Dishwasher
Dishwasher - Wrap-up
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Advancement
02/04/2022 - 08:24
Using examples of technology like the dishwasher and the television to show students these new technologies that we now take for granted. Ive always compared the cold war to a game of chess. One side will move, and the other will make a move based upon the other sides move.
Exploring the changes of modernization after WWII
08/31/2021 - 22:31
It would be an interesting project for students to examine photos, videos, and advertisements of the post-war era in order to see how daily life changed in the home. Students could create a timeline of inventions or focus on a particular invention to create a report that explained the significance of that invention to the daily lives of Americans in the era. Then also describe how that invention impacts our lives today. Past and present comparison.
From a War to the Good Life
08/20/2021 - 11:47
I would ask my students what is the worse thing about doing the dishes. Answers may be anything from loading, unloading the dishwasher, washing them by hand, drying and putting them away... what works for them.
We would then discuss how the U.S. had been an important player in WWII, at the beginning, by manufacturing needed items for our allies in the war effort. Understanding how factories were needed in our country to help our war allies and that women became a vital part of that work force.
We would go on further to realize with the war ending, the need of war supplies was over, our factories could now be used to produce time-saving and convenient items as electric stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers to be used in our own homes. We can appreciate the comfortable standard of living we enjoy today with this adjustment from WWII.
We would then discuss how the U.S. had been an important player in WWII, at the beginning, by manufacturing needed items for our allies in the war effort. Understanding how factories were needed in our country to help our war allies and that women became a vital part of that work force.
We would go on further to realize with the war ending, the need of war supplies was over, our factories could now be used to produce time-saving and convenient items as electric stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers to be used in our own homes. We can appreciate the comfortable standard of living we enjoy today with this adjustment from WWII.
Economics, Not War
08/10/2021 - 22:47
With the introduction of the nuclear bomb the face of warfare was changed forever. Governments were capable of destroying the entire planet at the flick of a switch. We know had to come up with less destructive, yet equally devastating, methods of combat. The resources of the module show how this process can be done. We are shifting from the bullets and bombs of WWII to the wallet, who can make the other go bankrupt and collapse their economy first. To help get my students into this line of thinking I would pose the question, "Besides killing, how can you destroy an enemy?"
The Dishwasher
08/09/2021 - 10:37
I teach 4th grade VA History, so this is not an area we discuss. This period of history is discussed at the middle school or high school level.
I would show the picture of the dishwasher and see who recognized what the object was. Then, I would ask for what was it used. Then, I would ask, "What would you do if you didn't have one?" Then, we would discuss how life in America has changed due to the technological advancements that have been made. I would explain that factories that had been making items like cars and appliances were changed to make items like tanks and war planes to help fight a war. We would talk about how Americans were able to change the items that were made in factories successfully. Americans were able to adapt to the needs of the time.
I would show the picture of the dishwasher and see who recognized what the object was. Then, I would ask for what was it used. Then, I would ask, "What would you do if you didn't have one?" Then, we would discuss how life in America has changed due to the technological advancements that have been made. I would explain that factories that had been making items like cars and appliances were changed to make items like tanks and war planes to help fight a war. We would talk about how Americans were able to change the items that were made in factories successfully. Americans were able to adapt to the needs of the time.
Dishwasher
08/03/2021 - 13:51
I would show a picture of an old dishwasher to the students and fill out a KWL chart on what they see. After having a class discussion and filing out the KWL, I would then show a picture of a modern dishwasher and have students compare and contrast. Another possible activity to do is to have the students compare and contrast other appliances from when they first came out to the present day appliances, how they have influenced us today, and how they have changed over the years.
Values T-Chart
08/02/2021 - 22:00
A good activity to help the students understand the differences between the U.S. and Soviet Union would be to create a T-Chart. As a class, we could look at several pieces of stimuli (like the dishwasher, the Kitchen Debate video, etc) and try to ascertain what the values for capitalism and communism each are, and put them in the T-Chart.
Dishwasher Politics
07/31/2021 - 20:21
I would use this module to teach History to high school students. I would follow the module and its resources in much the same way that I learned from it. A simple mid-century photo of a dishwasher, some ads current to the time and the "Kitchen Debate" would be a great way to introduce the Cold War, post WWII. Students could work in groups to analyze the appliance and how it might have played a role. After watching and discussing the debate, a brief paper could be written. The two speakers could be analyzed and compared as their roles grew in history.
The Dishwasher Debate
07/27/2021 - 09:29
I teach VA history, so I could connect the dishwasher with the American Indians and Jamestown settlers with the modern times. How have times changed? When do you think the dishwasher was invented? Why do you think the dishwasher was invented? (This could lead to me throwing in the part about the Cold War and how production changed from war equipment to other items for the home) How has the dishwasher made life easier? Do you think it takes away from real family values? (Then I could tell them about the kitchen debate) Ask them which way they would prefer to wash dishes and why.
Time For Fun
07/19/2021 - 10:38
Post pictures of common items found in today's homes and then items found in homes in 1914
Make a chart for students to brainstorm the Pros and Cons of each item.
Example- A TV is a must-have- but what about paying for the electricity or the cable bill.
Make a chart for students to brainstorm the Pros and Cons of each item.
Example- A TV is a must-have- but what about paying for the electricity or the cable bill.
The Dishwasher gives me more time for the finer things!
07/17/2021 - 13:22
I would start the the lesson with primary sources of pictures, stories and videos of the devastation of WWII in Europe. I would do comparative charts and pictures showing the lifestyles of Communist Russia and the capitalist United States during the Cold War.
Cold War
07/14/2021 - 14:32
The Cold War was much more than a military conflict. I would have students look at the Cold War from different perspectives: ideological, economic, political, social, and cultural. Students would analyze many primary and secondary sources during the Cold War period, with the purpose of making connections among the sources to write a narrative about the time period. Students would be given great latitude in analyzing sources and researching things that interested them during the Cold War time period.
World History I/Government
07/14/2021 - 11:05
Making connections between economics and political interactions is a critical connection to make in understanding society. This is true of the world today and it is true of the ancient world I teach about in World History I. An example I can use is how the need for sea trading in ancient Greece led to their growth and wide impact on civilizations to come. Their need to use trade to survive also allowed the Greeks to share their newly developed system of democracy with other civilizations. This connection between economics and government is a key reason why America exists today.
Rosie the Riveter - Warm-up Activity
07/11/2021 - 22:13
Divide the class into three groups and have each group examine the poster of Rosie the Riveter. Tell them they will share their description of the poster and answer one of the following guiding questions:
1. Who is the audience for the poster?
2. What are the messages being conveyed by the poster?
3. How do images like this poster help them understand patriotic war service?
1. Who is the audience for the poster?
2. What are the messages being conveyed by the poster?
3. How do images like this poster help them understand patriotic war service?
The Kitchen Debate
07/10/2021 - 16:58
I teach Civics and we talk about different types of economies. I would love to use this particular module to make the important connection between the history they have learned before coming to me. Having the background information through historical thinking will give the students a clearer view of "why" we are learning about different types of economies and make valuable connections. I might have students observe luxury items of today or consider the race to space that is taking place right now and ask the same questions. How has the internet and social media changed the concept of other nations and how others live either positively or negatively? Has it also increase the desire for power in some form?
