Following this introduction, use Overhead 2: Post-war Toys Research Question – to introduce the research question and the archival collection that the class lesson’s will be using to explore this question. Organize students into small groups and ask them to use the Venn diagram provided on Student Handout: Girl Toys, Boy Toys, Both? to take notes on the attributes of gendered toys found on the Post-War Toy Catalogue Page Eaton’s – 1 & 2 handouts. What did the toys encourage young children to do? Are there toys that are designed for both girls and boys? Are the gender lines more or less rigid than today? Ask them to think about what kinds of activities children would be expected to partake in while playing with those toys, what the differences would be for and and why people would find this limiting as they grew up. girls’ boys’ activities, Reconvene as a class and have a large class discussion about the notes they took on post-war toys. Discuss the baby boom and the larger kid-centric culture that privileged traditional gender roles. Use this discussion as a bridge into discussion of the movement. women’s Extension/Accommodation Have toy catalogue changed much? Encourage students to make their own toy catalogue mimicking or challenging the toy catalogue. Eaton’s Use the class discussion as a point of entry into a formal debate about the influence of toys on adult life. one’s Handouts & Worksheets
Following this introduction, use Overhead 2: Post-war Toys – Research Question to introduce the lesson’s research question and the archival collection that the class will be using to explore this question. Organize students into small groups and ask them to use the Venn diagram provided on Student Handout: Girl Toys, Boy Toys, Both? to take notes on the attributes of gendered toys found on the Eaton’s Post-War Toy Catalogue – Page 1 & 2 handouts. What did the toys encourage young children to do? Are there toys that are designed for both girls and boys? Are the gender lines more or less rigid than today? Ask them to think about what kinds of activities children would be expected to partake in while playing with those toys, what the differences would be for girls’ and boys’ activities, and why people would find this limiting as they grew up. Reconvene as a class and have a large class discussion about the notes they took on post-war toys. Discuss the baby boom and the larger kid-centric culture that privileged traditional gender roles. Use this discussion as a bridge into discussion of the women’s movement. Extension/Accommodation Have toy catalogue changed much? Encourage students to make their own toy catalogue mimicking or challenging the Eaton’s toy catalogue. Use the class discussion as a point of entry into a formal debate about the influence of toys on one’s adult life. Handouts & Worksheets
Gr10_Postwar_Toys.DOCX