TITLE: Rosie Riveter's Recipes
Grade Level
5th through 8th grade
Curriculum Objective
Demonstrate concept of supply and demand on consumers during wartime in a free
enterprise system.
Time required
1 week
Content Area
Social Studies
Social Studies TEKS Addressed
(5.13) Economics. The student understands the impact of supply and demand on consumers and
producers in a free enterprise system. The student is expected to:
(A) explain how supply and demand affects consumers in the United States; and
(B) evaluate the effects of supply and demand on business, industry, and agriculture,
including the plantation system, in the United States.
Resources:
- Ben's Story
ben/benstory.HTM
- Houston, Gloria. But No Candy. New York: Philonnel Books, 1992
Procedure:
- Read "Ben's Story".
Discuss what life would be like without some of the everyday things we take for granted.
- Have students research the definition of "rations". Make a list of
the items rationed during the war. Create a timeline to show when the items became scarce.
- Have students brainstorm how rationing would affect them today. Then have them
complete a creative writing assignment entitled: A Day Without ______. (for example:
"A Day Without Sugar", "A Day Without Chocolate", "A Day Without
Gas", or "A Day Without Rubber"). In this writing assignment students will
describe how a day without the item might impact them throughout the day. Homework
assignment: Collect family recipes from the WW II time period that reflect
substitutions as a result of rationing or have students create their own recipes that
include substituted ingredients. Have students input these recipes on the recipe cards.
Evaluation:
WW II recipe book showing substitutions made due to rationing.
Extension:
Create an advertisement for your rationing product that encourages people to use your
product and at the same time help their country.