Hot Debates of the Cold War
07/10/2021 - 09:58
As an Economics teacher, I appreciate the emphasis on the battle between the communist command economy and the capitalist mixed-market economy that is woven throughout the propaganda of the Cold War ear. One way I would use these resources might be to have students compare the seemingly contradictory posters of Rosie the Riveter vs. the housewife with her pile of dishes dreaming of a dishwasher to see how the media seeks to influence public opinion, and how to look for these biases. I might also use the video of Nixon and Khrushchev to help students develop their own arguments over the pros and cons of the two economic systems being debated. I might then have them carry out their own debate, in which the class decides which system is superior.
The Innocuous Dishwasher
07/09/2021 - 17:38
Activity: Understanding Diplomatic Tactics in a Effort to Forestall Military Action
Topic: The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union
Students could be shown a picture of a 1950's era modern kitchen, complete with its then technologically advanced, work-saving complement of appliances that were said to be found in the "average" American household. Questions could be asked of the students that would lead them into a discussion of how they thought these objects related to the classroom lectures and readings about the Cold War and the United States' Policy of Containment. They could then be shown a video of the Kitchen Debates between then Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and the Soviet First Secretary, Nikita Khrushchev held on July 24, 1959. Further discussions could be generated about how effective the students thought the debate was on changing the ideologies of either the Soviets or the Americans. Students could also contemplate and suggest other non-military methods that were used or could be used during the Cold War and at other times in American history to avoid a Hot War. As a challenge, students could be encouraged to think about and discuss how effective and important they think diplomatic tactics are to America's future relationships with other global nations and how it can be used today and in the future for war avoidance.
Topic: The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union
Students could be shown a picture of a 1950's era modern kitchen, complete with its then technologically advanced, work-saving complement of appliances that were said to be found in the "average" American household. Questions could be asked of the students that would lead them into a discussion of how they thought these objects related to the classroom lectures and readings about the Cold War and the United States' Policy of Containment. They could then be shown a video of the Kitchen Debates between then Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and the Soviet First Secretary, Nikita Khrushchev held on July 24, 1959. Further discussions could be generated about how effective the students thought the debate was on changing the ideologies of either the Soviets or the Americans. Students could also contemplate and suggest other non-military methods that were used or could be used during the Cold War and at other times in American history to avoid a Hot War. As a challenge, students could be encouraged to think about and discuss how effective and important they think diplomatic tactics are to America's future relationships with other global nations and how it can be used today and in the future for war avoidance.
Dishwasher
07/06/2021 - 12:38
I do this with a picture of the interstate being built. But this does a great job of brining together so many themes of the 1950s and later together. To talk about retooling after World War II to the influx of credit and then how the baby boom created a need for more home with conviences in them. I would have never thought to go to the next step of applying that to the Cold War but its obvious now that I see it
Squeaky Clean
04/15/2021 - 16:20
Students in Elementary school could make posters to advertise the dishwasher and include in that advertisement, the pros and cons of having one. This can tie in with our economics unit of study. Dishwashers help reduce the labor load and provide a "service" somewhat to families if they do in fact, become a consumer and purchase this good.
Standard of Living in 2030
12/14/2020 - 19:20
Students have to learn about the history of the washing machine first. Then they will take a piece of technology or Twentifirst appliance and explain under what conditions can we make this a world market gadget and how this would improve our society of living. Think about the Jettsons and explain how that would change the world.
Post WWII Consumer Goods
12/14/2020 - 18:16
My favorite unit of study with my 6th graders in US-History II is World War II. I would engage them further into the Post WWII era (Cold War) by showing them how vastly the economies differed, as well as showing them some of the consumer goods America was making. I would have them think about how much longer chores would have taken to complete. They love studying about "Rosie the Riveter", and I would have them realize that since house hold tasks were now simpler and shorter, most women left to work in the factories outside of the home.
Industrial Production: War and Peace
12/13/2020 - 09:48
I would have students brainstorm to develop a list of wartime products and peacetime products developed in the twentieth century. We would have a discussion of the capabilities of industrial production and how that during World War II, all industrial effort was put forth for war materiel. I would tie this together with the development of the Cold War at the end of WWII, showing that the United States was able to dominate the world economy while improving the lives of its citizens, while the Soviet Union focused its industrial efforts towards weapons of war, and how this affected the lives of ordinary people in communist countries. I would make use of videos and DBQs and have students end with writing a reflective essay on comparing the two competing systems during the Cold War.
Cold War Culture
12/11/2020 - 15:36
A lesson I had done once was having students make Russian propaganda posters after having studied the Russian Revolution. The resources in this lesson would still fit in well if it then turned into an option of Russian or American propaganda. The resources provide insight on both sides of the aisle explaining the tension, ideas, and values of American culture and Russian culture during a time of the Cold War. I thought it was interesting even the differing of opinions on a machine like the dishwasher while America saw it as a symbol of modernity and status Russians viewed it as a flaw in American ideals and obsession's with materialism.
Get Back in the Kitchen
12/09/2020 - 15:16
Have students rave to wash a sink full of dishes while having other chores to complete. Have them compare results.
Discuss how the advancement of technology helps individual in Democratic countries and how the free market system encourages advancement.
Discuss how the advancement of technology helps individual in Democratic countries and how the free market system encourages advancement.
Kitchen Debate- Holly Natalie
12/08/2020 - 13:41
I would have students watch the video footage of the Kitchen Debate between Khrushchev and Nixon. After watching, students would write a brief paragraph on the type of relationship that existed between the two men and the two nations. Next, I would have students examine some primary and secondary sources on some of the issues related to the Cold War like the Marshall Plan, containment theory (Kennan), and newspaper articles regarding the Sputnik launch, which happened 2 years before the Kitchen debate. Students then would add evidence to their initial paragraph to provide more context to this debate.
Cold War consumerism
12/07/2020 - 12:59
I think looking at products that changed Americans way of life at this time period is interesting. The idea that a dishwasher would be significant representation of the conflict is interesting.
Cold War Kitchen
11/24/2020 - 02:21
To begin a unit on the Cold War, I would show students the Hotpoint ad included in this lesson and ask them to brainstorm how it relates to post-World War II America. Students would share their ideas, after which I would briefly discuss how appliances focused on convenience was the result of a shift in manufacturing following the war.
The class would then watch the “Kitchen Debate” between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev. Students would be asked to explain what the “Kitchen Debate” reveals about America and the Soviet Union's respective industrial priorities and values.
The class would then watch the “Kitchen Debate” between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev. Students would be asked to explain what the “Kitchen Debate” reveals about America and the Soviet Union's respective industrial priorities and values.
