Main Street, U. S. A. Colonial Times. Colonial Health

Transcription

1 Main Street, U. S. A. Colonial Times Colonial Health

2 Main Street, U. S. A. Colonial Times Colonial Health Author: Cheryl and Don Everhart Overview: A colonial household could not function properly without using plants and herbs. Household gardens were close at hand and contained a wide variety of plants for both food and medicine. Many plants were native to Europe and were brought to the American colonies to use for medicine. Grade Level: Grades 5, adaptable to grades 3, 4, and 6. Time Needed: Twenty to thirty minutes. Connections to Curriculum: Geography, science, history Kansas Standards: Geography: The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of the spatial organization of Earth s surface and relationships between peoples and places and physical and human environments in order to explain the interactions that occur in Kansas, the United States, and in our world. Benchmark 5: Human Environment Interactions: The student understands the effects of interactions between human and physical systems. Indicator 2: (K) The student identifies the relationship between the acquisition and use of natural resources and advances in technology using historical and contemporary examples. National Geography Standards Element 4: Human Systems Standard 14: How Human Actions Modify the Physical Environment Element 6: The Uses of Geography Standard 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

3 Objective: The student will be able to tell uses of various herbs and spices (natural resources) in colonial times. The student will be able to tell uses of various herbs and spices today. The student will be able to compare and contrast Colonial Times with today. Materials Needed: Internet site: Internet site: Lore of the 18-Century Garden Graphic Organizer, Plants and Their Medicinal Uses Graphic Organizer, Plants: Colonial Use and Use Today Whole cloves Toothpicks Baggie Lemon/lime/orange Mitchell, Patricia B. Colonial Spices and Herbs. Chatham, Va: Mitchells Publications Masoff, Joy. Chronicle of America: Colonial Times New York: Scholastic, Inc Procedures: We are going to talk a little about medicine and health in colonial times. In Colonial Times, people did not live as long as today, because of the health conditions. I am going to read a short piece from the website of Stratford Hall, which was the home of Robert E. Lee (famous Civil War general). Read Stratford Medicine and Health first three paragraphs. Give each student the graphic organizer, Plants and Their Medicinal Uses. Students will record medicinal uses on the graphic organizer. Discussion may entail what is used today to cure the same ailments. Show examples of the herbs and spices as students fill in the chart. Give each student the graphic organizer, Plants: Colonial Use and Use Today. Read students Lore of 18-Century Garden and additional material at end of this activity. Students will record medicinal uses in colonial times and uses today on graphic organizer. In the reading, it talked about a pomander we are going to make our own pomander. Here are the steps that we are follow.

4 Pomander Step 1: Use the toothpick to make twenty small holes in the fruit that you have been given. Step 2. Insert a clove into each of the holes. Do this until you have all of your holes filled. Step 3: Put in the baggie. At home, students can roll the pomander in cinnamon. It could be wrapped in a cloth, such as cheesecloth or net. Tie the clot with a ribbon. It is a great air freshener. Assessment: In the student Passport have the students write about the following: 1. Name two spices or herbs that were used in colonial times and their uses today. 2. Be sure the graphic organizer is completed.

5 Additional Herbs and Spices and Their Use Nutmeg: Used in colonial times to prevent gas. Today, we use nutmeg as a spice in our foods. Horseradish: In colonial times, it was used for swelling, aches and pains and a listless feeling. Today, we use horseradish as a condiment on meats. It is very spicy. Sheep Sorrel: In colonial times, sorrel was exceptionally good for kidney trouble. When the kidneys were functioning properly the entire body felt better and skin looks clearer. Today, children pick sheep sorrel and eat it because of its bitter taste. It is also used in salads. Mustard: This is the seed from the white mustard plant which is used to make store mustard which we use as a condiment on sandwiches. Wild mustard was used to make a mustard plaster. This was a favorite colonial remedy for chest colds. Mixing mustard and flour and applying on the chest with petroleum jelly was a favorite chest cold remedy. People were warned to not leave it on after the skin is reddened. It was to be kept away from the mouth and eyes.

6 Plants: Colonial Medicinal Use and Use Today Plant Colonial Medicinal Use Use Today Lavender Garlic Mint Rosemary Sage Licorice Root Horseradish Mustard Seed Sorrell Nutmeg

7 Plants: Colonial Medicinal Use and Use Today Plant Colonial Medicinal Use Use Today Lavender Perfuming, giddiness of the brain Potpourri, insect repellant Garlic Cures ringworm, scabbed heads Kitchen use, flavoring Mint Stomach problems Sauces, jellies Rosemary Mouthwash, air freshener Cooking spice Sage Head and brain cures, cleansing of blood Cooking spice Licorice Root Canker sores, skin inflammation Flavoring Horseradish Swelling, fever, aches and pains Food flavoring Mustard Seed Colds and fever Flavoring Sorrell Kidney problems Children eat sheep sorrel, used in salads Nutmeg Prevents gas Seasoning