Activity #1

COPYBOOK EXERCISE

PLEASE NOTE  that this exercise is necessary for you to be prepared for your day at 
             West Bay Common School.

Objective: Early education stressed neat handwriting since so many things were 
           written out by hand. The students will examine handwriting of the 1890's 
           and attempt to copy it using the same means as scholars did in the past.

Target:    During your visit, you will practice strokes and some letters using a pen 
           and ink from a jar.  You will write the date, a simple sentence and your 
           name.

Materials: Each child will need a copybook to use at the school for penmanship
           - paper hole punch
           - yarn
           - brown paper or cloth scraps for cover
           * Note: Do not use newsprint for the pages because the ink will soak 
                   through the paper.

Directions:

     1. To make these, run off the last two pages in the appendix (Page 1 and Page 2 on 
        the web page) and cut on the dotted lines. (a total of six pages for each 
        copybook)

     2. Make a cover for the front and back, using brown paper bags or cloth scraps.

     3. Cut to the appropriate size, punch holes on the left side, and secure all the 
        pages together with yarn.  There should be a total of six pages in the copybook.

     4. The covers may be decorated as part of an art lesson in your classroom.