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Summary and Objective
The children will understand that infant/toddler furniture used by families today was also used by early American settlers. They will also reflect upon how the basic design and characteristics of childrens' furniture from long ago can be seen in modern day furnishings. Learners will discuss and contemplate why certain elements persevered, while others did not.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Begin a whole group discussion by having the class generate a list of items that would be necessary to a family that is expecting a baby. Scribe their ideas on chart paper.
Step 2.
Once the list is generated, ask the children if they think families in colonial times needed any of these items for their children, circling those as indicated. Challenge the students to investigate further by bringing in some photos from magazines, catalogs, or newspapers of childrens' furnishings.
Step 3.
During the next session, the children will be instructed to study the attached furniture photos carefully. (Make copies ahead of time and blank out the name of each piece!) They will then decide which pieces of furniture were designed for childrens'use and which were not.
Step 4.
Each child will then choose three items of childrens' furniture from step 3 and, on an index card, write down the name of the item and what it's purpose is.
Step 5.
Next, they will view photos of modern day versions of each item, listing several characteristics and several elements that have been changed over time. They will be instructed to specifically focus on improvements in materials used and design as they relate to certain events/discoveries in history. (e.g. plastic, machine-made vs. man-made, safety features,etc.)
Step 6.
Finally, present the images on the large screen, stopping to discuss each one and calling on volunteers to speak to what they noticed.
Step 7.
Upon returning to class distribute large construction paper for drawing. The children will use the paper to draw a piece of furniture from the website on one side, and a drawing of a modern day piece of furniture on the other, with elements that are different clearly emphasized with color and perhaps a written label (e.g. cradle with wheels today vs. rocking style from long ago). The students will work in pairs, if possible, with one person drawing the 'old' and one the 'new', thus allowing for peer discussion.
Step 8.
Once completed, display drawings on a bulletin board for all to enjoy!
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