History Lessons By Teachers

Games and Toys, Girls and Boys

Created by Clark Gamble

Grade Level(s): upper elementary (4 - 6), upper elementary (4 - 6)
Historical Era(s): Expansion 1800 - 1860, Progressive Era 1880 - 1914, Two World Wars 1914 - 1945, Contemporary Era 1945 to present, Expansion 1800 - 1860, Progressive Era 1880 - 1914, Two World Wars 1914 - 1945, Contemporary Era 1945 to present
Content Area(s): English Language Arts, English Language Arts, US History, US History

front
World War I Toys

front
"The Quirlicut Company" Puzzle

front
WWI Toy Mounted Soldier and Horse

front
Toy Train

front
Toy Kitchen Range

front
WWI Toy Ambulance with Figures

front
Girls Basketball team, Deerfield Academy

front
"The White Doll"

front
Boy in a Skeleton Suit

front
Boys with Willow Whistles

front
Football players

front
Doll "Diana"

Title page
"The National First Reader; or Word-Builder"

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that historically, games, toys, and sports had a tendency to maintain gender roles. Students will develop an understanding of the evolution of gender equality in sports, games, and toys.

Teaching Plan

Step 1. Teacher will distribute copies of primary source photos attached to this activity to students, who will be organized into small groups.

Step 2. Students will observe photos and determine what they represent, and as a group, create categories for these photos under the headings of toys/games/sports.

Step 3. Teacher will ask students why they think some toys, games, and sports were seen as better suited to boys vs. girls back then.

Step 4. Students will create a Venn diagram with two circles, the basis of which will be gender. (boy activity, girl activity, or both).

Step 5. Students will refer to pages 79 (marbles) 81 (kites) and 89 (outside play for girls) in "The National First Reader; or Word-Builder," from the American Centuries Collection, in order to consider how gender roles were promoted in the past.

Step 6. Teacher will initiate discussion about toys, games, sports and gender roles today. Example: What games do you play in Physical Education? What activities are you involved in out of school? Are these games, sports, or toys for boys or girls or both? Students will then create a second Venn diagram in order to illustrate the games, toys, and sports they are involved in today. The Venn will once again have two circles, the basis of which will be gender. (boy activity, girl activity, or both).

Step 7. Students discuss the changes in gender roles over time as they compare and contrast the two Venn diagrams they have created.