I am the schoolmarm for third graders at the end of the school year, in the old New England schoolhouse in town. The year I bring to life for children is 1833. I ring the bell to welcome ‘scholars’ as students were called back then. I show objects and artifacts, including the outhouse, and talk about life in Groton in 1833.
Children went to school in winter and summer. They had to work on the farm in spring and fall, so no school. All children were in one room, the teacher had to teach all grades. There was no electricity. A wood burning stove kept the school warm in the winter. Children had jobs at school, like gathering the wood to keep the stove going.
After talking about Groton in 1833, I talked about America in 1833. That made history come alive.
- The Brooklyn Bridge was finished, but no one believed it was safe to cross. A suspension bridge with cables? It was the Barnum and Bailey Circus to prove the bridge was safe. Their elephants were the first to cross the bridge.
- The Statue of Liberty was almost finished.
- In the East, there was an amazing man who invented many things, including the light bulb. His name was Thomas Edison.
- In the West, there were cowboys and outlaws like Jesse James.
The room was silent and wide-eyed. They ‘got it’.
First we had to officially start school.
We stood to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and then we were ready to sing the National Anthem. I said to children:
Wait…there was no National Anthem in 1833. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was not our National Anthem until 1931. I called my mother to ask her if this was true.
“Yes, Jennie, it’s true”, she said. “So, when you were a little girl, what did you sing?” Mother told me everyone sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
All the third graders stood and sang. They were loud and respectful. They understood they were in 1833.
We began school with arithmetic – first a word problem. I pretended to collect and carry wood for the wood stove, dropping pieces and going back for more. I grunted and groaned, yet made sure I told children how many pieces of wood I collected and dropped on my multiple trips. How many pieces of wood did I finally collect? Children wrote answers on slate. That was cool.
Reading and reciting were important. We recited poetry together, and then we read a true story of a bear at school from this popular reader:
Interestingly, in this children’s reader, paragraphs are numbered. Brilliant! I read the first part of the story, then children took turns reading aloud the rest of the paragraphs. They loved it.
History includes music. I told children my grandmother was born the same year as Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter, Rose. They share the same name, too. My grandmother learned a song from the late 1800’s from her mother, “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”, and she taught it to me when I was a little girl. I taught the song to the third graders, and we all sang together.
Teaching history is a joy. Making it come alive and meaningful for children is important.
Jennie
P.S. Stay tuned for Part 2, books that make history come alive.
A Teacher's Reflections 
You are perfect for the part. My dad attended a school similar to this in the 1930s. He always sang She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain to us growing up and we would chime in at the chorus. We always laughed at the, “She will have to sleep with Grandma” part.
I can picture that with your dad! Thanks for telling me. Big smiles here. 😀
That’s real ‘living history’, and one of the best ways to make that subject come to life for the children. Great work, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks so much, Pete.
this is so very cool, Jennie, you look the role and living history with your students is something they will never forget. looking forward to part 2.
Thanks, Beth. You would have loved watching me at the outhouse, and telling the story of calling my mother. Honestly, I don’t think any of the adults who were along with the students knew we didn’t have a National Anthem till the 1930’s. Part 2 soon!
always something to learn –
Yes!
Jennie, you remind me of my days working at Old Sturbridge Village! Making history come alive was a joy, though not financially sustainable. I graduated from college with a degree to teach social studies, and had difficulty finding a job in that field and OSV allowed me to have that pleasure. I really enjoyed my time there, and I also sometimes worked in the little schoolhouse there.
I love OSV! Have you been to Williamsburg? Living history is wonderful. I’m so glad you had that experience.
I haven’t been to Williamsburg, but I’d like to go someday.
I hope you get there.
Hi nice meeting you here
🙂
Thanks a lot Jennie for your information of schools those days.
You are welcome, Kamal.
This is a great post Jennie the children over here love these trips too and come home with their heads full of information 💜💜
That’s wonderful to know! Thanks so much, Willow. Glad you enjoyed this.
I always enjoy your posts💜
Awww…🥰
Excellent! This looks like so much fun, Jennie. What a great way to teach history.
