The students today discovered all the steps it takes for making pancakes from scratch just like our ancestors did a long time ago when we visited the Mill at the Ansalem. The children first helped the guides release the water from the nearby creek by turning a small wheel operated dam. The water then led into the large Mill house that operated the turning paddle wheel that makes all of the Mill’s machines work. Of course everyone was so excited when a huge bubble splashed out of the creek towards the students. The children were then able to watch each step of the process that the Mill machines would have to take in order to make the flour from either wheat or corn. The students enjoyed all of the interactive activities. They participated in grinding corn in the hand grinder, watching the large mill stones grind the grains into flour, sifting the various sizes of flour into fine powder, pumping water into a miniature water wheel and the best part was actually making pancakes and eating them as a special treat. Boy, were those pancakes delicious! So the next time you make pancakes at home, ask your child what they would need in order to make pancakes the old fashion way.