Dishwasher
11/22/2020 - 18:54
I would show students pictures or old video clips of inventions like the mechanical dishwasher. I would share how these were a symbol of a higher standard of living. By the 1960s, these labor-saving devices were common in middle-class kitchens throughout America. These mechanical inventions become important symbols in the Cold War ideological struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. Where western capitalism appeared as if they were more able to provide its citizens with a higher standard of living than citizens living in communist states. I would most likely create a research project-- were students =view, read and explore these mechanical inventions and have students reflect on how they have influenced and changed the world we live today.
Hidden stories of everyday items
11/19/2020 - 20:19
After learning how the development of American industry and the connection between appliances like the dishwasher to the geopolitical situation in the Post-WWII Era, students can be tasked with a mini research project of their own. They should choose/be assigned another modern invention from their lifetime...smartphone, tablet, gps, etc. research the history of its development and its connection to any country, or social, political, economic movement of the era. Students could also study the opposite effect...how have these dvices helped to fuel social, political, or economic changes.
Life After the War
11/18/2020 - 13:24
I think my students would be interested in investigating the origins of some of the gadgets that are currently commonplace in their homes such as the dishwasher. Students in this day and age are used to the technology and think nothing of why it was created.
Cold War, Warm Dishes
11/17/2020 - 08:51
I think it would be interesting to have students look at the standard of living for Russian citizens vs American citizens. In that, you could connect it to teaching the difference between communism and capitalism. Additionally, you could use many of the primary sources in the module to enhance understanding of the Cold War and technological advancements during the 20th century.
Why and what of the Cold War
11/15/2020 - 14:35
My students would participate in a competition to find the most ways to make change for $2.15 (the amount wouldn´t matter). The winner would receive a very lucrative prize. We would relate that back to motivation and how the US and Russia went head to head in a war of ideas to prove one type government superior over the other. Because of their age they would need to have a concrete basic understanding of down to earth outcomes and a working definition of communism and democracy
Why and what of the Cold War
11/15/2020 - 14:35
My students would participate in a competition to find the most ways to make change for $2.15 (the amount wouldn´t matter). The winner would receive a very lucrative prize. We would relate that back to motivation and how the US and Russia went head to head in a war of ideas to prove one type government superior over the other. Because of their age they would need to have a concrete basic understanding of down to earth outcomes and a working definition of communism and democracy
WWII and the Cold War
11/15/2020 - 14:28
I would really love to use the picture of an early kitchen gadget and have the students fill out a KWL chart and then pose the question what would be importance of that item. Then students could be group and research its development and importance.
How Capitalist Manufacturing Beat Communism
10/31/2020 - 17:45
Show a video of U.S. war production in World War 2. Then show a video of the transition of the U.S. industrial base into post-war consumer production. Then I would show videos of the relative spartan existence of average Soviet citizens, with their food lines, cramped government-issued apartments and lack of reliable automobiles and then show statistical data that bears these facts.
Wash the Dishes
10/31/2020 - 17:09
Who has time for the dishes in the modern era? I have learned to make time. This lesson would be set up as a debate between the students to argue why is was important to own a dishwasher. They would have to understand the era, the money, the wars, the whos, the whys and the hows before going into the debate. Their questions would have to be appropriate and show of knowledge. They would also have to be prepared for a rebuttal. This would be a Q and A.
Kitchen Debate
10/26/2020 - 15:00
Showing students the Kitchen Debate video and having them construct a debate on which world leader formed the best arguments in favor of their own nation.
What Our Appliances Say About Us As A Society
10/22/2020 - 09:49
I would ask my students to research the most pivotal advancements in appliances in the 20th Century. Next, I would have them discuss the changes that have occurred in our society based on these advancements. Finally, the students would discuss the following questions. Are the advancements all beneficial? Does America's fascination with new technologies take away from our basic human connectedness and need for each other?
High School Music
10/21/2020 - 14:22
In the music world, one of the biggest things to come out of the war was the music written during those years. Specifically by Russian composers. Many Russian composers wrote some very dark music depicting the times that they had to live through. Many American composers were forced to move to manufacturing jobs to help keep up with with the labor needs for the war, then were able to return to their composing jobs after the war.
Can you live without it?
08/26/2020 - 12:23
Students would be grouped and given a card with a everyday household item. They would discuss how the job the item did would have been done before the item was invented or there was electricity. They would then draw on a clock the amount of time the task would take without the labor saving device and with it.
The Cold War: Containment at Home and Abroad
05/27/2020 - 13:42
I would engage students in really delving into the life in each country and how there were similarities and differences. By examining state-sponsored Soviet propaganda and American advertising campaigns, students will see how each nation promised prosperity. Also, by reading the Nixon-Krushchev 'kitchen debate' and students will learn that Cold War diplomacy extended beyond discussions of military might to include issues such as way of life. I would have students work in teams to gather supplementary information from lectures and textbooks to answer a writing prompt. The writing prompt would ask students to assess the US foreign policy and domestic policy of containment in the 1940s and 1950s. They would be given a range of potential topic sentences to use in their responses. They would use primary sources to explore the causes of the Cold War and the connection between the war and domestic expansion and cultural change. Students would be asked to consider the meaning and impact of the Cold War on American Society. While reading the major speeches and diplomatic texts of the era, students would also learn that the Cold War affected domestic as well as foreign policy.
Come Clean!
05/18/2020 - 10:40
I would first hold a guided discussion of what life was like in the average American home in the 1940s. I would then have my students document what typical "chores" look like in their homes (laundry, dishes, lawn mowing, floor cleaning, etc) and to speculate on what their lives would be like if the machines used for these chores didn't exist.
American Industry
05/13/2020 - 11:28
Have students explore the american industry as to how the location of their industries made it possible for industries to switch production roles, from war equipment to consumer goods while increasing the american standard of living.
The Dishwasher; A Symbol of Capitalism
05/10/2020 - 18:14
Students would sources the dishwasher picture and have a discussion about how it changed daily life for Americans. Then we would put it into context of the Cold War and the tension between capitalism and communism. Perhaps the guiding question would be how does a consumer item demonstrate the successes and faults of the capitalist system.
The Dishwasher; A Symbol of Capitalism
05/10/2020 - 18:14
Students would sources the dishwasher picture and have a discussion about how it changed daily life for Americans. Then we would put it into context of the Cold War and the tension between capitalism and communism. Perhaps the guiding question would be how does a consumer item demonstrate the successes and faults of the capitalist system.
"From WWII to the Cold War"
04/22/2020 - 19:09
I would have my students both view and read the trascript of the "Kitchen Debate" while having discussions about the differences between Capitalsim and Communism.
The Carousel of Progress
04/16/2020 - 18:06
Just like Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress I would show the students how things have changed from the generation to generation with pictures, resources and videos. We would discuss why we made these changes how it ties into our history and why they are important.
Ideology of the Dshwasher
04/15/2020 - 14:52
This module would be an example tool to teach U.S. History. The students could complete a historical research project on a major figure from World War II. This could also be done with a focus on the Cold War. The student could focus on the importance of the manufacturing industry in the United States and the role they played in the rebuilding of the European countries that were destroyed due to the war.
