 |
 |
| Personalize a slideshow |
Social Studies Topics to Consider:
Trading Versus Selling and Buying ~ Due to the struggles associated with WWII, Anna and her mother have very little money. In order to get Anna a new coat, Anna's mother decides to trade some of her "nice" things {Grandfather's gold watch, a lamp, a garnet necklace, and a pretty teapot} for the services and materials needed to make a coat. Discuss the concept of trading with your child, pointing out that the worth of the materials and services being traded need to carry a certain value for each person within the trade. Consider setting up a trading scenario with your child using materials or services that are meaningful to him/her.
Natural Resources ~ Parts of Anna's new coat come from resources found in the natural world. The wool that makes the yarn comes from sheep, and the dye for the yarn comes from freshly picked lingonberries.
Here is a video describing the traditional way of processing wool:
If your child is interested in the concept of how cloth is made from various natural resources, consider sharing a couple of these videos:
Cotton Picking Time Down South
Eagle Cotton Gin at Work
Making Linen from Flax
Community Workers ~ If you have an ongoing "Community Helpers/Workers" list to add to, make sure to add to it "sheep farmer", "spinner", "weaver" and "tailor". Although the spinner and weaver are no longer very prominent community workers, still include them, and mark them with a special symbol to indicate that they are from "Days Gone By" or "Days Long Ago". Your child may also enjoy acting out this story as you read it, or illustrating the various community helpers described.
Be a Blessing!
Just as Anna and her mother demonstrated beautiful hospitality to those who had helped them make Anna's coat during the past year, consider planning a special tea and Christmas cake celebration to help your child practice the skill of hospitality. Bless someone who has been a blessing to your family during this past year.
