A One-Room School (Bobbie Kalman's Historic Communities)
Historic Communities Series
on Goodreads (60)
What’s inside...
Examines the daily routine of the one-room school and includes stories and activities.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What differences can you spot between your school and the one-room school in the book?
How do you think the children in the book felt going to school together, regardless of their age?
What are some of the challenges you think the teacher in the one-room school faced?
Why do you think it was important for all children to learn in the same room?
What would you enjoy about attending a one-room school, and what might you miss about your current school setting?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, compare and contrast the historical school setting with your child’s current school experience to personalize the conversation.
Encourage empathy by asking your child to imagine themselves in the shoes of the children from the historical one-room school.
Highlight the evolution of education over time to help your child appreciate the conveniences and resources available in modern schooling.
Use visuals from the book to help your child visualize the old school setting and stimulate discussion.
Reinforce the value of education by discussing how learning environments have changed to better cater to the needs of all learners.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Education
Explanation: The book illustrates the historical significance and the basic functioning of one-room schools, emphasizing how education has always been a pivotal element of society.
Real-World Application: Children can appreciate their access to modern education and be encouraged to value and seize learning opportunities.
Example Lesson: Community and Cooperation
Explanation: Through stories of children of various ages learning together in a confined space, the book highlights how cooperation and community were essential.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the importance of teamwork and helping one another in group settings such as school or sports.
Example Lesson: Resilience and Adaptability
Explanation: The book portrays how students and teachers in one-room schools often faced and overcame various challenges with limited resources.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of being resilient and adaptable in difficult situations, useful in problem-solving tasks at school or at home.
Example Lesson: Respect for History and Heritage
Explanation: Detailing a historical educational setting, the book encourages respect for the past and an understanding of how historical events shape our present.
Real-World Application: This can foster a curiosity about history and heritage, encouraging children to learn more about their cultural background and the history of their community.