Use the Internet resources below to complete your colonial research. Please also use books from the library!
(Life, schools, games. toys) |
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COLONIAL LAWYER |
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What Was Life Like?
School & Education:
Apprenticeship:
The colonists established some public schools but most children of poor families
were taught by their parents at home. Because many parents could not read
or write they were unable to teach those skills. So their children were taught
obedience, religious beliefs and the skills they needed in daily life. Boys
learned how to farm, raise cattle and handle a gun for hunting. Girls learned
such household tasks as sewing, spinnin, weaving, food preparaion and food
preservation.
In every colony, many poor children got some education by serving as apprentices.
Under the apprentice system a boy's parents place him with a master crafts,am,
tradesman or professional who taught his skills to the boy and provided room
and board. In return the boy promised to work hard, study faithfully and be
obedient andd well-behaved. Girls were "bound-out" as household
servants or apprenticed to become housekeepers, cooks or needleworkers.
The first book from which the colonial children learned was not really
a book at all. It was a thin piece of wood about five inches long with a handle.
This wood was covered with a thin piece of paper attached around the edges
with a thin sheet of clear horn. The handle had a hole through which string
was strung. The hornbook was worn around the neck or hung by the side.
On the paper was printed the alphabet, alphabet letter conbinations, Lord's
Prayer and Roman numerals.
Pens for writing were hand cut from the quill of a goose or wild turkey. The tips were sharpened with a knife. The sharp tips were then dipped into ink for writing. Only a few symbols could be written before the quill needed to be dipped again. Writing with a quill was a very time consuming task!
The children of rich colonists attended private schools or were educated by provate teachers called tutors. New England had many private schools called dame schools. Women, often widows, held these schools in their own homes. Church groups also operated schools. the ministers held classes in their homes. Children were taught the alphabet, spelling, writing and simple arithetic. Most of the children paid fees for their education. One of the activities the children enjoyed was a spelling bee. <Click source for author information.>
Games, Recreation & Toys:
Women
in Colonial Times:
Colonial
Clothes:
