NATCHEZ &045; Alex Smart, 9, will soon be able to teach his grandfather a thing or two about living in the days when there wasn’t modern technology.

Participants like Smart are living like pioneers each morning this week during the 19th annual Pioneer Week &045;

The Way it Was summer program at Historic Jefferson College.

&uot;I never knew (pioneers) could have so much fun without modern technology that we have today,&uot; Smart said.

Lessons in the program include quilting, needlework, making Native American moccasins, Tomahawk throwing, making food from scratch and other common activities of pioneer life. Smart said one of his favorite things he learned so far was how precious clay &045; especially white clay was to Native Americans.

Smart said he educated his grandfather on the different types of trees and how to make clay. Now that he knows how to quilt, he wants to sit next to his grandmother and help when she quilts.

The program is designed to teach children how long it took to make things before they had machinery, Sheryl Bryan said.

Mallaree Kent, 11, found an appreciation for life and the fundamentals of making her own things from the program.

&uot;If I want it, why don’t I just go and make it?&uot; she said of how she feels now when she wants something.

The students are also learning how common activities like stitching helped with learning mathematics during that period.

Historian and coordinator of the education program at Historic Jefferson College Anne Gray said the program gives children a chance to do something other than watching television during the summer.

&uot;If you go outside and play, you can find out about nature,&uot; Smart said.