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Pictures then and now will help students compare how schools, classrooms, busses, and kids have changed from 1800s to now. Many of the pictures used in this lesson are from Dublin! How have school rules changed over time? What about playground games? Included in this lesson are games that children in the past may have played.
1. Think about your school. How does your school compare to the schools in the picture?
2. Pretend you are in a one-room schoolhouse in 1876. Here is a link to help you.
After experiencing the day as a student in a one-room schoolhouse, write an "opnion" paper. Explain the pros and cons to each. Don't forget to start with an opinion statement, then add supporting details to prove your thinking!
Playground Games from the Past
Playground Games from the Past
Fox and Geese:
Directions: One child is chosen to be the fox, another is behind the gander, each with his hands on the shoulders of the one next in front. The gander tries to protect his flock of geese from being caught by the fox, and to do this spreads out his arms and dodges around in any way he sees fit to keep the last goose from being tagged. (The fox may tag only the last goose in line.) The geese may cooperate with the gander by doubling and redoubling their line to prevent the fox from tagging the last goose. If the fox does tag the last goose, that goose becomes the fox and the fox becomes the gander.
Pom Pom Pullaway
Directions: This game is played outside. Two lines are drawn on the playing field with 30 to 50 feet between them. All players stand on one of the lines, except the one player who is chosen to be “IT” and who stands in the center of the field. “IT” calls any one player by name, adding the formula, as below:
“James Usher, Pom Pom Pullaway”
“Come away or I’ll catch you away!”
The player named must then run across the playing field to the safety line on the opposite side, while “IT” tries to catch him/her. If the child reaches the line safely, he/she remains there until all other children have a turn. Anyone caught by “IT” stays in the middle and helps catch the other players, but the original “IT” remains the caller throughout the game. After all of the uncaught players have crossed to one side, they try in the same way to return to their first goal until all the players are caught. The first one that was caught is “IT” for the next game. EVERYONE on the safety line may run at the same time if “IT” calls out “POM POM PULLAWAY” without saying a specific child’s name.
Teacher Resources
1. Think about your school. How does your school compare to the schools in the picture?
2. Pretend you are in a one-room schoolhouse in 1876. Here is a link to help you.
After experiencing the day as a student in a one-room schoolhouse, write an "opnion" paper. Explain the pros and cons to each. Don't forget to start with an opinion statement, then add supporting details to prove your thinking!
Playground Games from the Past
Fox and Geese:
Directions: One child is chosen to be the fox, another is behind the gander, each with his hands on the shoulders of the one next in front. The gander tries to protect his flock of geese from being caught by the fox, and to do this spreads out his arms and dodges around in any way he sees fit to keep the last goose from being tagged. (The fox may tag only the last goose in line.) The geese may cooperate with the gander by doubling and redoubling their line to prevent the fox from tagging the last goose. If the fox does tag the last goose, that goose becomes the fox and the fox becomes the gander.
Pom Pom Pullaway
Directions: This game is played outside. Two lines are drawn on the playing field with 30 to 50 feet between them. All players stand on one of the lines, except the one player who is chosen to be “IT” and who stands in the center of the field. “IT” calls any one player by name, adding the formula, as below:
“James Usher, Pom Pom Pullaway”
“Come away or I’ll catch you away!”
The player named must then run across the playing field to the safety line on the opposite side, while “IT” tries to catch him/her. If the child reaches the line safely, he/she remains there until all other children have a turn. Anyone caught by “IT” stays in the middle and helps catch the other players, but the original “IT” remains the caller throughout the game. After all of the uncaught players have crossed to one side, they try in the same way to return to their first goal until all the players are caught. The first one that was caught is “IT” for the next game. EVERYONE on the safety line may run at the same time if “IT” calls out “POM POM PULLAWAY” without saying a specific child’s name.
Teacher Resources
Usher's Ferry One-Room Schoolhouse Packet
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