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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that toys are often more than just items for entertainment. Rehearsal of adult roles begins in childhood. Students will identify the hidden purposes of toys played with by children of other eras, as well as toys of our own era.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Before the lesson, laminate the sixteen images from the digital collection.
Step 2.
Divide the class into several groups. Give each group two or three of the laminated images to observe and discuss.Instruct each group to write down observations, questions, or comments about the images. Provide focusing questions such as: "Who might use this?" and "What would this be used for?" "Do you think this came from home, or from a store?"
Step 3.
Have each group hold up their images and then share their own observations. Elicit observations from other groups. Continue until each group has shared their images.
Step 4.
Ask students to consider whether there is a "theme" to the toys they have viewed. Would each toy probably have been for a boy, or for a girl, or for either. How do they know? Tape the images on the blackboard or wall by category (male/female/both).
Step 5.
Have students form groups as in step 2, and ask students to now examine each category. Consider what the intended purpose was for each toy. Did the toy give the child an opportunity to "practice" an adult role? If so, what role? How was that role important during the time period.
Step 6.
Ask students to choose from ONE of the following activities: 1. Individually write in their journals about the observations made. They should produce a paragraph about each category. This might be done as a compare/contrast writing assignment. 2. Write a story about using one of the toys. OR 3. Using a toy's eye view, write about the toy's times and family.
Step 7.
Finally, ask students to bring in magazine ads/pictures of current toys. How would they classify these? What do they observe about them? What do these toys have to say about childhood in our current era? Which of these modern toys are likely to be in a museum someday? What could that toy tell about its world and the children who played with it? Can some toys continue to be played with over a long period of time? Which ones? Why? Which modern toys might have no meaning to Colonial era children? How do toys reflect new inventions and changing roles in a given era?
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