The American Revolution: An Everyday Life Perspective

Lesson Plan Two: Education

Introduction

The primary education of upper class children in colonial days included reading, writing, simple math, poems, and prayers. Paper and textbooks were scarce so boys and girls recited their lessons until they memorized them. The three most commonly used books were the Bible, a primer, and a hornbook. As children grew older their schooling prepared them for their eventual roles in plantation life. While boys studied more advanced, academic subjects, the girls learned to assume the duties of the mistress of a plantation.

Links

http://www.cedu.niu.edu/blackwell/books.html

http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/fall/samplers-1.html

Activities

Venn Diagram Activity

Make a venn diagram demonstrating the similarities and differences between eighteenth and twenty-first century schools.

Venn diagram: A visual organizer to help students compare and contrast similarities and differences in information.

--> Venn Diagram

Group discussion

In small groups, discuss the contrasting educations for boys and girls and determine whether or not separate education would be appropriate for today's working society.

A document analysis worksheet for the following two activities can be found at the following link.

http://www.edteck.com/dbq/worksheets/write.html

Document Analysis One

Documents from the American Revolution offer us valuable insight into the lives of students from the era. Use a document analysis worksheet to interpret the document.

An hymn to be sung by the charity scholars, on Sunday, the 12th of October, 1783, at St. George's Chapel, after the charity sermon for the benefit of the school.

This resource is in the Maass archive

Document Analysis Two

Documents from the American Revolution offer us valuable insight into the lives of students from the era. Use a document analysis worksheet to interpret the document.

Some observations relating to the establishment of schools, : agreed to by the committee, to be laid for consideration before the Yearly Meeting.

This resource is in the Maass archive

DBQ

Evaluate the validity of the statement, using the documents provided and your knowledge of the time period. You may entirely or partly agree or disagree with the quotation. Whatever position you take, be sure to construct an original thesis. Be sure to consider the counterargument, that is, what historians might say in opposition to your thesis. Do not forget to consider the point of view of the sources you employ.

Statement:

The American Revolution sought to sever ties from the Mother Country; Great Britain. During this time period soldiers and government officials struggled for independence for the colonies. Ordinary citizens still had direct ties and dependency to Great Britain. Children returned to the Mother Country to continue their education. The ordinary citizen was not an advocate for independence.

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