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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that meal preparation for early Americans was a labor-intensive activity primarily involving the wife/mother of the typical household but also requiring the assistance of all members of the family.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Brainstorm a typical contemporary American breakfast menu and all the activities, utensils, appliances used to prepare it. Note where the foods and ingredients are kept, how easily available they are.
Step 2.
Ask students to view each item in the digital collection. Discuss the origination, function, ease of use for each item. Ex: water for cooking hot cereal: use the yoke and pails to fetch water from the stream/well. Toasting Iron: watching carefully as the bread toasts over the coals.
Step 3.
Discuss how long and difficult students think the meal-making process was for people of the early American era. How might that consideration impact overall health, longevity? What were the challenges for storing food?
Step 4.
In small groups or pairs, students should select one part of the meal-making process. In steps, illustrate and write captions to demonstrate understanding of the labor and tools required.
Step 5.
Compile and share the products of each group into a class book.
Step 6.
Post Activity: Ask students to write a reflection on how their lives would have been different if they had lived 200 years ago.
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