Grade 4/5 students went back in time to discover what a school day in the life of a child would be like in 1880, the year Rutherford B. Hayes was president.

Students began the day with an opening ceremony of the pledge and a song. Then the children showed their best penmanship using slates on their laps, since students sat in benches without desks back then. They wrote a memory verse and then recited it with perfect elocution. Children assumed different names and ages, and some of them were siblings. Even the current events they discussed were from the 1880's.

Reading recitation was out of the McGuffey Readers. Fables were read to the children and the moral of the story was emphasized. The history lesson for the day was about the French and Indian War. Math included story problems and reciting the basic facts.

Excellent posture and good manners were required at all times. If these strict expectations were not followed, the consequences were either wearing a dunce cap or being reprimanded with a hictory stick. The students also participated in a spelling bee. Recess was a scavenger hunt throughout the Provencal-Weir house.