AMERICAN CHILDHOOD THROUGH THE YEARS: COLONIAL ERA, 18TH CENTURY THROUGH EARLY 19TH CENTURY, AND PROGRESSIVE ERA by Barbara E. Moore A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Social Sciences Emphasis: Teaching American History May 2006 AMERICAN CHILDHOOD THROUGH THE YEARS: COLONIAL ERA, 18TH CENTURY THROUGH EARLY 19TH CENTURY, AND PROGRESSIVE ERA by Barbara E. Moore Approved by the Master’s Thesis Committee Delores McBroome, Major Professor Date Gayle Olson-Raymer, Committee Member Date Rodney Sievers, Committee Member Date Delores McBroome, Graduate Coordinator Date Donna E. Schafer, Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Date ABSTRACT This historiography examines the scholarly literature about American childhood over a period of 300 years. It will focus on three distinct eras in American history: the Colonial Era, the 18th and early 19th centuries, and the Progressive Era. Each era will highlight historians’ viewpoints on the concept of childhood, relationship of children to their community, discipline and childrearing, children’s work and play clothing, health, and education. The historiography also addresses the following questions: How did society view children in each era? Have children in the past been well cared for and have they experienced an easy life? Have they been protected from the pressures and demands of society? Have families been stable and able to provide emotional support? How have the details of children’s daily lives changed over time? Has education been a priority and if not why? The final portion contains a teaching unit that translates the scholarly information from the historiography into teachable lessons for elementary students. The challenge is to make history accessible to young students by presenting tantalizing lessons that are engaging and age appropriate. Teaching children of today about children of the past is the perfect vehicle because it helps them recognize those commonalities between their own lives and lives in the past. It helps them to begin to understand that we all have stories and a place in time. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 AMERICAN CHILDHOOD IN THE COLONIAL ERA.................................................. 5 Discipline and Child Rearing in the Colonial Era ................................................ 11 Children’s Work in the Colonial Era .................................................................... 16 Children’s Play and Clothing in the Colonial Era ................................................ 17 Children’s Health in the Colonial Era................................................................... 21 Children’s Education in the Colonial Era............................................................. 23 AMERICAN CHILDHOOD IN THE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES.......... 25 Discipline and Child Rearing in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries.................... 27 Children’s Work in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries ........................................ 29 Children’s Play and Clothing in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries..................... 32 Children’s Health in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries....................................... 34 Children’s Education in the 18th Century and Early 19th Century...................... 36 AMERICAN CHILDHOOD IN THE PROGRESSIVE ERA.......................................... 41 Discipline and Child Rearing in the Progressive Era ........................................... 49 Children’s Work in the Progressive Era ............................................................... 53 Children’s Play and Clothing in the Progressive Era ........................................... 55 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Children’s Health in the Progressive Era.......................................................................... 60 Children’s Education in the Progressive Era ........................................................ 62 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................. 69 FIRST GRADE LESSON PLAN ..................................................................................... 73 Introduction........................................................................................................... 73 Prior Content Knowledge and Skills .................................................................... 74 Lesson Hook ......................................................................................................... 75 Materials ................................................................................................... 75 Topic One: Setting the Stage for “Long, Long Ago”and “Long Ago”..... 77 Materials ................................................................................................... 77 Teacher Preparation .................................................................................. 77 Topic Two: Children’s Clothes............................................................................ 79 Materials ................................................................................................... 79 Background Information........................................................................... 82 Day One: Children’s Clothes.................................................................... 84 Extension Ideas ......................................................................................... 88 Day Two: Children’s Clothes ................................................................... 88 Topic Three: Children’s Play................................................................................ 90 Materials ................................................................................................... 90 Teacher Preparation .................................................................................. 91 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Background Information........................................................................... 92 Day One: Children’s Play ......................................................................... 92 Day Two: Children’s Play ........................................................................ 94 Topic Four: Children’s Work ............................................................................... 96 Materials ................................................................................................... 96 Teacher Preparation .................................................................................. 97 Background Information........................................................................... 99 Day One: Children’s Work ....................................................................... 99 Extension Ideas ....................................................................................... 101 Day Two: Children’s Work .................................................................... 101 Topic Five: Children’s Education....................................................................... 102 Materials ................................................................................................. 102 Teacher Preparation ................................................................................ 103 Background Information......................................................................... 104 Day One: Children’s Education.............................................................. 106 Extension Ideas ....................................................................................... 107 Day Two: Children’s Education ............................................................. 107 Extension Idea......................................................................................... 109 Topic Six: Children’s Health .............................................................................. 110 Materials ................................................................................................. 110 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page Teacher Preparation ................................................................................ 110 Background Information......................................................................... 110 Day One: Children’s Health.................................................................... 112 Day Two: Children’s Health................................................................... 113 Lesson Review.................................................................................................... 114 EVALUATION............................................................................................................... 115 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................... 116 APPENDIX A Grade Level Standards ........................................................................ 122 Grade Level Standards........................................................................................ 123 APPENDIX B Primary Documents............................................................................