It's Pioneer Day again this weekend! For Activity Days tomorrow (I don't know if I've mentioned that's my church calling... again) we're going to be putting together Family Home Evening packets so the girls can present a pioneer themed FHE Monday night. I thought I'd share the simple lesson plan I came up with. My favorite part is the pioneer treasure hunt. I've seen a couple online, but I wanted to do one that was easier and use coloring pictures so the girls can color the pictures on the clues tomorrow at our activity so I whipped one up! Pioneer Family Home Evening Song- Pioneer Children: Children’s songbook p. 214 Click to enlarge, then right click to save and print. Thought- “A dictionary defines a pioneer as ‘one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.’ Oh, how the world needs pioneers today!” ~President Thomas S. Monson Lesson- In February 1846, the pioneers were forced to leave their homes in Nauvoo. The weather was so cold that the huge Mississippi River was frozen solid. The early church members walked on foot and drove their covered wagons across the slippery ice away from their beautiful homes in Illinois. It was not easy to travel this time of year, especially with young children and in the bitter cold. The Saints stopped at many places along the way, including Sugar Creek, Garden Grove, and Winter Quarters where many people became sick and died. These first pioneers traveled over 1,000 miles across the plains, following their leader, Brigham Young, to their new home in the Rocky Mountains. The first group of Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. We celebrate Pioneer Day every year in July to remember the pioneers who made their way across the plains to their new home in Utah. Activity- Pioneer Treasure Hunt: Make pioneer cookies ahead of time for the treasure... or use another pioneer treat such as root beer barrels or taffy. Click to enlarge, then right click to save or print. Keep clue #1 to start. Hide #2 under your dinner table. Hide #3 in your kitchen sink or somewhere you drink from. Hide #4 under or in a bed. Hide #5 in a clothes closet or dresser. Hide #6 in your bathtub. Hide the treasure in your fridge or food pantry. Refreshments- Pioneer Washboard Cookies 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 cup shortening 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup boiling water 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 1/2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder Cream together sugars and shortening and beat in eggs. Dissolve soda in boiling water and add to above mixture. Blend in vanilla. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and blend into mixture. Roll dough into balls by hand and place onto greased cookie sheet; flatten with a fork. Bake at 375° for 10-15 minutes. Pull out of the oven when they're barely turning golden. These are easy to overcook. Happy Pioneer Day!