|
Summary and Objective
Students will understand that many schoolhouses were smaller in the past as compared to the schools of today. Students will be able to verbalize some of the differences they notice by looking at images of the smaller schoolhouses. They will also compare the number of classrooms in a contemporary school to that of 19th century schools, which may have had only one room.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will observe the pictures of one room schoolhouses from the digital collection and discuss the differences they observe when comparing the 19th century schools to their school. They can be guided to make predictions about how many rooms were in the schools based upon where windows were placed.
Step 2.
Students will hear a story about one room schoolhouses (if available). An example of a story for elementary level students is "Historic Communities: A One-Room School", by Crabtree Publishing Company. The students will be able to discuss and ask questions throughout the story. For older students, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books could supply insight into schooling in the 19th century.
Step 3.
Students will go on a school classroom count in their school. Do not count bathrooms. They will record their data using a tally mark sheet.
Step 4.
Students will write the numeral for the number of classrooms in their school on a sheet of drawing paper. They will then draw a picture to represent the numeral value.
Step 5.
Students will write the numeral for the number of classrooms in an old schoolhouse on a second sheet of drawing paper. They will then draw a picture to represent the numeral value.
Step 6.
Students will compare the drawings they made and realize their school has many more classrooms than an old schoolhouse.
Step 7.
The teacher and students may then want to discuss the reasons for needing larger schools today. In this discussion, make sure students realize that 19th century schools were smaller but not all were one-room schoolhouses.
Step 8.
As an extension activity, the teacher could discuss how a teacher might teach all of the students in one class. Discuss how the teacher would teach children of varied ages and abilities.
|
