| Standards Compliance |
NCSS
Strand 2
Time, Continuity, and Change
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NCSS
Strand 6
Power, Authority, and Governance
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NCSS
Strand 7
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
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NCSS
Strand 10
Civic Ideals and Practices
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NCTE
Standard 7
Students conduct research by generating ideas, questions, and problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data.
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NCTE
Standard 12
Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes.
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Introduction:
During World War II, all Americans experienced rationing of food, gasoline, and other products in short supply, regardless of their financial status. Being thrifty was the patriotic thing to do. Barbara Bush, as the wife of a naval officer, did her patriotic duty as well, experiencing rationing with the rest of America’s citizens.
Objectives:
The purpose of this lesson is to afford students the opportunity to address the experience of rationing and reflect upon its impact on the lives of young people their age.
Materials Required:
Index cards in 4 different colors (or white index cards with the rationed item written on them).
Procedures:
Discuss with students the idea of rationing as a restriction on the amount of something or the frequency with which something may be purchased or used in order to contribute to the greater good of a group. Explain that this is what happened during World War II, not only in the United States but also in all countries that were at war.
Give each student:
- 6 green cards (these represent 10 minutes of music)
- 4 yellow cards (these represent 10 minutes of talking on the phone)
- 4 blue cards (these represent 30 minutes of video games, television, or DVD watching)
- 2 red (or pink) cards (these represent 10 minutes of computer use for any reason)
Explain to students that these are their ration cards and that the times represent 1 week. When they have used up all their ration cards, they cannot engage in that activity for another week.
Now have them decide how they will use their cards this week. What would their leisure time schedule look like? What other activities might they participate in that is not rationed? Close the lesson with a reminder that Americans experienced rationing for well over 5 years and that this activity does not address food rationing, especially sugar, at all. Have students write about their experience in a journal entry.
Extending the Lesson:
After students have struggled with their own personal leisure time scheduled, the teacher may wish to group them into small “families,” since ration books were distributed for families. In this scenario, the teacher would collect half of each set of cards from each group.
Sources & Resources:
Credits:
This lesson was developed by Bette Brooks, Kent State University.
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