It was fun! Thanks so much, Dan. I bet it reminds you of OSV.
It does. We’ve been there one time when one of their character staff was teaching in the school house.
I bet that was fun!
It was. The artisans in the village always put on a good show.
🙂
What an experience for those kids! I can tell from the cover of that 2nd grade reader we expected more of children in that day, and they delivered.
Yes, we definitely expected more of children back then. It really was a great experience. Many thanks, Jacqui.
Yesss! You’re in your element, teacher. Just a note: ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ seems especially poignant these days…reminder of who we were/are as a country or perhaps more currently, reminder of how we should aspire to be as a country.
Thanks, Laura. Yes, I was. 🙂 Well said, and I was surprised that all the children knew the song.
I wish there were more teachers like you.
That’s so nice. Thank you.
A great day at school, Jennie. Equally fun for you as the children. I learned She’ll be coming round the mountain when I was a girl. It’s a super song.
It was, indeed, and I had as much fun as the children. I’m so glad to know you learned the song when you were a little girl. It’s great one and brings back memories of my grandmother.
My mother taught it to me 💓
😍
Oh, Jennie! You look so perfectly frumpy as you make history come alive for these kids. They will never forget these lessons. Wonderful job.
I was definitely frumpy! It was a wonderful day, and the kids really enjoyed it.
And they will remember it forever!
😍
What a wonderful opportunity for these kids! Well done!
Thank you, Cathy. As you can imagine I was quite animated, making all the lessons fun and meaningful.
Great work
Thank you.
What fun. You make a great schoolmarm, Jennie, even if your regular students are three years younger. I can think of numerous patriotic songs better than a unsingable ballad of war.
I enjoy the older students, too. Some were in my class when they were 3 or 4. I know what you mean about the song, but I had to be true to history. More on that in Part 2 (or maybe 3). Many thanks, Don.
You are an amazing teacher and these children will never forget you or the history you had them live through!!
BRAVO, Jennie!!
That’s so nice, GP. Thank you!!
Such a delight! And my goodness — numbering the paragraphs! That’s so smart!
Thank you for taking us along, Jennie. One of my favorite childhood memories is the privilege I had to attend kindergarten and first grade in a treasure of a one room schoolhouse in rural Ohio. I stayed in touch with my teacher, Mrs. Taylor for thirty years until she passed away. One day I ought to write about her…she instilled so much inquisitiveness in me.
Big hugs to you, dear Jennie! 🥰
Yes, numbering the paragraphs is brilliant! Why did that go away? Thanks for sharing your one room schoolhouse story, Vicki. The fact that you kept in touch with Mrs. Taylor for thirty years is both remarkable and wonderful! I certainly hope you write a story about her and the schoolhouse!!! Where in Ohio? I grew up in Huntington, WV right on the Ohio River. Mega hugs! 💕
Dear Jennie
That’s great. We really liked your lesson and learned something new 👍 👍
What a great history lesson and you look beautiful in this teacher costume.
Thank you very much
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’m so glad you liked this! History lessons are important; with children it’s all about how you present it, including costumes. Many, many thanks. 🙂
This was such a fun read! I love how you brought history to life for the kids—it’s like they got to step into 1833 for a day. Makes me think about how little details, like singing the right songs or using slates, can make such a big difference in learning. Honestly, reading this was a way better use of my time than just staring at the clock waiting for the carpet cleaners to finish. Thanks for the distraction!
I’m so glad this was a fun read! Yes, all those details to step back into 1833 make a big difference in learning for children. Many thanks!
What fun! Did I see a dunce cap and a paddle on teacher’s desk?
Yes, you did! Girls were hung by their braids in the cloak room for discipline. Boys got the paddle, or were put in the closet for an hour. Yikes!
Yikes, for sure! This comment made me think of the short film “Don’t Judge.” Have you seen it before?
This looks familiar. Is it on YouTube?
It is. I think Beetley Pete showed this once. In the one he found, perhaps the original, the actors spoke in another language.
I had a teacher who paddled kids in front of the class. It’s crazy to realize anyone thought humiliating children was a good way to discipline them.