Alternate History
04/15/2020 - 09:34
My students will have a balanced approach to teaching about the mid-twentieth century, with the information and primary sources from this module as well as opportunities for further research. I'd like them to engage in research about capitalism to better understand how our economy works and how it came to be this way. I want students to be educated also in other economic systems and compare their benefits and consequences. If they were involved in the kitchen debates, what would they say to argue the merits of their economic system? What criticisms of the opposing system would they bring forth? Did the two countries share ideas equally? Did the Soviet Union meet and surpass the level of growth and wellbeing of America in seven years? Students will generate their own questions for research and pondering as well as respond to questions such as these that encourage critical thinking. They'll also consider what would have happened had the Cold War ended differently, soon thereafter as well as what the repercussions would be today.
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the "kitchen".
04/13/2020 - 16:39
The use of the dishwasher, the then ultimate modern kitchen luxury device of that period, was a great symbol to demonstrate the success of the post war capitalist economy over the the soon to be crumbling economies of the Soviet style communism. The "kitchens" speech could be used to demonstrate the bluster from Moscow that was rarely if ever backed up by economic success. The investment by the Marshall Plan could serve to highlight the commitment of the democratic west to see the people of western Europe not only rebound but thrive economically post war, unlike their eastern counterparts who fell behind the "Iron Curtain" of no individual freedom and eventual economic ruin through command economies. The "heat" put on Soviet style Communism through capitalistic economic superiority has not received the historical credit deserved and that could be highlighted from the content as well.
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the "kitchen".
04/13/2020 - 16:39
The use of the dishwasher, the then ultimate modern kitchen luxury device of that period, was a great symbol to demonstrate the success of the post war capitalist economy over the the soon to be crumbling economies of the Soviet style communism. The "kitchens" speech could be used to demonstrate the bluster from Moscow that was rarely if ever backed up by economic success. The investment by the Marshall Plan could serve to highlight the commitment of the democratic west to see the people of western Europe not only rebound but thrive economically post war, unlike their eastern counterparts who fell behind the "Iron Curtain" of no individual freedom and eventual economic ruin through command economies. The "heat" put on Soviet style Communism through capitalistic economic superiority has not received the historical credit deserved and that could be highlighted from the content as well.
From Dishwashers to Nuclear Weapons
04/08/2020 - 22:05
I would show students a series of Cold War Era pictures and include pictures of modern conveniences such as the dishwasher that were produced after WWII. I would ask students to choose the pictures that were related to the Cold War. Many students will invariably not select a dishwasher and possibly even poke fun at the idea of it being included in the selection of photos. Then I would tell the students that all pictures were relevant to the Cold War and challenge them with the task of figuring out why.
1st Grade Teacher - Dishwashers in History (Past and Present)
04/08/2020 - 17:59
During our unit on the Past and the Present we always talk about how things are similar and different with toys, transportation, homes, and different things. So I could show a picture of a dishwasher from the past and a dishwasher from the present and we can talk about how they are alike and how they are different.
Hand or machine?
04/07/2020 - 22:05
Students will discuss past and present. Students will take a look at the picture of the dishwasher. Then students will look at today’s dishwasher. There will be a whole group discussion on the differences between a dishwasher in the 50s and today’s dishwashers. What can we learn from the picture of the 1950’s dishwasher. How were things different from then to now. Discuss with students the differences of 1950’s and today. Show video clips of life in the 1950’s. How were they the same and different? Students will then sort pictures of things in the 1950’s and the equivalent of that same item today.
Cold War Propaganda
04/06/2020 - 10:52
I would have students look at the propaganda campaign during the Cold War. Since this is such a broad topic, students would compare and analyze Western/capitalism and Soviet/communist posters in particular. They would try to figure out the purpose/message, author, beliefs, intended audience, how makes one feel & why, etc. using evidence from prior knowledge as well as symbols/artwork depicted the poster. As a class we would come together to discuss our posters and findings and try to make connections to modern propaganda/misinformation campaigns.
Dishwasher
04/04/2020 - 17:58
First, I would engage my students by presenting the picture of the old dishwasher and telling how the invention of the dishwasher came as a result to an ending war. I would tell the students how after the war there was no longer a need for people to work to build machinery for war, so America began to build other good such as cars, refrigerators, televisions and even the dishwasher as a way to keep jobs available to people and make it easier for working families. This was in effort to keep many Americans from become poor or homeless. As a result, it also caused a disagreement between America (displaying a world map to point out where America, the country where we live) and Russia (another country far from us) are located. These became known as a "Cold War" between the two country. Next, I would explain the "Cold War" wasn't actually a war battle with shots, but a struggle over political and economic views between the two. I would explain the opposing political and economic views of both countries use a graphic organizer. Therefore, pointing out that American is what is called a capitalist society and Russia is what is called communist society. Lastly, I would use a game to help students gain a better understanding of how capitalism and communism work. There is a great lesson using chocolate Hershey's Kisses to help teach Communism and Capitalism on Pinterest to students in primary grade levels.
Propaganda and how it changes
04/03/2020 - 12:12
I would have students analyze some of the propaganda posters used in the module and interpret their meaning.
What are the symbols used and what do they represent?
Is there a caption and what is it?
What time frame is the poster used? How do you know?
Who is the audience that the poster is targeting? Justify your answer.
I would then have students analyze how the propaganda posters change with the events going on in history.
For example: The Russian is portrayed as a friend and ally during WWII, but how does it change after WWII is over?
Have students listen to the debate and discuss the relationship between the two leaders post war WWII. Compare and contrast communism vs capitalism.
What are the symbols used and what do they represent?
Is there a caption and what is it?
What time frame is the poster used? How do you know?
Who is the audience that the poster is targeting? Justify your answer.
I would then have students analyze how the propaganda posters change with the events going on in history.
For example: The Russian is portrayed as a friend and ally during WWII, but how does it change after WWII is over?
Have students listen to the debate and discuss the relationship between the two leaders post war WWII. Compare and contrast communism vs capitalism.
A Tale of Two Economies
04/02/2020 - 12:45
I appreciate the layout of this module, in that students could brainstorm about the use of a single product (e.g., the dishwasher) based on the knowledge they had acquired on recently completed Great Depression and World War II units. Describing the division of the world into post war capitalist and communist camps through the development of consumer goods--which ties into ideas of emergent globalism; the fact that American production was intact after the war, combined with a greater appreciation for the destruction in Europe and Asia; how mass production works and the existence of a co-ed labor force, etc.--could help students gain a greater understanding for the political side of the Cold War. Students could in small groups pick a (new) technology from the early post-war era and discuss its role in the Cold War, be it in the domestic, tech, art sphere or something else, and present to the class that object's use as weapon, propaganda, means of cultural change.
Blackwell- Classroom Connections
03/31/2020 - 23:28
I think my kids would really enjoy to see some pictures of the old dishwasher and compare it to pictures of dishwashers now. Maybe I could even show them pictures of things that are very common in our homes today, and let them compare those pictures to newer versions that they recognize.
