Children in early schools used hornbooks, which were wooden slabs with the alphabet or prayers, to help with reading. Punishments for misbehaving included wearing a dunce cap or biting one's finger as a sign not to bite nails. School life involved learning reading and writing in a log school house with a strict school master, while having little time to play due to early waking and chores. Girls played with wood dolls and boys played with marbles, drums and rolled hoops or played London bridges for fun.