This week we started a study on Colonial times. The kids have really enjoyed learning about how different things were when our country first began. They've even decided that Daddy should go out and shoot our dinner, just like the colonist Daddies did!

Today we learned about all of the trades and shops that made up a Colonial town. We learned about the blacksmith who pounded out hardware and tools, the apothecary selling remedies for ailments, the cobbler making shoes, the joiner providing furniture, and all the other places people who lived back then went to purchase the things they needed.

When we got to the end of the lesson there were questions to ask the kids to see how much they had learned. The instructions were:
Fill in the blank with the name you might give a colonial store today

"Okay guys", I began, "Think hard. You might call an apothecary's shop a--- what?"
Blank stares.
"Remember, the apothecary sells things like medicines...so what might we call that place today?"
Ethan looked at me with one eyebrow raised and ventured, "Wal-Mart?"
I stifled a giggle and replied, "Well, ok, I can see that. Wal-Mart has a pharmacy so that makes sense. But you also might call it a drugstore."
"Oh yeah, that's right", Ethan agreed.
"Next one", I said. "You might call a blacksmith's shop, where they sell things like tools and nails a---what?"
Ethan thought for a second. "Ummmmmm...Wal-Mart?"
I sighed and allowed a small giggle. "Okay, we do get those things at Wal-Mart, too. But we can also find them at a place called a hardware store."
"Here's the next one. You might call a silversmith's shop, where JEWELRY is sold a---what?" I asked, sure that my deliberately spoken hint would lead them to the right answer.
"Mom," Ethan huffed, slightly exasperated, "That one is Wal-Mart, too!"
I couldn't contain my amusement any longer. I burst out laughing and it must have been contagious because the kids joined in, even though they weren't quite sure what was so funny.
Needless to say, after that I couldn't get any answer but "Wal-Mart" out of them. But at least all their answers were right!