Better Standard of Living
03/31/2020 - 16:25
I would discuss the usage/implications of the dishwasher. Then have the students to compare and contrast how domestic work was done before WWII and after. They would consider things like the vacuum cleaner, microwave, stoves, washing machines, etc.
Consumerism Capitalism Poison
03/29/2020 - 20:33
I would engage students in the content of this module by having them analyze pictures.
QUESTIONS:
Who is in the photo?
What country do they represent?
Where are the women?
Where are the Africans and Asians, the people from the countries within those continents?
Why are they not there?
What happened to the American empire after the war? Did it expand of collapse or morph into something never seen before?
Why does the text focus solely on Germany?
If it was a World War, why did not all or even a majority of world leaders meet at the Yalta Conference?
Venn Diagram
Analyze pictures of new consumer products and discuss the effects the products have on the environment. Compare and Contrast tasks like washing dishes and doing laundry over the centuries.
QUESTIONS:
Who is in the photo?
What country do they represent?
Where are the women?
Where are the Africans and Asians, the people from the countries within those continents?
Why are they not there?
What happened to the American empire after the war? Did it expand of collapse or morph into something never seen before?
Why does the text focus solely on Germany?
If it was a World War, why did not all or even a majority of world leaders meet at the Yalta Conference?
Venn Diagram
Analyze pictures of new consumer products and discuss the effects the products have on the environment. Compare and Contrast tasks like washing dishes and doing laundry over the centuries.
Classroom Connections - Cartwright
03/25/2020 - 10:07
I would use these resources to demonstrate how the American life began to change. You could easily compare the goods being produced at this time to modern American goods. I think that the propaganda posters could be used and compared to modern commercials to help demonstrate that propaganda has been used throughout history to get the public to adhere to policies, support certain stances, and purchase goods.
Cold War Goods
03/25/2020 - 00:31
I love the idea that this is centered around advancements that make life easier. I believe that is an "in" that will hook students during this time of "everything is at your fingertips" I would have students do a pre-write about what they think a Cold War would describe. I think I would have pictures of multiple items that were being manufactured during this time and have students see what connections they could make between the items and then go into a computer scavenger hunt type activity where the clues are embedded into each component. This would lead them through a story line that connects the items to the Cold War. We would look back and give a new description of what the Cold War really was.
"The Man Who Saved Christmas"
03/24/2020 - 14:33
Watch the movie called "The Man Who Saved Christmas." It is about a toy factory that was required to stop manufacturing toys and produce war equipment. It is a wonderful and heartwarming story about the human spirit and the compassion of Americans. Use that movie as the starting point to explore WWII on the home front. It includes switching the factories over for the war and retooling it to begin life over after the war. The movie encompasses much of this lesson about the dishwasher and could lead the class right to the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union.
Industry and Innovation
03/23/2020 - 13:45
Have students imagine life without modern conveniences such as tv, dishwasher, washing machines, driers and refrigerators. Provide primary and secondary documents that explored life before and after these products were made available to the masses. In 4th grade, we learn about the Marshall Plan, so that could easily be integrated into a discussion of how industry thrived because our country was not physically devastated by war.
Post World War II
03/21/2020 - 18:12
I would do a survey to see how many children have a dishwasher in their home and how many still hand wash dishes. Kindergarten children can compare how life before and after World War II changed. Modern conveniences like the dishwasher, color tv, toaster, etc. helped improve daily life and economy after the War. The children need to understand that things change over time. They could draw pictures of items used in a kitchen before the war and items used in a kitchen after the war.
Capitalist Dishwashers
03/21/2020 - 18:04
If we ever, hopefully, get back to school- we were just beginning the Cold War, so I can use some of these resources immediately. As we talk about the United States' post-WWII prosperity, we can discuss why we were so prosperous (only country whose factories came through the war unscathed) and how our factories were able to quickly convert from consumer goods, to manufacturing war goods, and back to consumer goods so quickly. We can discuss how the desire for new consumer goods fueled a booming economy and was used as a tool to show "the Commies" how much better democracy and capitalism were.
Different economic systems
03/21/2020 - 12:11
I would use images of shops, products and marketing materials to demonstrate the differences in command and free-market economies. The lesson would start with an image of the cereal aisle in a modern shop. Kids would be drawn in by discussion on the cereals they like. I would then show a picture from N. Korea and move into a discussion on how consumer demand can allow for product diversity.
K Wasosky 7th Grade "How Can You Determine the Strength of An Enemy"
03/21/2020 - 11:34
Taking a look at your competition in athletics and academics in your school, would you say our school is better than others in our region, or worse? Give examples such as records in certain sports and academic competitions. After defining these, explain what makes our school better or worse in certain areas of competition?
I will tell the story of my high school softball experience in a Chesterfield County school as a pitcher versus Powhatan County, where I now work in the 1980's. I had the opportunity to talk with a softball player in Powhatan which I competed against and asked, "How were you all so good at hitting?" The response was, "We had a lot of fundraisers and got a terrific pitching machine. We could hit off of anything after working with it." As a pitcher, that really took the wind out of my sales. However, it seems again, that technology is the key.
I will tell the story of my high school softball experience in a Chesterfield County school as a pitcher versus Powhatan County, where I now work in the 1980's. I had the opportunity to talk with a softball player in Powhatan which I competed against and asked, "How were you all so good at hitting?" The response was, "We had a lot of fundraisers and got a terrific pitching machine. We could hit off of anything after working with it." As a pitcher, that really took the wind out of my sales. However, it seems again, that technology is the key.
The Dishwasher and the American Dream
03/18/2020 - 14:37
I would have students create a list of machines/technology that do chores for us today that used to be done by hand. I would then have them categorize the items from what they found to be the most necessary to the least necessary. Then, I would ask them how someone from a third world country, with no electricity or running water, might view this list.
From there, we would go into a discussion on how our industrial might plays into our social consciousness and how others around the world perceive us. We could then talk even beyond the Cold War, and what, if any, obligations the US has today to make a better life for people in other parts of the world.
From there, we would go into a discussion on how our industrial might plays into our social consciousness and how others around the world perceive us. We could then talk even beyond the Cold War, and what, if any, obligations the US has today to make a better life for people in other parts of the world.
Economies Win Wars
03/17/2020 - 15:36
Some Historians will argue that the war was won through economic breakthroughs. Consider the shifts in gender roles, with more women than ever joining the workforce outside the home. In fact, what was once taboo becomes fashionable and seen as a huge sign of patriotism. Propaganda, used to promote or politicize, a certain political cause, targeted directly at women to garner their support, moving them outside their homes and into the workforce. We can ask the questions, Is it right to persuade someone into a decision for another's gain? It is likewise said of this workforce mobility that WWII brought full employment and fairer distribution of income. Let us know look at this idea of income distribution.
Students are provided with a KWL activity enabling them to consider: income, wealth, absolute poverty, and relative poverty to answer the question, "What is poverty, and who are the poor," as a back door entrance into wartime economy, this dishwasher (as a primary source), and the change in American households.
