Barnyard Readers

Enjoy a special experience at Living History Farms with your preschooler! Join us for a morning of reading and activities in our literacy program. Open to children ages 3 to 5 with an accompanying adult.

Fall & Winter Holiday Series • Saturday mornings October–December

Holidays and the fall weather! What a great time to get together with family and friends to celebrate. Each of these programs will explore a traditional celebration through stories, crafts, activities, and a visit to a special place at Living History Farms.

Details

• Time: 9:30-11:00am unless otherwise noted
• Please arrive 5 minutes early so program may begin on time
• Dress for weather—program occurs indoors and outdoors

Registration Information

• $34 for parent and child ($30 for members)
• $12 each additional child ($10 for members)
• Each ticket is for one session

Program Descriptions

Indigenous Iowans Day • October 10

Mother Earth and Sister Meadowlark join with all the animals to greet the dawn, experiencing colors, sounds, sights, and smells. Dawn is a time to celebrate new beginnings and start things anew, an important part of Lakota values.

Book: “Greet the Dawn: The Lakota Way”

Halloween Traditions • October 31

Merry-not-scary fun! Where do jack-o’-lanterns come from? Why do we trick-or-treat in costumes? Hear funny Halloween stories and try your hand at crafts, then tour the decorated 1876 town of Walnut Hill.

Book: “Turkey Trick or Treat”

Veterans Day • November 7

This program meets from 1:00 to 2:30pm.

Celebrate Veterans Day through our country’s flag. Learn the etiquette around this flag that men and women have paid the ultimate price to defend. Make a poppy to take home to remember the brave men and women who have served our country.

Book: “The Worn-Out Flag”

Thanksgiving on the Farm • November 21

Lydia Maria Child published her poem, “Over the River and Through the Wood,” in 1844. In the poem, she shares memories of going to her grandparents’ farm in winter. We’ll use this poem to explore the traditions farm families used to celebrate and give thanks for the harvest.

Book: “Over the River and Through the Wood”

Immigrant Christmas Traditions • December 5

What stories did Norwegian families tell at the holidays? Hear these in the parlor, then explore the house. Learn about nisse—a popular Norwegian Christmas story—and make your own nisse craft.

Books: “Evie’s Christmas Wishes” (Irish) and “Nisse at Night” (Norwegian)

Christmas on the Farm • December 19

“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” written by Clement Moore as a gift for his children and first published in 1823, is the starting point for this program. Explore the many holidays that fall at the end of December. Read stories in the parlor at the farmhouse, see the farm decorated for the holidays, and travel back to the Conference Center to do your crafts.

Book: “The Night Before Christmas”

Registration

1. Children must be 3–5 years old on the date of the program.
2. Base registration fee is for one adult and one child. Other children may be added. The adult must remain with their child(ren) at all times.
3. Select the program(s) you want and purchase tickets.
4. Watch your email for confirmation of your purchase. If you don’t receive an immediate confirmation, contact us at registration@lhf.org.
5. Within one week before the program, you will receive an email with more specific information about where and when to check in, how to dress, etc.

Wait List

• Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• If a program is full, you may fill out this form to be placed on the waitlist.
• If a spot becomes available, we will contact the first name on the list for that session.
• If we are unable to reach that person within 24 hours, we will go to the second name, and so on. A deposit is not required to be placed on the waitlist.

Weather

• Living History Farms Barnyard Readers programs take place both indoors and outdoors, taking full advantage of nature and the museum’s outdoor historic areas. As a result, program activities may change as the weather dictates.
• The museum has severe weather procedures and shelters, and staff regularly review and practice these procedures. Should a storm arise, we quickly implement our weather procedures to keep everyone safe.