What was the olden days like

They could contribute photographs or link from those elsewhere. So whether the focus is history or geography this could be a useful tool either for local studies or for looking at the changes in locations further afield. An alternative tool for sliding through history on a timeline of photographs is History Pin. Even those who were professionals often kept chickens, cows and gardens behind their townhouses. All the electronic appliances of modern times, from refrigerators to toasters, did not exist.

Ice was cut during the winter to preserve food during the summer, or in warmer climates, foods were smoked and preserved. Food was only part of the story. What on earth is going on? Well, politics is a cut-throat business, especially when an election is on the line.

Have you ever listened to a new song that sounded like you'd heard it before? It might have been a cover. Bands are always singing songs written by other people, or using samples of old songs to make a brand new dance track. But sometimes borrowing a tune can get them into big trouble. That happened to a famous Aussie band recently. So when is it Ok to sing someone else's song and when will it get you into trouble?

Sarah found out. When AFL star Ben Cousins was hospitalised a few weeks ago, it emerged that he'd been taking caffeine tablets before big games. It's not illegal and lots of players do it to give them an energy boost. Most of us consume caffeine every day in tea, coffee or fizzy drinks. So how can it affect our bodies and why are some people calling for caffeine pills to be banned from sport?

Over the school holidays were some big events for the country's camel racing community. Yes, you heard right, camel racing! That might sound strange but camel riding has a long and proud history in Australia and the people that came here with the first camels played a big role in building up Australia's centre. Sarah's found out about a race in an outback town that's come to be a celebration of family, culture and history. When the dyed cloth or twine is dry, the students can glue their samples onto stiff paper or cardboard and write the name of each dye next to the samples.

Another dimension to this activity can be accomplished by using plain white woolen yarn cut into 18 inch lengths. Your beautiful dyed yarn can later be used on handmade cardboard looms to create small woven projects. Your librarian can direct you to craft books showing how to make these projects.

We were lucky one year to have a parent who raised sheep on her farm and was an experienced spinner. She volunteered to visit our class to demonstrate wool carding and spinning for our class. We used undyed yarn she spun for our dyeing projects that year. In other years, we have turned to our local craft shops to suggest names of spinners who could share their craft with our classes. Children are fascinated by the spinning wheel, so do try to include this as part of your activities.

Life and work were hard in the olden days, but the inventive people of those times always had the goal of trying to make life just a little bit easier. A look at tools and gadgets of the past can tell us a great deal about the quality of life in those days. In our community in upstate New York, we are very fortunate to be able to tap into the resources of our local nature center, which also has a small homestead. From the homestead collection, we are able to borrow a collection of about 20 unusual tools that were commonly used in the olden days, but which look absolutely foreign to most of us today.

In your community, in addition to a nature center, you might consult your local historical society or perhaps an antiques dealer to help you put together a similar collection on loan. In the absence of any of these resources, obtain Bobbie Kalman's beautiful volume Tools and Gadgets from the "Historic Communities" Series Crabtree, and utilize its excellent illustrations for a pictorial adaptation of this activity.

Arrange the tools in a big circle that allows the children ample room to walk around and look at all of them. Encourage them to pick up the tools with care when appropriate -- use good judgment for sharp tools and try to figure out what they are and how they might have been used.

When the children have had enough time to investigate the tools, have each child sit near a tool of his or her choice. One at a time, go around the circle, asking the children what they think the tool might be and what it might have been used for. If the children are having a difficult time, give some clues about how the tool was used or ask the group what parts of the tool might remind them of. If no one correctly guesses the true name and purpose of the tool, then share that information with them.

This is a very enjoyable guessing game; some of the real uses for these tools are as funny as the children's guesses! Some of the tools and gadgets we have enjoyed examining with our classes include: rug beaters, ice tongs, milking stools, mortar and pestles, pulleys, popcorn poppers, toe-toasters, clamps, wringers, candle snuffers, leech barrels, bellows, dental tools, shoe scrapers, wash boards, foot warmers and belly warmers Not only were schools structured very differently long ago, but our national attitude toward formal schooling was very different, too.

School attendance in the 's was largely determined by a family's geographical location, their financial situation, and even their race. One fascinating contrast for young children is the fact that 19th century children grew into adult responsibilities so quickly that attending school was not always a family's top priority for their offspring. Usually, it was only city children who attended school on a daily basis for most of the year.

Farm children in rural areas were needed to assist their parents during all but the winter months, and so could attend school only briefly each year. For many children, such as boys in coal mining towns, their only access to any formalized education was at Sunday School. It was a very rare situation for ANY child to attend school past eighth grade; the privilege of high school or college education was reserved for a wealthy minority, usually males.

Today's children are also amazed to learn that many school teachers in the olden days began their careers at about 16 years old!

Bobbie Kalman's Early Schools Crabtree, is a "must-have" resource for pictures showing all aspects of school life in the 19th century. Invite students to look carefully and critically at the pictures and see what similarities and differences they find in comparison to today's schools. Encourage them to pay attention to details such as the size of the class, clothing, desks, apparent ages of the students, learning materials in the room, etc.

A debate over which was better -- "then" or "now" -- is sure to erupt! For a delightful and memorable activity, try creating a facsimile of a 19th century one-room schoolhouse for your students. Bobbie Kalman's Early Schools is perfect for ideas to help you set this up realistically.

During our minute "lesson," we arranged our desks in rows; we sat stiff-backed and were reprimanded for slouching! To make the experience more realistic and fun, we also administered several mock "punishments" for minor infractions such as fidgeting or not looking at the teacher having told parents and students in advance that we were going to do this!!