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Overview: Education in the early 1900’s is very different than today. Segregation was a way of life for many students, especially Negros and Spanish children. Students of all ages attended class in one room. The teacher usually instructed the older students who then instructed the younger ones. Rebecca Dallis was the teacher of the Southside Colored Grammar School in Casa Grande. Dallis taught her students many things beyond academics. She continued teaching until her retirement at the age of 65.

This web quest is intended to address fourth grade Arizona standards. This web quest will address the following standards in Social Studies (1SS-EI) and Science (S1C4-PO2).

Introduction: In this web quest you are going on a ride in an imaginary time capsule back to the early 1900’s to attend school. Things are very different; all students are in one room with one teacher. You are to find the similarities and differences between the one room school house and your present day classroom, teachers, schedules, and rules. Remember you are in the early 1900’s. No indoor plumbing, no cafeteria, and good behavior are a must!

Quest(ions) and the Task

Task: Your task is to find out what a typical day was for a student going to school in the early 1900’s. In this investigation you will decide what you have in common with school children during this period and what the differences were. Then you and your partner will present your findings in one or more of the following ways:

Questions:

· What was the floor plan of the one room school house?

· How was the school day different then today?

· What are some of the differences and similarities to today’s teachers?

#1 Use a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between schools today and back in the early

1900’s.

#2 Write a typical daily schedule for your class today and one for a day in the early 1900’s.

#3 Write a set of classrooms rules for your class and one used in a one room school house.

Process

Directions: Research and find all the information you will need to put together an informational presentation. Make sure you site your information. Begin working with your partner to put together your presentation. Add visuals and use lots of color. Writing should be legible for the students sitting in the back of the room. Check the grading rubric to monitor yourself from time to time. Good luck, and have fun!!

Presentation Options:

· Orally presentation with handouts for classmates

· Visual presentation, overhead, posters, bulletin board

Resources

· Internet Websites

http://wwwpinestrawhs.org/schoolhouse.html

http://www.smecc.org/the_early_yearshtm

http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/levis/ch01.htm

· Encyclopedias

· Historical periodicals

· Informal interviews

Evaluation/Grading Criteria

See evaluation rubric:

Conclusion

Would your day have been different if you were of a different race?

Do you think the one room school house would benefit your learning or hinder your learning?

Did your research generate an interest in other historical areas?

Would you like to have been a student in the early 1900’s?