Students will be placed into small groups to conduct a web quest (being careful to look at the mission and purpose of the website) (students are to use .org, .gov, .edu sites)
Students will develop a point of view and urge people to act through a poster the group makes.
Poster are placed on a gallery wall, whereby we will conduct a gallery walk. Then the floor will be opened for discussion employing the use of guided questions.
Students are provided with a KWL activity enabling them to consider: income, wealth, absolute poverty, and relative poverty to answer the question, "What is poverty, and who are the poor," as a back door entrance into wartime economy, this dishwasher (as a primary source), and the change in American households.
Students will be placed into small groups to conduct a web quest (being careful to look at the mission and purpose of the website) (students are to use .org, .gov, .edu sites)
Students will develop a point of view and urge people to act through a poster the group makes.
Poster are placed on a gallery wall, whereby we will conduct a gallery walk. Then the floor will be opened for discussion employing the use of guided questions.
American Standard-not just a brand, but a way of life
03/17/2020 - 12:46
I would engage students by showing photos of the dishwasher and factory workers. I would ask them to make a hypothesis about the two and their connection. They would be allowed to analyze the photos and note anything that they see about each. Hopefully, they would notice that both photos are from the past and have a great deal of questions regarding a connection. This would open our discussion on economic development under capitalism and self-sustainment of America post war. I would use these resources to teach differences between capitalism socialism, then have a debate over which one provided greater quality of life for the citizens who fared under each system.
dishwasher
03/16/2020 - 19:45
I would show a picture of the dishwasher and ask the students to guess it's function. Then compared with the dishwashers of today. I might also ask who does not have one in their home. We could discuss why a family might want one and what their economic situation would be to be able to buy an early model dishwasher.
Retooling America
03/13/2020 - 23:18
I would have them look at the dishwasher, and then I would get them to see that after WW2, we were able to switch our factories that produced weaponry and war items back to or begin producing items for the regular citizens in our country. This showed how we and our economy was able to bounce back after the war.
Compare and Contrasting a Way of Life
03/13/2020 - 10:29
I would have students engage in a compare and contrast between wartime Europe especially Germany and Italy and the United States. The students would look at the two or three areas and see the vast differences between the areas and then realize the inequities that were experienced. I would also have the students take a look a the one-upping that was occurring between the United States and the Soviet Union. They need to understand what happened when we came that close to another war.
Classroom Uses
03/11/2020 - 10:55
Unlike some of the modules I have completed, I think I would not focus a whole activity on this. I might just use the image and ask similar questions to see how the students think the dishwasher relates to history. I could do this during the Cold War notes. It could be fun to look at some old advertisements of different products that were popular around the time. To also look at gender roles and to see what has changed, and what has stayed the same.
As easy as 1, 2, 3
03/10/2020 - 22:25
This module has to do with America becoming a powerhouse for making mass production of materials. It also have to do with the advancement of the woman becoming more than just a person who's in the background but more so a person who's going to be in the forefront and being respected. The inventions of the dishwasher help the y be more effective faster and enjoy time with her family more. and as far as the nation is concerned this was a time that allowed materials to be created faster becoming more competitive in the global market. My students will be engaged in this buy a simple conversation and doing a timeline that represents what materials are made during this time and how the woman have evolve during this time.
Labor-saving Devices
03/09/2020 - 22:22
I loved the "kitchen debate" between Nixon and Khrushchev. I think it can help students understand the stark contrast between communism and capitalism. Many of them can also relate to having all these "gadgets" in their homes now that so many Americans began having in the Postwar Era.
Future World
03/08/2020 - 11:08
I remember going to Disney World in the early 1970's and seeing the "Future World" where it tried to show what the world would be like in the 2000's. I would like the students to create the world of the 3000's and how new appliances and technologies may end world wars forever.
Dishwasher Connection
03/06/2020 - 15:39
I think the content and strategies in this module would be helpful in demonstrating to students the far reaching effects of war into our everyday lives. Students would gain a better understanding of how the end of one war can bring about conflict that will eventually lead to another war. It will also be beneficial in pointing out how our allies in a war can become our enemies in another. These materials will be useful in showing how and why a country would potentially ally themselves with an "enemy", for means of taking out a larger enemy.
Applying Lessons Learned
03/04/2020 - 14:05
I would put a picture of a dish washer (or similar device from the period) on the projector and challenge the students to create a Mind Map connecting the device to themes of American history such as economic, social, cultural, political, and technological. This Mind Map would serve as the basis for a discussion and note taking connecting to World War Two and the Cold War.
The Dishwasher-Cold War
03/03/2020 - 10:43
I think the best way to grab the students attention and get them to think critically would be to show them the progression of the dishwasher and ask them how a dishwasher helps people. Accessing their prior knowledge of women's roles in society and how war changed them will come next in a discussion format. This will allow students to make connections between women/the workforce/and ultimately the war. Once we have a good baseline of information I can give them a series of images (from this module) and ask students to create a hypothesis using context and close reading of how these images relate to the image of the dishwasher and the effect it had on the economy, society, and politics.
Who has time to wash dishes
03/03/2020 - 10:21
Collect primary documents on the opinions of dishwashers and other labor-saving devices and have students analyze the importance of these inventions on women who were new to working outside of the home.
From Planes to Dishwashers
03/03/2020 - 08:36
Students begin learning more about world history in middle school according to state standards. Following the first world war and the great depression era, going into how America regained it's economic power back because of the war effort is important for students to understand how our economy is still shaped today. Students could create a propaganda poster for supporting the war effort during the second world war and then create another one focusing more on selling a consumer product after the war.
Technological innovations during the Col War
03/02/2020 - 16:11
Students can create ideological flow charts of Cold War countries, superimposed on a timeline of mid century household innovations for a compare and contrast of capitalism vs. communism economic success.
Labor saving devices/cold war
03/02/2020 - 13:15
I would begin by having the students make a list of all of the devices they have in their kitchen (this can be expanded to the entire home, but I would focus just on the kitchen). I would then have the students share what they wrote while I compiled a list of these items on the board. After the list is created go through it and talk to the students about what the item did and what life was like before it was invented. The prime example is the dishwasher, yes there are still some people that do wash some items by hand. But most of the dishes people use end up in the dishwasher to be cleaned saving large amounts of time. Talk to the students about what it would be like if they didn't have a dishwasher and had to wash and dry all of the dishes by hand. What would there evening after dinner look like compared to what it is now. I would then talk to the students about how these labor saving devices greatly changed the lives of women. They now had vast amounts of time that was once spent completing various chores around the house. This led to a shift in women going back to the workforce and later down the road their struggle/fight for equality.
The second focus in this module was the cold war. The emphasis on the cold war is the struggle between the United States and Soviet Union with the arms race and space race along with some wars/crisis's where the two sides never actually fight one another. This module showed that the fight/competition between the two didn't stop there. They were also battling one another with other forms of technology as well. The Soviets felt that the Americans were wasting their time with some of these labor saving devices and therefore the Soviets were superior because they were focused on more useful technology.
