School Days

School Days



Did you ever wonder why there is no school in summer? Or
why there might be soon?


What you'll need


Map of the United States
Crayons or colored pencils
History log



What to do


1. Talk about what school was like when you were a child.
Include how schools looked physically (e.g., one-room
schoolhouse or campus?); what equipment teachers used
(e.g., chalk boards or computers?); what subjects you
studied; what choices you faced (e.g., transportation to
and from school, extracurricular activities ); and
favorite teachers.

2. Talk about what school was like 50 or 100 years ago. Ask
your librarian for help in looking this up, and talk to
older relatives.

Include the history of work in America and how this
affects schooling. For example, when America was an
agricultural society, children were needed to help plant
and harvest crops. It was common then that children didn't
go to school every day, or in the summer.

Have children draw a variety of crops or animals raised in
the United States, including those grown in their own
state or neighborhood. They can draw either right on the
map or on paper that they will cut and paste on the
appropriate state. The map can be traced from an atlas in
the library or from a geography book. Talk about when
various crops are planted and harvested, and the effects
of growing seasons on migrant worker families.

Talk about another change in work in America and how it
affected schooling. For example, when America was becoming
a manufacturing economy, during the Industrial Revolution,
laws were made against child labor and for mandatory
schooling.

Help your child talk about how the work of parents in
America today affects schooling, for example, the need for
afterschool programs.

3. Imagine what school will be like in the future. Younger
children may want to use blocks to build their future
school, and older children may want to draw theirs.





What has remained the same about school from the past to
the present? What has changed? If you could be the head of a
school 20 years from now, what would you keep and what would
you change based on your current school? How would you go about
making the changes?



Time To Celebrate



On quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies is written the
phrase "E pluribus unum," "One out of many." What does it mean?


What you'll need


U.S. coins
Map of the world
Calendar
History log



What to do


1. Have your children look at U.S. coins for the expression
"E pluribus unum", and translate it for them: "One out of
many." Explain to them that it refers to America as one
nation with many peoples and cultures, and that it is not
a common nationality but shared democratic values that
bind us as a nation.

2. With your children talk about the following list of
holidays celebrated in the United States. Look at a
calendar to add other holidays, and next to each holiday
write when it is celebrated and what is celebrated.

New Year's Day January 1 New beginning

Martin Luther January 15 Birth of a leader
King Jr.'s
Birthday

Presidents' Day 3rd Monday Originally, Presidents
of February Lincoln and Washington
currently all former
U.S. presidents

Memorial Day Last Monday War dead
of May

Independence Day July 4 National independence;
adoption of the
Declaration of
Independence in 1776

Labor Day First Monday Working people
of September

Columbus Day Second Monday Landing of
of October Columbus in the
Bahamas in 1492

Veterans Day November 11 War veterans

Thanksgiving Fourth Giving thanks
Day Thursday of for divine goodness
November

Christmas Day December 25 Birth of Jesus


3. Use the opportunity of talking about what holidays
celebrate to read original sources. For example: on
Presidents' Day read one of the great presidential
speeches such as the Gettysburg Address; on Martin Luther
King's Day read the "I Have a Dream" speech.

4. Find holidays celebrated in other nations. Classmates,
neighbors, and relatives from other countries are good
sources of information.

5. Think and talk about other important holidays our nation
should celebrate.

6. Discuss what your family celebrates, and have your
children write about the discussion in their history log.



What kinds of accomplishments or events do we celebrate in
America? What similarities and differences did you find between
American holidays and holidays celebrated by people from other
countries.



The Past Anew



Reenactments of historical battles or periods, such as
colonial times, make our nation's history come alive. And they
get our children involved.


What you'll need


A library card
Local newspapers
Phone book
History log



What was unusual or interesting about the reenactment?
What role did each of the reenactors play? If there was
conflict, what was shown or said about its causes? What
obstacles did the characters face? How did they overcome them?
What is the difference between the "real thing" and a
performance of it? What did you learn from the performance?


What to do


1. Find out where reenactments are held by looking in your
local newspaper or calling your local historical society,
State Park, or National Park Service.

2. Choose one, and prepare your child to see it by visiting a
local museum or historical site that relates to the
reenactment, or by watching a television program about the
event or period to be reenacted. Use your local librarian
and TV guide as resources.

3. Attend the reenactment and participate. Ask the reenactors
questions about anything--from the kind of hat they are
wearing to the meanings of the event or period for the
development or transformation of America. Finally, help
your child write about this experience in the history log.