1. Hattie’s Birthday Box

2. Why give gifts?? Brainstorm with a neighbor why you give gifts.
Discuss giving gifts – how do you choose what to give to someone? Does the reason for giving the gift determine the gift you give?

3. The Homestead Act Signed into law in 1862 by President Lincoln.
You had to be the head of household and 21 years old to qualify for 160 acres of land.
Each homesteader had to live on the land, build a house, and farm for 5 years. After that, the land was there's to keep!!

4. After 5 years was up, the homesteader would find 2 friends or neighbors who would vouch for them (they would tell the government that there was a house and the land had been farmed). The homesteader would then receive a piece of paper like this one which showed that the land was owned by the family. It was signed by the President of the U.S.

5. The first homesteader – his old homestead is now the Homestead National Monument of America. He filed his homestead paperwork in His homestead is found in Brownville, NE.

6. Nebraska

7. Brownville, Nebraska

8. Imagine life in the late 1800’s
What would be different? Think in terms of lifestyle, communication, etc.
What would be the same?

9. Typical mode of travel in the late 1800’s

10. Soddies
The soddy consisted of a partially underground living space with above ground log walls, a barrel chimney, a wooden floor and a sod roof. This is where they get the nickname “soddy”.

11. What was happening in 1947?
World War II was just ending. During the war, gas and fuel were rationed. Sugar, butter, meat (28 oz. per week), shoes (3 leather pairs per year), canned goods, cheese, and coffee were all rationed.

12. Credits http://www.nps.gov/home/homestead_act.html