In chapter 1 of The Winchester Mysteries: The Missing Necklace Carl is seen carrying a tin car as Theodore chases him through the work yard. Have you ever seen a tin toy car? Toy cars are still very popular, however many toys and games we have today weren’t around in the early 1900s. Lily, Carl, and Theodore would have had toys we might recognize but probably a lot fewer and much simpler than most toys today. Children in the early 1900s had fewer toys, and many of them were handmade or made from simple materials.
Materials:
- Visual aids (pictures or illustrations of toys and games from the early 1900s)
- Examples of traditional toys: tops, marbles, jacks, checkers
- Cardboard, paper, and other materials for making for making toys
- Tape, scissors, glue, and other supplies for use in making toys
Introduction:
What toys and games do you enjoy playing with today? Share your favorite toys and why you like them. Do you think the same toys were around in the early 1900s when Lily, Carl, and Theodore would have been playing with toys?
History of Toys and Games in the Early 1900s:
Look at pictures or illustrations of toys and games from the early 1900s. Think about what materials would have been used to make toys and games in the early 1900s.
Some popular toys and games from that era include:
- Tops: Simple spinning toys made from wood or metal.
- Marbles: Small glass balls used in various games.
- Jacks (Knucklebones): A game played with small metal or plastic objects.
- Dolls: Handmade or simple dolls with cloth or porcelain faces.
- Teddy Bears: The Teddy Bear became popular after President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous hunting trip.
- Board Games: Simple board games like Snakes and Ladders or Checkers
Have you ever played with any of these? How are they similar or different from your favorite toys?
Hands-on Experience:
If possible, try out some traditional toys like tops, marbles, or jacks. Take turns playing with these traditional toys, and experience what it was like for children in the early 1900s. How are the toys and games of the early 1900s like today’s toys and games? How are they different? How has technology influenced the types of toys and games available today?
Creative Activity:
Imagine you are living in the early 1900s and design a new toy or game using simple materials like cardboard, paper, or wood. Share your ideas and drawings and explain how the toy or game would be played.
Extension Activities:
- Draw a picture or write a sentence or two about toys and games from the past.
- Have a playdate with traditional toys and games to experience how children from the past might have played together.