First Graders Visit Wing Lake Schoolhouse

First grade students in Bloomfield Hills Schools had a blast on a field trip back in time to the Wing Lake Schoolhouse. The one-room schoolhouse is the oldest school in Bloomfield. It operated with a single teacher handling all responsibilities while educating students of various ages in a non-graded environment. Built in 1859 with local farm rocks, the schoolhouse was the pride and joy of the community. Fast forward to 2007, when the school received a makeover, and restored the classroom to the look and feel of the 1800s. The schoolhouse now hosts school groups for historical experiences and serves as a gathering place for social and educational events.

On the field trip, first grade students participated in four rotating stations: reading, writing, games, and chores. Students utilized chalk and small blackboards for sentence recording, practice with cursive letter formation, and solving math problems. Primer reading books demonstrated historical reading methods, prompting discussions on similarities and differences among book levels and styles of teaching. Through teamwork, students learned  games like Jacob’s Ladder, Fish on a Pole, Put and Take Pot, Nine Pins, and Tic Tac Toe. Some games were familiar, while others were entirely new experiences. Additionally, students engaged in historical chores such as dusting, sweeping, wood replenishing, water pumping, and slate cleaning, experiencing a mix of familiar and novel tasks. “I am so happy that first grade students were able to have a memorable hands-on experience, they had the best time!,” commented Conant teacher, Kelly Brush. 

Students departed from the one-room schoolhouse with a fresh perspective on modern technologies and ideas, as well as a newfound admiration for Bloomfield's history.