Today we roll back time to mid 1940's and spend the week reliving history during a 15 year time span.
So how do we make this time period relavent for kids between 3 and 10, we relive as much as we can. We explore WWII, creating timelines, discovering weapons of war, aircraft and honor those who sacrificed for our very freedoms. We set up a mach factory and 'play' with the concept of an assembly line. We practice rationing and listen to broadcasts from the era. We can watch little rascals (in b/w).
For the 50's we dive in a little deeper.... Again focusing on major historical events (timelines posted later in the week). Civil Rights movement, Automobiles, Telephone lines, Space Travel, what things cost, optimism....But here is an overview of activities, kids toys, etc that we will see and play with this week.
TV shows:
Howdy Doody, Flash Gordon, Lassie, I Love Luy, Fran and Ollie, Father Knows Best.
Music:
Listened to on a vintage Record Player, is there anything quite as nostalgic as that vinyl sound and occasional skipped beat. Carl Perkins, Ritchie Valens, Johnny Cash and of course Elvis Presley and his impact on the youth and the hip swaying Rock n' Roll.
Toys and Activities:
Legos, Army Men, Matchbox Cars, Mr. Potato Head, Model Airplanes, Jump Ropes, Kick the Can, Hula Hoops, Silly Putty, Slip and Slides and Barbies...
Making rootbeer, having a Malt, listening to a Baseball game on the radio, creating our own abstract expressionism as we discover the changes in art and architecture, making poodle skirts to name a few. We will finish our week with a fun celebration where the kids will share everything they have learned about this time in our history with their friends who will be invited over for a sock hop!!!
Preparing for this weeks theme has me feeling nostalgic even though this was decades prior to my arrival, there is just something about this decade that calls to me, and apparently that is a common feeling thanks to television shows that portray this time in a childs life with such idealism... And I found one article online that really captured my imagination and thoughts so well, its really worth a read.
Entertainment -the way kids did it in the 50s
General Overview of the 50s
Youtube video of life in a neighborhood during the 50s (youtube is a great source for some visuals to help the kids see what life was really like)
Victory Gardens and Rationing sources of info from the 40s.
Stay tuned each day as I post about our daily activities, especially later in the week when we transform our day from sun up to sundown to live like a typical family in the 50's.. that means nothing that has plastic, no color tv, or microwaves, it means simpler activities, and a whole lot of creative fun.
