18^th Century Education

Introduction: This is one program in a series of activities designed to familiarize students with the life of a child in the eighteenth century. Students learn about the life of their 18^th century counterparts by attempting some typical children’s activities of the time period.

The activities in this program conform to Pennsylvania Department of Education Proposed Academic Standards for Elementary Schools:

- Reading, Writing, Speaking, & Listening Standard 1.6.3.A (Listen to others, ask questions as an aid to understanding)

- Environment and Ecology Standard 4.2.4.B (Identify products derived from natural resources.

- History Standard 8.2.6.B (Items from everyday life- quill pens, needle, thread)

- History Standard 8.3.6.B (Decorative Arts- stamps for official papers).

- Arts & Humanities Standard 9.1.3.J (Know and use traditional technologies- quill pens).

Objectives: Provided with aspects of early education, school children will be able to compare and contrast the differences between education in the 18^th century and education in the 21^st century. Based on their knowledge of school work today, students will gain an appreciation of the difficulties of obtaining an education in the early 1700’s.

Directed Teaching Activities:

Step 1 Lecture on 18^th century educational activities, including the types of lessons and subjects students learned in the 18^th century. Discuss the environment in which children were educated based on period records (size of school house, length of school day, number of days/years in which they attended school). Discuss how natural materials were incorporated and essential to early classrooms.

Step 2 Discuss apprenticeships using reproductions of original papers. Have the students complete mock apprenticeship papers.

Step 3 Compare and contrast teaching implements of the past with those of today using reproductions and pictures of objects.

Step 4 Instruct how students wrote in the 18^th century. Have students practice writing with quill pens and ink on parchment-style paper. Assist students who have trouble getting started. Seal letters with wax and stamps.

Student Assessment:

Step 1 Students will be able to correctly answer questions about 18^th century education. They will be able to describe what lessons were taught and how the children learned these lessons. Students will be able to answer questions about materials used during educational activities came from natural resources.

Step 2 Students will be able to correctly answer questions about apprenticeships in the 18^th century.

Step 3 Students will demonstrate the ability to write with a quill pen. Students will report how difficult it is to successfully write with a quill pen and contrast that with the ease of modern pens and pencils.