Freedom from Want: A Look at Rationing during World War II

Overview:

Students will take a look at the real-life challenges to family life during World War II. They will learn about the requirements and limitations of rationing. Using this information, students will create a budget for a family of four with an annual income of $2000. Their budget will include meals, clothing, shelter and entertainment. In addition, students will think about ways to extend the budget.

The activities may take 3 to 4 periods, 45 minutes each.

 

Enduring Understandings/ Essential Questions:

1. Families on the homefront faced major challenges during World War II.
2. The economy was stronger during World War II due to an increase of jobs available.
3. Rationing helped to provide essential supplies for the military overseas as well as ensuring all on the homefront would get their fare share of goods.
   • What were the challenges faced by families on the homefront during World War II?
   • What was the effect of the war on the U.S. economy?
   • What was rationing?
   • Why was rationing important?

Objectives:

• Students will read and apply information about rationing during World War II.
• Students will create a budget for a family of four with an income of $2,000.
• Students will brainstorm ways to extend the family budget by engaging in activities supporting the war efforts.

Background:

World War II began in 1939. The United States was not involved in the beginning of the war, however, President Franklin Roosevelt believed that the United States would eventually need to play a larger role. In January 1941, he made his speech to Congress. In his speech, President Roosevelt named the Four Freedoms, which he stated are the rights of everyone in the world. After the speech, in an effort to convey the underlying message of the Four Freedoms, the President reached out to the art world for help. Many artists created works to reflect the meaning of these freedoms in the form of paintings, sculptures, prints, musical compositions, and more. Norman Rockwell thought a lot about these ideals. In February and March of 1943, his completed Four Freedoms illustrations were published in The Saturday Evening Post, each along with a related essay. Exceedingly popular at the time and distributed widely as prints and posters, Norman Rockwell's illustrations raised over 132 million dollars toward the war effort through the purchase of war bonds. Prints of Rockwell’s Four Freedoms were given as premiums when people purchased war bonds in varying denominations. His illustrations became the face of the Four Freedoms and they continue to represent the meaning of these freedoms today.

 

Materials:

Classroom Supplies:

• Print copies of the following article explaining rationing during World War II
• Copies of Rationing and Food price list (handout) for each student
• Images of ration coupons and ration book
• Student budget worksheet

Activities:

• Students should have had opportunity to view and discuss the illustration, Freedom from Want by Norman Rockwell. In addition, they should have had opportunity to listen to or read the 1941 Freedom Speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
• Provide students with a copy of the informational text explaining rationing during World War II. Allow them time to close read the text, marking important information, as well as questions they have.
• Meet with students to discuss the text explaining rationing.They may have questions and misunderstanding that will need to be clarified before they create a family budget.
• Provide students with Food Price list and Ration list as well as a Student budget worksheet.
• After students have had opportunity to create a budget, meet with students to review and discuss the budgets they created.  What ideas did students come up with to extend the budget?
• Thinking about today’s economy, what are their thoughts about life during World War II.

• Extend the learning: Have students update the information you gave them to reflect a budget for today, including the kinds of trips and entertainments typically enjoyed by today’s families.

Assessment:

• Are students able to identify the challenges that families faced during World War II?
• Are the budgets created by students realistic?
• Are students able to come up with some ideas to extend the budget?