The second focus in this module was the cold war. The emphasis on the cold war is the struggle between the United States and Soviet Union with the arms race and space race along with some wars/crisis's where the two sides never actually fight one another. This module showed that the fight/competition between the two didn't stop there. They were also battling one another with other forms of technology as well. The Soviets felt that the Americans were wasting their time with some of these labor saving devices and therefore the Soviets were superior because they were focused on more useful technology.
The Dishwasher as a Symbol
03/02/2020 - 12:24
I would use the dishwasher, as well as the materials utilized, to show that the cold war was every bit a culture war, a way of life war, as it was a political or military disagreement.
Even as allies, it was apparent that the two sides, the USSR and USA, were incompatible, as the respective philosophies were just utterly irreconcilable with one another. This manifested itself clearly in things like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the proxy wars in Asia, but until one sees the cultural beliefs spelled out as the materials/resources here do, you never really fully understand just how enormous the divide was.
Students would be asked to write a first-person essay as a citizen in the USSR. By doing so, students would be asked to reference 10 cultural, political, economic, or religious differences from the lens of the Soviet soldier.
Next, I would assign the same assignment, but this time, students would assume the role of an American soldier. Again, I would ask the student to underline 10 facts that are cultural, political, economic, etc., and that are unique to the USA during the cold war period.
Even as allies, it was apparent that the two sides, the USSR and USA, were incompatible, as the respective philosophies were just utterly irreconcilable with one another. This manifested itself clearly in things like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the proxy wars in Asia, but until one sees the cultural beliefs spelled out as the materials/resources here do, you never really fully understand just how enormous the divide was.
Students would be asked to write a first-person essay as a citizen in the USSR. By doing so, students would be asked to reference 10 cultural, political, economic, or religious differences from the lens of the Soviet soldier.
Next, I would assign the same assignment, but this time, students would assume the role of an American soldier. Again, I would ask the student to underline 10 facts that are cultural, political, economic, etc., and that are unique to the USA during the cold war period.
Wash away!
03/02/2020 - 09:03
By bringing pictures of factories before, during and after the war I would engage students in discussions on how industry could change to meet the needs of a every changing society. Students could also compare in the success in America to the not so successful European countries. The showing of pictures will be a strong realization of how things changed quickly before, during and after the war.
What we have what they do not
03/01/2020 - 13:32
The emphasis on how much better free people had it from the Berlin Blockade to 45 years later will be easy to connect with students using opjects and video clips and propaganda cartoons that have limitations due to the intent to persuade gullible audiences.
The Development of Appliances after World War II
02/29/2020 - 18:11
Students will research the development of time and labor saving appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machines, dryers, and the refrigerator. The students will seek early photographs of these appliances and give examples on how they have changed over the years.
Dishwashers and Twitter
02/28/2020 - 19:17
While a dishwasher can say a lot about Cold War competition and the role women have played in the American family, I think the internet is a more approachable Cold War innovation for my students. Showing them the role the military played in advancing our connectivity so as to make us better able to respond to Soviet threats, could better enable them to understand the connections between the government and innovation, the military and corporate America, or as Eisenhower warned, the Military Industrial Complex. Those connections have changed Americans in many ways. Some of my students might even look up from their cell phones when I tell them that the military is at least partially responsible for freeing women from household chores, and for shackling their minds to the unending, petty dramas of the virtual world.
Flexible Industry over Time
02/28/2020 - 18:11
During the 1940s and into the 1950s, manufacturing industries were flexible to build what was needed at the time. During the war era, production changed to provided necessary equipment for battle. After the war, factories went back to their previous products or transformed into new items. Such items manufactured after the war were time saving products such as the dishwasher. The production of the dishwasher also brought about change in the home. Homemakers were able to be more efficient by having such time saving equipment. It also created a notion that our culture was becoming luxurious.
Full Steam Ahead
02/28/2020 - 13:48
I would introduce the emergence of a shift in industry after the cold war. See how many labor saving devices students could list today. Have them research some of there ideas to see how they affected society today.
The next part of the lesson would deal with items that they have personally come into contact with and let them explain how it was life changing. Did it make life easier?? How did it affect the manufacturing companies?? Did they have to retool their plants in order to make the products? Did we have to make major changes to produce things like the microwave, TV, radio, automobiles??
The last part of the lesson would deal with what ideas, products, etc. be in the future. Do you see anything in particular that could change the course of what people do today? Would the image change from a consumer standpoint?? What affect would it have on the economy??
The next part of the lesson would deal with items that they have personally come into contact with and let them explain how it was life changing. Did it make life easier?? How did it affect the manufacturing companies?? Did they have to retool their plants in order to make the products? Did we have to make major changes to produce things like the microwave, TV, radio, automobiles??
The last part of the lesson would deal with what ideas, products, etc. be in the future. Do you see anything in particular that could change the course of what people do today? Would the image change from a consumer standpoint?? What affect would it have on the economy??
Technology Debate
02/26/2020 - 15:07
I would like to turn this into a debate, starting with the video of Khrushchev criticizing America for this invention. I would also show students some data regarding the number of dishwashers being sold each year throughout the Cold War until now, and then ask them to create a response to the question posed by Khrushchev: "Are technological advancements and gadgetry like this causing our American values to be replaced?" I could also include a few other examples of technology such as smartphones, self-driving cars, etc. and ask what their impact has been in simplifying our lives and also how they have impacted our American values.
Dishwasher Friendly
02/26/2020 - 11:24
The discussion of dishwashers in American history is a sub-sector of the larger discussion on the flexibility of the American economic and labor system. I would use the content in this module to structure a lesson that would serve to introduce the students to American advancement after World War II. The documents which describe WWII would be used to set the stage with the focus on American consumerism and the rise of the middle class being the focal point. I would use the image of the dishwasher in the 1930s and have the kids analyze it for relevance. After reflection, the students would be given advertisements showing dishwashers during the 1950s and 1960s and be asked to make connections between how Americans were able to rebound so quickly after both the Great Depression and World War II.
Mass Production America
02/26/2020 - 11:15
I think students take for granted all the luxury items they have in their life. Would be good to have a simulation where you took things out like the dishwasher and laundry machines and have them have to calculate how much time it would take them to make up for those machines. Then explain how mass production was started and what it started for. Cars and war time materials/supplies/planes. Have good discussion on pre-purposing the industry for luxury items that now have changed society as a whole.
Cold War, Hot Water
08/12/2019 - 16:48
I would engage students by dividing the class into two groups and have them each come up with five things that would benefit their lives and their society. The groups would present their five things in a “Summit” and explain why their items were more beneficial and would catapult their society into a higher standing. After both groups explained their position, we would correlate the findings to Cold War era accomplishments and how they had positive or negative effects on both society and the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. I would have five pictures/resources of such items as the dishwasher and atomic power plants ready to discuss.
gfd
03/20/2019 - 12:59
gfd
Instructions
Congratulations on completing the module! Read and comment on classmates’ ideas here.
