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Brief History of American Public Schools - An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan #: AELP-USH0208
Brief History of American Public Schools
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Submitted by:
Dr. Brian F. Geiger
Email:
bgeiger@uab.edu
School/University/Affiliation:
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education
Date:
January 4, 2001
Grade Level:
2, 3, 4, 5
Subject(s):
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Social Studies/US History
Duration:
45-60 minutes
Description:
Elementary students learn basic concepts about colonial life and the history of public education in America.
Goals:
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Students will contrast ancient and modern schools.
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Students will understand a typical colonial American school day.
Objectives:
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Students will read about and discuss colonial life in America.
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Students will be able to illustrate a typical day in the life of a colonial American youth.
Materials:
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story, bulletin board, or models representing Roman and colonial lives
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elementary social studies text (see references listed below)
Vocabulary:
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American - A person living in the U.S. in North America, especially after 1776 when Congress wrote the Declaration of Independence.
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Ancient schools - Schools for Greek and Roman citizens, especially males, before the end of A.D. 476.
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Colonial life - Habits and practices of residents of the 13 British colonies in North America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Architecture, art, fashion, food, and hobbies were patterned after those of Great Britain.
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New England - American states on the northeastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean originally established as colonies of Britain including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
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Public schools - Primary and secondary grade schools that are maintained at public expense.
Procedure:
As a class, read about colonial life in America (see references for suggested reading materials). Use a classroom bulletin board, diorama, models, or videotaped segments to portray lives of classical Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans. Assist students in contrasting simple differences between ancient and modern schools:
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Ancient schools were mostly for boys and young men, while American schools educate boys and girls, pre-K to 12th grade.
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Ancient schools were often in temples and taught about religion, vs. modern public schools as community facilities which focus on academics.
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Ancient schools were reserved for the wealthy who could afford to pay for instruction. Modern schools are open to all U.S. citizens and residents. Schools are funded by taxes.
Discuss students' perceptions of colonial life during the lifetimes of Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, and Martha Washington. Present characteristics of early American schools in the 18th century:
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New England colonists sought freedom from Great Britain and established Dame schools to teach reading and religion.
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Teachers often traveled to several different schools, therefore, students may have attended only 2-3 days of school per week.
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Later, Township schools included all students living within a surrounding town or village. These schools offered instruction in the 4 R's (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and Religion).
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Students completed only 4-5 years of education.
Ideas for Lesson Extensions:
Conclude the lesson with a class visit by the principal or local school board member. Provide a simple flowchart or use photos to illustrate the roles and duties of the school superintendent, board of education, principals, teachers, and other school personnel.
Recruit a parent volunteer to dress in costume as a historical colonial figure to pay a surprise visit to your classroom. This guest can provide a living history experience for students.
Assessment:
Students will illustrate a typical colonial American school day, assuming the role of a pilgrim girl or boy whose parents recently arrived in the colonies from Europe. Illustrations may include drawings, photos, videotapes, storyboards, models, or dioramas. Encourage students to include answers to these questions:
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What was life like for early American settlers? (e.g., Early each morning, home and farm chores must be completed before school. Each night, colonial youths finished homework and chores and retired soon after dark.)
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What daily chores did colonial youth perform? What are your duties at home after school?
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Colonial students walked to school held in a nearby home, town hall, or church. How is this different from the way you go to school? Describe your school building.
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Colonial parents paid tuition in the form of money, farm products, or other goods. How do we pay for schools today?
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Colonial students attended school in the fall and winter when there were fewer farm chores. What seasons of the year do you have vacation from school?
Useful References:
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ERIC No. EJ426371.
Teaching Colonial American History: A Conceptual Interdisciplinary Approach
. Michael, J.E. 1990.
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ERIC No. ED062251.
Social Studies; Colonial America
. Hanson, P.S. 1971.
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ERIC No. ED108997.
Before 1776: The Massachusetts Bay Colony from Founding to Revolution
. Gruenbaum, T. 1974.
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Barden, T.E. 1998.
Virginia Folk Legends
. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia.
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Coon, A.S. 1998.
Amy, Ben, and Catalpa the Cat
. Williamsburg, VA: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
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Fritz, J. 1987.
Shh! We're Writing the Constitution
. NY, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Franklin Institute. 1995.
The Ben Franklin Book of Easy & Incredible Experiments
. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Gross, R.B. 1982.
...If You Grew Up with George Washington
. NY: Scholastic Inc.
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Harder, G.G. 1991.
A Penny and Two Fried Eggs & Other Stories
. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.
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MacDonald, F. 1997.
Native Americans
. NY: Ladybird Books.
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Perl, L. 1992.
It Happened in America: True Stories from the Fifty States
. NY: Henry Holt & Co.
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Woodruff, E. 1991.
George Washington's Socks
. NY: Scholastic Inc.
Useful Internet Resource:
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Academy Curriculum Exchange
A collection of Social Studies lesson plans for K-5.
http://www.ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/elem.html
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