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A red Radio Flyer wagon converted into a covered wagon was just one way that children experienced life on the prairie on Friday morning.

The Children's Museum at Rose Hill Manor Park in Frederick went back in time to the pioneer days for its First Friday Fiction event. September's theme was Prairie Day. At least 19 children spent the morning learning about different aspects of prairie life through hands-on experience.

The morning began with story time in the Manor's main house and then, to bring the story to life, the children were brought outside to travel "the prairie" in their makeshift covered wagon and to gallop on toy stick horses.

For 3-year-old Logan Scott, of Frederick, riding the "horses" was his favorite part of the day, though the wagon was fun, too.

"This is our first time coming to an event here," said Logan's mother, Deanna Scott, adding that she learned about the program through the Frederick County Parks and Recreation's "Recreater" brochure. "It's nice because it occupies Logan; he wants to go to school like his older brother, so this gives us something to do."

Nancy Sweet, the museum program coordinator, had her team put together a covered wagon using a Radio Flyer wagon, and then created their own collapsible cover to the give the children the full experience.

"First Friday Fiction is not just about reading, but getting the children involved in the story [and] to make the story come to life, we want participation," Sweet said.

On Friday morning, children took turns riding in the wagon and on the toy stick horses in search of the log cabin on the park's grounds. After wandering the "prairie," children finally came upon the log cabin where they all cheered in excitement. They parked their wagon and horses then ran inside to explore.

Inside, children were shocked to learn that if they lived in the log cabin, the pillows on which they were seated would be their beds.

"I would sleep in the bed instead," one child yelled out.

As part of the activity, children were then taken back across the "prairie" for craft and exploration time. They used their imaginations and decorated paper-covered wagons and horses with crayons and built their own log cabins with Lincoln Logs.

Sweet said that the activities help young children use their imaginations. "We think this is a great program and want to [set the] focus on reading," she said.

For both children and parents, the program seemed to be a hit.

"I think we'll come to ‘Play Time Monday' on Monday," Scott said.

The Frederick County Department of Parks and Recreation offers the following children's programs at Rose Hill Manor Park:

nFirst Friday Fiction meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first Friday of each month. The fee is $3 per child. The museum has chosen "The Little Red Hen" for next month's activity. Children will grind wheat to make bread and create a giant chicken out of paper plates.

n"Play Time Monday" is held the second and fourth Monday of each month. Free play in the museum, instead of participating in a tour.

For information about children's programs, visit www.rosehillmuseum.com.

rmerriman@gazette.net