Health & Medicine

Introduction: This is one program in a series of activities designed to familiarize students with the life of a child in the eighteenth century. Students learn about the life of their 18^th century counterparts by attempting some typical children’s activities of the time period.

The activities in this program conform to Pennsylvania Department of Education Proposed Academic Standards for Elementary Schools:

- Reading, Writing, Speaking, & Listening Standard 1.6.3.A (Listen to others, ask questions as an aid to understanding)

- Environment and Ecology Standard 4.2.4.A (Identify needs of people, identify plants as natural resources).

- Environment and Ecology Standard 4.2.4.B (Identify products derived from natural resources.

- Environment and Ecology Standard 4.8.4.D (Identify items used in daily life that come from natural resources).

- History Standard 8.2.6.B (Items from everyday life- quill)

Objectives: Through discussion of the difficulties associated with early medical practices, the students will be able to better understand the high mortality rates among the early settlers. Students will better understand the use of natural materials for various cosmetic and medicinal uses. Through a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on activities, the students will better understand the medical practices and beliefs of the 18^th century and the essential role which natural herbs and plants played.

Directed Teaching Activities:

Step 1 Discussion of 18^th century attitudes towards cleanliness. Discuss what items were used for bathing & cleanliness. Describe what types of medical procedures took place in the 18^th century and the lack of hospitals and dentists. Show how use of natural material was essential to the daily health regimen of the early colonists.

Step 2 Discussion of which herbs and plants were used and the various uses: for scent (to mask odors), cosmetic, and medicinal. Provide various herbs for the students to touch and smell.

Step 3 Direct students to an understanding of the lack of daily bathing and changing of clothing and how this relates to the use of fragrant sachets. Make sachet pouches. Assist students who have trouble getting started.

Student Assessment:

Step 1 Students will be able to explain how scented materials were utilized. Students will be able to compare and contrast 18^th century scented materials with their modern counterparts.

Step 2 Students will be able to describe what types of herbs were used and for what purpose.

Step 4 Students will make sachet pouches and e able to explain why and how they were used. Students will be able to answer questions regarding uses of plant materials in the 18^th century.