📖

Writing with Slates and Quills

School Days: Then and Now

Day 52of 180
Week 11of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Learn how children wrote in the past

2

Compare old and new writing tools

3

Practice careful writing skills

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 3:3

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.”

— Proverbs 3:3 (WEB)

Just as we carefully write on slates and paper, God wants us to write His words on our hearts

📦 Materials Needed

  • Small slate
  • Chalk
  • Feather quill
  • Ink (washable)
  • White paper
  • Pencil
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather children and show old writing tools. Ask them how people wrote long ago before pencils and computers.

💭 Review Question: What do you think children used to write with a long time ago?
2Teaching (8 min)

Explain how children used slates with chalk and quill pens with ink to write. Demonstrate careful writing techniques.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Slates could be erased and reused
  • Quill pens were made from bird feathers
  • Writing took more time and care back then
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How is writing different today?
  • Why do you think writing was special long ago?
3Activity: Slate Writing Adventure (10 min)
hands-on

Children practice writing letters and simple words on slates using chalk

📝 Instructions:
  1. Give each child a small slate and piece of chalk
  2. Demonstrate how to write carefully
  3. Let children practice writing letters
  4. Encourage neat and slow writing
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Trace large letters on slate

Challenge: Write short words or simple sentences

4Closing (2 min)

Discuss how writing is a special way to share messages and learn

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about writing long ago?
  • Was writing on a slate fun?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for helping us learn and write. Help us use our words to be kind and share Your love.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about what children studied in old-time schools!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:3

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.”

— Proverbs 3:3 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trace verse on slate with chalk

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Early schools used slates and chalk as primary writing tools before paper became common

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Allow children to explore writing tools
  • Emphasize the importance of careful writing
  • Encourage curiosity about historical learning
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find chalk writing challenging compared to pencils

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Careful writing, curiosity about historical tools

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a family history writing page using old-style tools
  • Visit a local history museum to see writing tools
  • Make a quill pen from a craft feather

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 53 →Back to History & Social Studies