Food & Shopping Memoir

Activity Guide

 

 

Instructions

After reading the Memoir, Food & Shopping, choose the Print command on your toolbar to print out this guide to record your responses and reflections about the topic.

 

Part A: The following Web-based activities will help you recall some of the information contained in the memoir you just read. To access an activity, click on the corresponding hyperlink.

1.  Matching: a relevant details exercise.

2.  Jumbled Words: a vocabulary exercise.

 

Part B: The following questions ask you to identify and explain information contained in the memoir you just read.

 

1. Identify at least 3 brands from each food/drink group listed below that were available during the Depression and are still available today. Also note changes in 2 brands from their current form.

 

Beverages:

 

Cereals:

 

Candy:

 

Brand Changes:

 

2. Identify and describe two of the “Home Shopping” services the Author explains.

 

Name:

 

Products Sold:

 

Name:

 

Products Sold:

 

3. Identify and describe home shopping services popular today, then compare them to those the Author describes. What are the similarities and differences? What advantages do they have for consumers? What disadvantages?

 

 

Part C: After responding to these questions, be prepared to share your ideas in small groups or with the whole class.

 

1) Think about your most recent shopping trip. Where did you go to shop? How many stores did you visit? How far did you travel, and what mode of transportation did you use to get to the stores? What did you buy, and how much did you spend?

 

What Stores?      

 

How far traveled?

 

Purchases/Prices:

 

2) Create a typical list for your family’s grocery shopping. Place a star next to those products that are similar or identical to those that the Author describes his family using.

 

Items:

 

3) Using the following Web site along with the grocery list you created, note on your list the cost of the starred articles during the Depression and compare to today’s prices. Access the Web site by clicking on the link below.

 

Compare the Prices

 

4) Imagine your family raised or produced most of your own food. What foods or drinks might you be willing to give up if you had to produce them yourself? What foods or drinks would you most miss if they were not available?

 

5) Create a list with a description of each item of foods or goods that you enjoy now that you would like the generation after you to know about.

 

Items:

 

 

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