The event gave students from grades K-5 the opportunity to learn several subjects, such as math and penmanship, as well as playing games from the time period. Kids were also able to dress up in clothes from the 19th century.

Participants Eloise and Melvin Koch found enjoyment in different parts of the experience. While Eloise liked recess the most, Melvin found math to be his favorite part.

“I liked when we did the math on the board and then you got your own questions,” Koch said. “The fourth grade and fifth grade [math] was pretty easy.”

Elizabeth Fischer had a unique opportunity as one of the older participants, which she enjoyed the most. “I liked helping the little kids in math,” she said.

Elizabeth Fischer (pink bonnet) helps some of the younger students with their assigned questions. Fischer said this was her favorite part of the One Room Schoolhouse program

Alissa Biebl created the lesson plans and taught the subjects for the students. Math problems involved scenarios from the time period, such as a farmer planning a trip from New Ulm to Mankato, then Sleepy Eye, and all the way back using a horse carriage.

Penmanship class involved students using real ink and quills to practice their writing skills.

When it comes to creating the lesson plans for the students, Biebl took care to research methods and topics from the time period to make it as realistic as possible.

“There’s several good books on it. And there was a program [in place] before I [started] that had some of the core things down. I refined it to what I liked and what I felt comfortable doing. My research has shown what they did during the day and I’ve been trying to keep fairly straight to that.”

Though popular media may have given the kids some idea of schoolhouse life, Biebl believes experiencing it gives them a unique learning opportunity.

“It’s an education.” She said. “They’re learning about a period that a lot of them have watched [on] Little House on the Prairie. They’ve gotten a fair amount of the period from that, but this gives them a little bit more of a chance to experience it and see what it was like.”

Generally the event stretches over two days, but due to lack of registrations the program only ran for one day this year.

Those interested in the program or becoming a volunteer or teacher for the event can contact the Brown County Historical Society.