Last Friday, the Grade 7s had a fun filled field trip to Fort York in Toronto. Students toured buildings that were still standing from the War of 1812.
The first building that we learned about was a magazine. We learned that there was a small room in the gunpowder magazine where the sergeant would send one soldier to mix the gunpowder. The reason why they would send only one person was because if something went wrong when he was mixing the chemicals, he would be the only one to be harmed.
Then the Grade 7s went into the barracks and learned about how much space the military had. By the way, how many men do you think could live in a 20 by 25 feet long room? The building would fit 30 soldiers and 2 wives! We also learned that the soldiers got a loaf of bread which had to last four days until they got a new loaf, but they could also get peas porridge and corn. Life was much better for the officers, who ate foods like beef stew, roasted chicken, millefeuille cake, or cream on bread.
After lunch, the Grade.7s went out onto the field we were taught how to march in a line like soldiers did going into battle in 1812. We were also taught how to shoot a rifle, and how to load and reload the guns, but our guns were made of wood.
Fort York was a great field trip!
-Grade 7 students Ali, Lorenzo, and Evan
