Mr. Roma's American History Class

World War II, Homefront

This page lists your assignments for May 12th through May 16th. The Web sites will provide you with valuable information for each assignment. Group projects and presentations are due on May 16th.

Monday: Introducing Rationing

Check out this web site about Rationing and ration books during World War II - Rationing

After checking out this website, form into groups and discuss your reaction to this if this happened now.  Would you write your congressman? plan for the shortages?  After discussion, your group leader will go in front of the class to state your reaction to this emergency.

Tuesday: Dealing with Rationing

Divide into your groups, and after I give each group your handouts, you will need to purchase enough food for all of you to eat for the month.  Make menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and try to add variety to the menu. Remember, you can only buy an Item if you have enough ration stamps for it.  It doesn't matter how much money you have, it's the number of stamps. After this is done, your group leader will stand in front of the class to tell how difficult it was to make the menu, and what sacrifices you made to let everyone eat.

Wednesday: Adapting to Rationing

See this site about Victory Gardens

After I introduce techniques for expanding your food options, such as Victory Gardens and Government Handouts, your group needs to form to adjust your menu if you did this in your household.  Did you grow a Vistory Garden?  What did you plant?  Afterwards, your group leader will come up to the front of the class to tell how you adjusted your menu, and to tell of any other ideas you had to make ends meet.

Thursday: The End of Rationing

In your group, decide what you would change on your menu when the rationing ends.  Do you buy a lot of sugar? Make a lot of good meals?  Save your money?  Afterwards, come up to the front of the class and tell how you would get your life back to normal.

Friday: Analysis of the experience

Have your group gather again to write down what your group experienced during the rationing period.  Did you make it?  Did you need handouts or a garden?  Did your family unit need to go to the black market to make ends meet?  Using Microsoft Word, type this out and add it with your menu, and hand it in as a group for a group grade. For more information of activities that happened on the homefront, go HERE.