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Cold War International History Project
Covering 1945 through the late 1990s, the thousands of diplomatic documents from the former Communist bloc provided at this website give a different perspective on the Cold War.
True Americans in the Cold War
Historian John Buescher answers the question: How did Cold War politics and culture create conflicts over what it meant to be a “true American”?
Article: Castillo, Greg. “Domesticating the Cold War: Household Consumption as Propaganda in Marshall Plan Germany.” Journal of Contemporary History 40, no. 2 (Apr., 2005): 261-288.
Comments
LaurenB
Great ideas the group work will bring more perspective.
Thank you.
Appliances
These appliances helped save us time I guess the question need to ask are we using this saved time wisely? I ask myself this question often.
appliances
That is a very good question. Are we using this time wisely?
I agree, it would be
I agree, it would be interesting to have students then come up with ideas on what people did now that they had this extra time.
Connecting cost to labor
Connecting cost to labor saving is good idea.
In an Economics course
Using these materials today, as some have suggested, as a purely economic discussion would be extremely fruitful.
Through the lens of the dishwasher (or any technology, really) we could examine profit-motive, capitalistic vs. statist philosophies, greater good, etc. Through this, we wouldn't hope to arrive at a "which is better?" conclusion. We are concerned with processes, how did companies in the USA survive and thrive, in the USSR, etc.
I like the idea of looking at
I like the idea of looking at inventions and how they have made life easier. This would really make them think. By the way, I wash all my dishes by hand. I guess I am not as advanced as I thought. Lol
Melissa M
I really like your idea and in fact, it brought a smile to my face, as I contemplated the looks on the students face. It is enormously fun just to see what they come up with and this type of inquiry usually produces laughter and an opening up to share. I love the idea of relating it to their lives today and asking them to consider life now and then, by looking at modernization, gender roles, and the many extending arches that come from war itself.
Modern Day
It would be great to look into the homes of both Russians and US citizen of yesteryear when the Cold War was in full swing and visit both once one in the present.
Comparing and Contrasting
I think that it be beneficial to do this activity so that our students can see the common aspects of their lives.
Behind the Iron Curtain
My father visited relatives of ours in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. He returned home and shared with us how desperately poor the people were, and how they were afraid of openly criticizing anything. He said there were elections, but all the candidates had the same views. In comparison with our middle class home, with a nice refrigerator, up to date stove and oven, washer and dryer, our relatives in Czechoslovakia had none of these and many not even electricity or running water. When I visited Bratislava in 2005, it was clear that the country of Slovakia was still backward and underdeveloped as a result of years of communist control
Laura B Cold War & Hot Water
I love the idea of dividing the class into two groups due to the collaboration and the energy that comes with feeling in competition with the other side. Sometimes this strategy leads to a healthy debate which always creates excitement in learning. Additionally, debate reiterates that in Democracy all voices are welcome at the table. We also learn the skill f agreeing to disagree. It too reiterates historical, concrete thinking, considering multiple sides of an issue.
Future World
I like the idea of children creating a future kitchen for 3000. The children could work in groups to create a future kitchen with more modern conveniences. (like the Jetsons) I love to see what children can imagine.
Another layer
In an above comment, I wonder what Cold War life was like for both the Russian and Us families compared to current situations. Making predictions would add another layer of understanding. Whose way of life (democracy/communism) would be deemed most desirable?
Future Kitchen
Could we add the aspect of the future kitchen with a cartoon or something relatable that kids could see predictions of what people thought the future would be like? (I was thinking Jetsons and Back to the Future.)
Post WWII - TammyP
This would be a great activity for students to recognize some of the technology that we take for granted today.
Technology Debate - MicahM
I really like your idea. As I watched that video, I kept thinking, "What would I have said to Krushchev?" I would love to hear the student ideas. Some of them would have just wanted to punch him in the nose! Learning how to respond in situations like that is truly a life skill and your lesson would educate and enhance that life skill, too.
Classroom Connections - Cartwright
Good idea. Your students can see how even today modern commercials influence what we buy, believe and think.
I do like the idea of
I do like the idea of discussing how improving things like the dishwasher, decreased the amount of labor that women had to do.
Valuable Items
It seems that many people have the idea to compare, and relate, today's technology, with the technology from the post war time period. It does seem like the most relatable, and relevant part of this unit. Students today, do not live in a world where we are at life threatening odds with another nation, like the Cold War was, they are more connected to the world. However, everyone has "stuff", and that "stuff" has evolved over the years. They can see, and touch that stuff, so it makes a lot of sense.
Future world
I love this idea. The kids would love to come up with new things that could be used in a kitchen of the future.
From Planes to Dishwashers
I like this assignment. Understanding propaganda and its role in American history is an important skill that our students need. What better way to engage them in the topic than to have them to create their own!
MaryS
I like the idea of using the module to point out what is a need versus a want. The dishwasher provided convenience but it was not necessary. However the advertisements pushed that ideal.
Future World
I like the idea of having students create some new for a kitchen and create an advertisement for the item.
Can you live without it?
Having students evaluate the time it takes to do something without our labor-saving devices is a very practical way to teach students how much we rely on technology.
Debating with students
I have seen several suggestions for debate. Students use critical thinking about history. The use of a healthy argument is always a good teaching tool.
The Great Debate
I really liked the idea of several people to have students debate about the importance of appliances today and in the past. Also the idea of having students research 20th century appliances and determine which one had the greatest impact on society.
Where do we go from here?
I have to say that I'm not a fan of consumerism and much of technology. I don't own a dishwasher and will never talk to Alexis. It is said that we have to continue to create demand in order for the economy to continue to boom, but I fear we are reaching a point where it all is completely unsustainable.
Reitz Dishwasher-Cold War Comment
I enjoyed this module and learning about the flexibility of America in adapting workforce from military equipment to consumerism or vice versa. This shows how quickly a country has to adapt to keep up with the continual evolvement of the world. Regardless if the world is growing with technology or consumerism, country leaders must be ready to adapt for any circumstance like the past 2 years have been with COVID. Furthermore, I enjoyed the backstory about the Cold War and how this "power competition" continued even until this day. For lesson ideas, I liked the idea of showing "The Man Who Saved Christmas" that Joanne suggested. Any student of any age can appreciate a good holiday Christmas movie. In addition, I think showing the switch between toys and war equipment is a great way to show how suddenly America had to turn during the mid-20th century.
MicahM - Technology Debate
Great ideas here. Students will appreciate the use of the video source and the ability to debate each other.
Making Connections
I enjoyed reading several posts about making connections with objects and devices and assessing their impact on the Cold War. The Cold War wasn't that long ago, so there are a lot of sources and information out there for students to analyze.
Just some commentary...
I have been to Russia a couple of times now. They still don't really use dishwashers today! My ex mother-in-law always hand washed dishes after we ate and put them on a drier! However, she would never say she was "lacking." It would be interesting to compare what "middle class" people have in different countries.
The Kitchen Dabate - TracyP
I enjoyed Tracy's idea of connecting various world economies to the Space Race and even including how our modern conveniences affect our lives today.