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Rehoboth Elementary students visit Historic Odessa

Rehoboth Elementary School students (l-r) Olivia Sanchez Pena, Daniella Hernández, and Averie Marvin browse hats at the Odessa market, exploring the historical cost of living and the goods people once relied on. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
December 21, 2025
Rehoboth Elementary students try quill writing, practicing colonial-era handwriting with a feather and ink just as children did in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Shown are (l-r) Sebastian Garcia, Rory Garrity, Ian Ciaraldi, Nathan Vale-Booton, Dominic Montoya and Victor Rivera Prudencio.
Students in Lisa Craig and Sheila Oquendo’s third-grade classes gather for a final photo with their bags full of mementoes from Historic Odessa to take home and share with families.
Milo Ksebe tries his hand at a traditional childhood chore, carrying water buckets with a wooden yoke.
Brooks Reilly, left, and Ryan Russell explore the Historic Odessa market.
Students (l-r) Olivia Brea and Mackenzie Mallon take part in the leather-stamping activity, learning how a colonial tanner shaped and decorated leather goods. In back, Caroline Harvey, Griffin Nyandusi and Carter Coveleski wait their turns to participate.

Third-grade students from Rehoboth Elementary School recently traveled to New Castle County to visit Historic Odessa, where they had the opportunity to step back in time and experience what daily life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries.

While there, students participated in a series of hands-on activities. They practiced writing with quills, learned traditional leather-stamping techniques, and explored the historic market to gain insight into how people of the time lived, worked and learned.

“This experience offered students a meaningful way to deepen their understanding of early American history by allowing them to interact directly with the tools and traditions of the era,” said Victoria Ksebe, a multilingual learner teacher at Rehoboth Elementary. “The trip blended learning with exploration, giving students a chance to make real-world connections to their social studies lessons.”

The trip supported classroom learning and created lasting memories students were eager to bring home and share with their families. The educators and students extend thanks to the the Historic Odessa Foundation.

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