MARCH 2018 FIELD TRIP: Greentree Saw Mill & Amish School

March 29, 2018 - A trip to Greentree Hardwood Saw Mill, run by the Amish in Flat Rock, IL

We went upstairs into a little room with a viewing window. This was taken from the window, looking down at the action of the saw mill. The logs were cut with machines/robotics, but man power was also needed to help move things along. 

We left the saw mill and hopped into a small bus owned by the family who planned this field trip. They took us over to an Amish school down the road from the mill.  JJ is on the right.

The Amish schoolhouse

We were allowed to sit quietly in the school rooms to observe while the students had their Math class. There were 9 students in this classroom, and I think 7 or 8 in another classroom with the younger children. The Math curriculum they use is from Rod & Staff.

The teacher of the older students showed us a class nature project they are working on. This is a jar filled with eggs from Yellow Perch fish. The eggs were clear, and we were able to see very tiny fish moving around inside of them, getting ready to hatch out soon. 

After the school, we finished our trip by visiting the Amish grocery store a little further down the road. The smell of fresh bread was very evident as we walked in the door. Several families had fresh sandwiches made in the deli section. We brought our own lunch but still did some shopping at the store.

On one of the walls inside the store, there is a display of musical chime clocks for sale. EL loved these and asked me to take to a picture of them so she could draw them later. She said she wants one of these for her bedroom. 

Several of the boys hanging out after lunch on the porch.

We all enjoyed the trip and learned some interesting things we hadn't seen before. I had JJ fill out a field trip report and he said this about the saw mill:

They bring in a big log and they use a machine to cut the wood. When the wood has been cut on one side, the machine flips it over and starts cutting again on the other side of the log.

Even though EL has graduated from school, we still take her on trips like this and she likes to fill out a field trip report also. She said this about the Amish school and store:

We went to the Amish school. The girl is learning some Math. We went to the store to get some stuff. I saw fidgit spinners, puzzles, big wind chimes, and musical chime clocks. I liked the musical chime clocks. The clocks played beautiful chiming music. I liked the wind chimes outside.