Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 135 No. 2 Winter 2013-2014 | Page 5

Colonial Times in Miss Abigail’s Class
The fifth graders studied the Colonial times. They read books featuring fascinating
characters, cooked using their natural resources, dressed in simple Colonial dresses, pants
and vests, and got a taste of what school may have been like long ago.
Each student read a library book about Colonial times. They presented their book report
to the class in ASL including what they learned, what was interesting, what they liked
and did not like about the book. After reading through a variety of books, students chose
new names for themselves for the month-long unit. Caitlyn, Katie, Ellie, T.J., Jaeden, and
Jalila became Elenor, Maye, Rayya, Jack, Jackie Lee and Scarlet.
Some of the details of Colonial life were intriguing and fun to learn. Students made
hornbooks and wrote only with chalk. They realized a one-room schoolhouse would be
very strange with every age, and likely your siblings, in the same class. They were treated
as Colonial teachers would treat students. Students who misbehaved were embarrassed
publically and disciplined harshly. Fifth graders learned quickly that their ‘new’ teacher
meant business.
Experiencing day-to-day school life without the modern conveniences was a challenge
too. No colored pencils or markers, no highlighters, no spiral notebooks or three-ring
binders? The worst part of all, no technology! No computers, no texting, no email, no
laptops, no iPads, no Smart Boards? How could young students in Colonial times have
possibly lived without them?
Fifth grade students and their teacher learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed the
escape to simpler times even if only for a couple days.

LEFT: The serious and hard working students in
Miss Abigail’s classroom.
Front Row: Jackie Lee (Jaeden), Miss Abigail
(Ms. Alyson Urdahl) and Jack (T.J.).
Back Row: Scarlet (Jalila), Maye (Katie), Rayya
(Ellie), Elenor (Caitlyn),
ABOVE:
Jack (T.J.), Rayya (Ellie), and Jackie Lee
(Jaeden), make wax candles the Colonial way!
2013-14 Winter - 5