Merritt Elementary second-grader Braiden Adamczyk admires his hand-made ragdoll from a distance Tuesday. Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

It was a hard-knock life for students at Merritt Elementary School in Niles.

On Tuesday, second-graders learned what life was like as a colonist in 17th century North America during the school’s Colonial Day.

When asked, students said it was fun to pretend to be a colonist, but none were eager to give up their televisions, video games and other modern conveniences.

“I don’t think I’d want to live back then,” said second-grader Braiden Adamczyk, while putting together a handmade ragdoll. “You’d have to work all day long to get food because there’s no grocery store. That’s not fun.”

Adamczk did enjoy making colonial-style butter in one of the classrooms Tuesday. It was easy to make, he said, by mixing cream and salt in a sealed jar.

“Shake it, shake it, shake it until it gets thick,” he said.

In addition to making butter, students played colonial-inspired games, sewed, made rag dolls and watched a short colonial movie.

Second-grader Kadence Ryder said her favorite part was making the ragdoll.

“This one is really pretty with all the different colors, stripes and patterns,” said Ryder, explaining she also didn’t like the idea of living in the 17th century.

“It would be too much work.”