Main Street, U. S. A.
Colonial Times
Colonial Health
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
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:
Time Needed:
Grades 5, adaptable to grades 3, 4, and 6.
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.
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
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: http://www.stratfordhall
Internet site: http://historiccamdencounty.com/ccnews20.shtml “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. 1997.
Masoff, Joy. Chronicle of America: Colonial Times 1600-1700. New
York: Scholastic, Inc. 2000.
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.
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
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.
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
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.
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
Plants: Colonial Medicinal Use and Use Today
Plant
Colonial Medicinal Use
Lavender
Garlic
Mint
Rosemary
Sage
Licorice Root
Horseradish
Mustard Seed
Sorrell
Nutmeg
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062
Use Today
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
©Cheryl and Don Everhart, Main Street, U.S.A., 3 Holly Drive, Olathe, KS 66062