Lee, Russell. Twin Falls County, Idaho. Gas station. 1942. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017819556/.
Students will engage with this photograph by analyzing it as an example of war rationing during WWII and the ethics of government mandates. It will be introduced as the subject of students’ Think-Pair-Share activity, first to be observed and then to be discussed amongst the class. It is expected that students will have varying opinions regarding sacrifice, supporting the military, and groups given priority during wartime.
As a result of the United States entering World War II, rationing of gasoline, rubber, and other commodities became mandatory for civilians as a way of maintaining essential supplies for the war effort.
- What industry does the government prioritize, according to this picture?
- What clues might indicate what time period this is?
- What does the price of gas say about the time period?
ELA Standard
Range of Writing 1. Develop flexibility in writing by routinely engaging in the production of shorter and longer pieces for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. This could include, among others, summaries, reflections, descriptions, critiques, letters, and poetry, etc.
Social Studies Standard
6-12.USH1.4.1.3. Evaluate issues in which fundamental values and principles are in conflict, such as between liberty and equality, individual interests and the common good, and majority rule and minority protections.
Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical
members of a variety of literacy communities.
- Writer’s Notebook: For their writer’s notebook prompt, students should respond to some or all of the following questions:
- What is the biggest sacrifice you have ever made?
- Think of your most valuable possession. What would it take for you to give it up?
- How do you feel when someone in authority (parents, teachers, bosses, etc.) coerces you to give something up? Does being forced to give something up cheapen the sacrifice?
*Students should be given time to share their responses (whole class or individually) to help prime students for further conversation about the day’s topic.
- Mini-Lesson: The teacher should give a brief lesson about gasoline rationing during WWII. It is important that some rations were the result of supply chain theories (i.e., gas rations were to limit rubber consumption) and that these were mandatory rations. Students should inquire about the ethics of “mandatory” rationing in a free democratic society.
- Think-Pair-Share: Project the resource on the board or print it for students to look at individually or with groups. Instruct students to engage in a Think-Pair-Share activity by doing the following:
- Think: Individually, write down between three and five things you notice about this picture. Use these guiding questions if you aren’t sure what to write:
- What is similar/different to a gas station you would see today?
- What do you notice about the price?
- Who does the government prioritize, according to this picture?
- Pair: With a partner, do the following:
- Share your observations.
- Answer and debate: Do you think that the government should have the ability to mandate rationing?
- Answer and debate: Why do you think farmers are given priority?
- Answer and debate: Who are the most essential people/workers that you think should be given priority?
- Share: Each pair now shares their answers with the class and identifies if there are any disagreements.
- Think: Individually, write down between three and five things you notice about this picture. Use these guiding questions if you aren’t sure what to write:
United States Office For Emergency Management. Gas rationing booklet. This is the inside of the front cover and the first page of the new "A" gasoline coupon book, which motorists in the East Coast rationed area will need to obtain their basic rations of gasoline when the coupon plan goes into effect in July. Instructions appearing inside the front cover warn holders against tearing out the coupons and presenting them loose at a service station. The six coupons on the first page are marked "A-1," which means they may be used at any time during the first two months after the plan goes into effect. Coupons on the following pages are numbered "A-2," "A-3," etc., and will be good during the respective two-month periods. The book rations gasoline for the period of one year. Between 1940 and 1946. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017692273/.