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Schoolroom at the Mill and Bars: Recitation Day
Wooden inkwell
"New England Primer"
Second Grade Class
"The New England Primer"
One Room School in Wapping
On the way to School
Frontispiece "The Young Reader; To Go With The Spelling Book"
Marbles
Bowling pins
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Summary and Objective
This lesson will focus on the theme, people then and now. Students will be exposed to school life from the past through photographs from the American Centuries website, the PBS website, and through picture books. While examining photographs from the digital collection, children will be asked to make comparisons to similar objects and scenes in their own school experience. Students will understand that school life has changed since the 1800's and yet some aspects of the experience are similar.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Begin the lesson by reading "A One-Room Schoolhouse" by Bobbie Kalman. After reading the book, discuss how school today is similar to and how it is different from the school portrayed in the book.
Step 2.
Print out copies of the items from the American Centuries website and the PBS website (desk, hornbook, woodstove, lunch pail, quill pen) and pass out to pairs of students. Have them discuss what they are and find similar items in your school and classroom.
Step 3.
Have the students take photographs, draw, or cut pictures from catalogs and magazines, of the current day items for a class book of comparisons.
Step 4.
To deepen the impact of this lesson invite grandparents or other members of the community to come and talk to the class about their school experiences.
Step 5.
Set up the dramatic play area with artifacts such as hornbooks, copies of pages from some of the books on the American Centuries website, small chalkboards, and quill pens. The Beeline (bton.com...) website has replicas of some early American school items such as, books, games, and toys that could be used to help make the experience more authentic. Using images of school children on the American Centuries web site as a guide, provide clothes for dressing up like old-time children.
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