School 150 Years Ago

How many classrooms and teachers did old schools have?

• One for every grade

• 4 classrooms, 4 teachers

• 1 class and 1 teacher

• There were no classrooms or teachers

Can you imagine a split class with every grade in it?!

• Being split with the grade 4s is enough!

• It would be fun!

• Sounds like chaos!!

• I would learn lots.

Classes were lit with oil lamps and natural light from the windows. Classes were heated by (a)   .

Draw a T if this statement is true or an F if the statement is false: Students had to do all of their work on slates because paper was hard to find. What would you draw on your slate?

What did students use to write important work or tests?

• Quills made of bird feathers

• Frills made of animal fur

• Drills made of plastic

• They finger painted

Who got to go to school?

• Grown ups

• Everyone

• Sons of rich families

• Daughters of poor families

Why do we have summer vacation now?

• Because kids wanted to play with their friends

• Because lots of kids had to miss school to help with harvest on their family farms

• Because the teacher really needed a break from teaching every grade in one room

• Because it was too hot

Do you think you would have liked school 150 years ago? Why or why not?