Yes, it was in a foreign language. I will look for it.
I also had a teacher who paddled children in front of the class. When I showed the kids the paddle used in the old schoolhouse, I told them the story of Gary Dawson getting paddled with a bigger paddle that had holes, and how traumatizing it was. The fact that I can remember the boy’s name speaks volumes.
Girls were hung by their braids?! How awful.
Their braids were tied to the hooks in the cloak room. I don’t think the girls were off their feet. Yes, terrible. Boys being locked in a closet for an hour sounds worse. Then there was the block of wood put in a child’s mouth for talking. 😳
Such cruelty couldn’t have been conducive for learning in any meaningful way.
True. Having been in that schoolhouse and learning so much about how it was for a teacher to have all grades in one room AND educate all those children, I understand how discipline was important. Did you ever read Farmer Boy, the third book in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series? It’s the story of her husband when he was a boy. I vividly remember his school and discipline. Worse! I think the bottom line was children had to have a focused environment to learn in a meaningful way, and discipline helped to keep it that way. Honestly, as much as I hate the strict discipline, those children were far ahead of the children today.
Thank you for shedding a different light on the subject. I don’t remember if I ever read Farmer Boy. I think you’re right about those children being far ahead of children today. I think K-12 education has been backsliding since No Child Left Behind.
You’re welcome, Liz. Yes, it has been backsliding, and No Child Left Behind was the trigger. I wish I had a magic answer…
It broke my heart to teach the young people who had gone through school during that era. They had a terrible time thinking on their own. It threw them completely off-balance.
You were ‘there’ to see. Yes, terrible.
I love everything about this, Jennie. I’ll bet the children were thoroughly engaged. Somehow, I know you enjoyed playing the part of an 1833 school teacher. My guess is that some of your former students were in your class.
Hi Pete, yes they were engaged. I did this three times, each with two third grade classes, so I had over 40 children in each group. I enjoyed it. You would have loved watching me ‘calling my mother’, going to the outhouse, and telling the story of the elephants crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. I wish today’s children’s readers had numbered paragraphs. I did have kids there who were in my class!
Absolutely wonderful! So happy for the children who experience your lessons!
Thank you!
loved the video with the song – and this reminded me of seeing Little House on the Prairie. and really doe smake history come alive!
Thank you, Prior. I’ll be talking about Little House on the Prairie in Part 2 (maybe 3). The song is still sung today, which is wonderful. I have fond memories of singing it with my grandmother.
I look forward to seeing the next two parts.
I just saw an episode of Little House where Ma Ingalls told the story of Stone Soup. I do not recall seeing that one when I was younger, but watching it recently made me appreciate the show. And the history experience with these kids looks like it will bring great memories.
I loved that show, too! I don’t remember the Stone Soup episode. I think experiencing history gives children memories – true hands-on learning!
;0)
What fun you are!
Thanks, Annette!
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Oh my. What super fun for you and for the kids. I love this hands on way to learn history. It will stick with the kids for their whole lives. You are a wonderful (modern) schoolmarm, Jennie. Love the bonnet! 😀
It was fun! Nothing beats hands on learning. Thanks so much, Diana. Glad you like the bonnet!
Very stylish!
😀
What a fun and educational event for the children. And loved your costume! ❤
Thank you, Debby. It really was. I’m glad you liked my costume – good thing I only wear once a year!
Just like Halloween. 🙂
Yup! 😀
This is great! What fun you all had. 🙂
It was so much fun. I’m glad I could bring history to these kids.
What a wonderful way to make history come alive. That will be a memory for them for sure. I bet they’ll all remember that The Star Spangled Banner wasn’t always the National Anthem. How lucky you are to be able to do that, Jennie. You are a superstar.
Thanks so much, Carla! I do hope they remember. You are too kind. 🥰
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What a wonderful program! This engaging, hands on experience kind of learning changed what history means for me growing up, and is what I aim to do for children and adults alike in our programs too. Thank you for sharing!
Hands on learning is what ‘sticks’ with children, and yes this is a wonderful program. I’m glad you do this in your programs. Many thanks.