The document describes an educational program at the HighPoint Museum about early American education. Visitors can experience colonial education methods through activities like using a hornbook, battledore, primer, and participating in a spelling bee. The program aims to demonstrate the level of education colonial people received and the materials that were used, like hornbooks and spellers. It provides historical context on factors that influenced education levels and discusses common educational tools of the time period.

1. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Education
Early Americans used different educational materials including hornbooks, battledores and
primers. Our historical interpreters can help prepare you for school through Early American
education. The education program includes battledores and a spelling bee.
Learning/Interpretive Goals:
 Demonstrate the level of education among colonial people.
 Show how they were educated and what subject materials were covered.
Activities
 Spelling Bee (optional: Spelling blocks)
 Hand writing
 Arithmetic
 Making battledores
Time Frame Year round, preferably Fall whenschool begins
Time Estimate All day
Volunteers 2 at least
Materials
 Hornbook, battledores, primer, etc.
 Slates and chalk
 Optional: Quill pens (see Quill Pen Writing Program)
 Words for Spelling Bee

2. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Historical Context
Education existed among all social classes to varying degrees based on wealth, gender, religion
and many other factors. The wealthier a family the more opportunities would be available for
education from private tutors and college. This in turn would allow the well-educated person to
find a higher status job such as a doctor or lawyer. Women required a certain level of education
in order to provide her children with a basic education at home. Homeschooling was an
essential part of a young child’s life. Using materials such as a family Bible, the mother would
teach basic reading. The level of education a woman attained was also affected by religion.
Most major religious groups barred women from higher learning or equal learning to the men.
However, other groups such as the Quakers emphasized equality among the sexes in education
as well as many other areas of their culture. Slaves usually received little education though
there are some recorded documents mentioning slave education.
Rice, George. “The ABC Hornbook in America: A Child’s Guide to His Letters” (Nashville,
IN: American Folk Toys, 2000) Available from American Folk Toys, Games & Crafts
Peterson, Robert A. “Education in Colonial America”:
http://www.libertyhaven.com/politicsandcurrentevents/educationhomsc.../colonialamerica.shtm
Associated Myths
 Colonial people were not well educated (untrue).

3. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Program
Battledores taught the
alphabetandspellingthrough
word association and
pictures.
Hornbooks were early
educational toolsforlearning
the alphabet, numbers and
writing.
Slates and Chalk can be used
for writing words for a
spelling competition.

4. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Benjamin Franklin’s Number Puzzle:
Using nine small wooden panels as
shown in the picture, one must
arrange the numbers in order so that
they add up to 15 in each row,
column and diagonally. The picture
shows the solution.
Examplesof booksusedto
educate children.
Bottom: New EnglandPrimer
Top: The ABCHornbook
Right: George Washington’s
Rulesof CivilityandDecent
Behavior.

5. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
NumberBlocks: an arithmeticgame.
One rollsthe dice and eitheradds,
subtracts,multiplies,ordividesthe
numberstoget an answer.Use to
teachmath skillsandcan be adjusted
for varyingages.
Available fromOldSalemand Guilford
Courthouse National MilitaryPark.
Spellingblocks:a game in whichone
rollsthe dice and attemptstospell
wordsusingthe lettersgiveninthe roll.
Can be usedfor a spellingcompetition.
Available fromOldSalemandGuilford
Courthouse National MilitaryPark.
Battledores:
Guests can make their own
battledore. Draw lines on a sheet of
paper to form a grid as shown in the
top of the picture. Have guests draw
pictures of items associated with
each letter of the alphabet, one
letter per box.

6. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Spelling Bee Words:
Forge Petticoat Ordinary
Necessary Breeches Chemise
Trammel Shilling Lugpole
Farthingales Pocket Weasel
Haversack Quill Neckerchief
Cooper Leathersmith Housewright
Blacksmith Housekeeper Garters
Heckles Militia Sheriff
Musket Tape Battledore
Pence Barter Backcountry
Gourd Flint Sachet Herb Textile Fiber
Cotton Flax Linen Wool Lucet Yeoman
Cochineal Anvil Quaker Log Brick Mortar
Chinking Receipt Weaver Spinning Dye Midwife
Lye Rifle Wig Privy Apothecary Constitution
Springhouse Macaroni Weskit Cordage Miller Dressed

7. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Education Additional Information
 Harvard
o 1st college established in the colonies
 Hornbook
o Horn covered with thin sheet of paper
o Originated in England 1540’s
 The purpose of education
was the ability to read the
bible
 Most people could not read
script but could read print
 New England Primer
o 1690’s Boston
o contained bible
verses

8. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
 Bible was the ultimate goal for education
o Everyone wanted to learn to the read the bible
o 1782 First English language bible in America
o used the King James version of the bible