of statehood, made a stop in Neligh this past week.

The traveling museum presented kids and families with the state’s history and displayed diverse stories about Nebraska’s past. The interactive exhibits helped elementary students and non-school age youth explore their heritage and their future and careers in the state of Nebraska.

Amy Pickrel, a mother and a day care manager for kids age four and younger, said the event appealed even to her youngest youth.

“I had 4 year olds and under, and I thought for their age it was really good. They loved the races and the building and the dolls. Inside, they didn’t know exactly what was going on, but they liked looking everything and doing the activities.”

Some of the activities the mobile museum included Nebraska Fun Facts, Agri-Quest, Nebraska Panorama, Construction Junction, and a Creation Station. It was intended primarily for the youth, but all ages were encouraged to attend to learn interesting facts, history and stories about Nebraska.

Deb Neumann, a third grade teacher at Clearwater-Orchard Public Schools, said the event was great.

“It was awesome. It was well organized and hands on. The topics covered were things they could relate to from the classroom,” Neumann said.

She said that this experience was not only just suited for younger kids, but upper elementary could appreciate it too.”

“I do think the older kids would have enjoyed it, like 5th and 6th grade. The kids that studied Nebraska History (4th Grade) were the ones that connected the most, all the kids could get a lot out of the experience.”

The Neligh-Oakdale 4th and 5th grade classes also put on a state history play on Monday afternoon. The play talked about what life was like when people migrated to Nebraska and what the early living conditions and roles of the family members were like. The play was headed by Fax Gilbert, an artist/educator that uses multiple techniques to connect with his audience. The kids acted out multiple scenes representative of the past including an early schoolhouse and life in a sod house.

Truckin’ Through Nebraska started it’s journey in April and will continue into the fall of 2017. The museum is also making an appearance in Albion on July 18-19.