Hello. Sometimes you just have to experience something to understand it a little better. For the past 15 years I have taught about western expansion and the how the pioneers and early settlers on the plains used Bison (Buffalo) chips as fuel in the absence of timber. This year I decided to get my hands on some Bison chips and burn them at a cookout. I invited some students, some parents and my principal over for a good ol’ fashioned Bison chip fire where we roasted marshmallows for smores. Listen to the podcast to find out how everything went.
You can see more pictures from the Bison chip cookout by checking this Flickr set. If you have any personal experiences with burning Bison chips, or if you would just like share a general thought about the topic, please leave a comment on this blog post. Thanks.
Direct link to Podcast #192 - Making Smores over a Buffalo Chip Campfire
Direct link to Podcast #192 - Making Smores over a Buffalo Chip Campfire
Awesome idea, I teach third graders about The Oregon Trail what better connection than using buffalo chips. I came to you school last October with some teachers to observe your zune project. We got our iPod touches approved and up and running. What great tools to use, thanks for all the great ideas you shared!
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Kent Jacobson
We're in a digital media camp today for Family & Consumer Sciences teachers, so how fun to see your post on roasting smores! We are having some smores today but they were made for us...and not over buffalo chips! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice idea, I'm sure you were able to get your student's attention and imagination going with this one!
ReplyDeleteI recently visited a relative living in Armenia. It turns out that a similar practice is used in this part of the world as well (and in other places I'm sure). I ate lunch with a family in a small village north of the capital city, and while I was there I noticed brown blocks lining the wall in the backyard. I asked what they were, and sure enough they were blocks of cow dung, cut and dried for heating the home next winter. The family said that about 3-4 blocks will heat the home for hours, and doesn't smell as bad as one would think.
When I heard the podcast for this post I was reminded of this, and thought some might be interested in hearing it. Keep up the good work!