The Freeman School, originally called the Red-Brick School House, served the community of Blakely Township, Nebraska from 1872 to 1967. It is representative of the one-room schools that once dotted the western landscape of the United States. The Freeman School served not only as an educational center but also as the church, a meeting hall, the township polling place, and as the social and political center of the community. At present, the National Park Service maintains and preserves this historic structure. This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Freeman Homestead and Freeman School" and other sources. The lesson can be used in U.S. history, social studies, and geography courses in units on westward expansion and homesteading, the history of education in the United States, early mapping of lands, and studies of U.S. cultural developments. It is divided into: "About This Lesson"; "Getting Started: Inquiry Question"; "Setting the Stage: Historical Context"; "Locating the Site: Maps" (Plat Map of Blakely Township); "Determining the Facts: Readings" (Red Brick School; Community's Experience; Treasurer's Account Book); "Visual Evidence: Images" (Red Brick School; Teacher and Pupils, 1914; Children in Front of School, 1913; Interior of Freeman School; Children at Play); "Putting It All Together: Activities" (And Today in the School; To Preserve or Not to Preserve; How Did My Town Grow?); and "Supplementary Resources." (BT)