On Friday 24th May, Year 1 traveled by bus to the NSW Schoolhouse museum in Ryde. The museum was the first building of North Ryde Public School and built in 1877. Year 1 have been learning about the past so this was a fantastic opportunity to travel back in time and see what life was like for school students over 100 years ago. We visited the old classrooms and took part in different activities including writing with ink pens and stamps. We even made toast by toasting bread on the fire in the classroom. We then had a turn at some outdoor activities such as tossing coits, skipping, marching to the drum and dancing around the maypole. We thoroughly enjoyed our day in the past but were very glad to return back to 2024 at the end of the day. Life in the past was hard work! 

Here are some thoughts from our Year 1 students:

It was really fun marching to the beat of the drum and dancing around the maypole. - Leo 1 Green

I found using the jelly print really interesting. We pushed down our paper, pressed lightly and then an Australian map appeared like a big stamp. Andriana 1 Green

I liked using the stamps and finding all the old artifacts in the classroom on the treasure map. Tia - 1 Green

I liked when we toasted the bread over the fire and then we got to eat it with yummy jam! - Sabrina 1 Blue 

I loved using the ink pens to write fancy letters. - Sebastian 1 Blue 

When we went outside we did drills and that was fun. I also liked Maypole dancing and watching the ribbon create a pattern. - Jayden 1 Blue 

I preferred our school desks today than desks in the past because now there is room to push our chairs in and move. -  Sargon 1 Red 

I enjoyed fancy writing with the ink pens even though it was tricky! - Heeva 1 Red

We got to investigate objects from the past by finding them around the room! I liked finding the globe. It looked different to now because it was wooden. - Samuel 1 Red

I liked using the jelly pad in the 1950s classroom because it was just like a photocopier! That’s what they used in the past for all worksheets! - Genevieve 1 Red