People, Prairies, and Plains Institute has been a very rewarding experience for me and for my students. I am adding things I gleaned from this Institute as I find places in the curriculum which need to be enhanced. I think an important obligation I have is to excite other educators and to help them bring environmental history into their lesson plans. Soapmaking was a regular chore that all pioneer women did regularly. Lye was made from the wood ashes and grease was saved and strained for the soapmaking.
Children learn what soap was made from and how it was made.
They also learn how it was used on laundry days. Math is incorporated through careful measuring. The children will also learn that later on various oils were used for scenting the soap. Borax Dissolve lye in water. Stir until dissolved, then let set until lukewarm.