Summer learning journey Week 3 Day 1

Week Three: The Post War(s) Era (1951-1999)

Day 1: White Picket Fences (The 1950s)

In the 1950s, things settled down in New Zealand. There were no international wars or intense, national conflicts. Many kiwis were able to settle down, get married, buy a home and start a family.

Activity 1: Meat and Three Veg

It was common for women in the 1950s to stay home with their children and raise their family. They were called ‘housewives.’ Many housewives followed a simple rule when they prepared the evening meal: the ‘meat and three veg’ rule. This meant that they prepared dinners that included three different vegetables and a type of meat (eg. beef, lamb, or chicken).

On your blog tell us if you think that the ‘meat and three veg’ rule is a good one. Do you like the rule? Would you enjoy eating a typical 1950s dinner? Why or why not?

Typical 1950's Dinner

well I like the meat and the veg's are good for you because it's healthy and I wanna stay healthy but there's not only that food we need to look at other food and try them.

Activity 2: What’s in a Name?

During the 1950s the population of New Zealand grew by 400,000 people. That is huge! In fact, so many people were having babies that many people refer to this period in our history as the ‘baby boom.’ Popular baby names in 1950s New Zealand were:

GIRLS BOYS

Christine John

Susan David

Margaret Peter

Judith Michael

Jennifer Robert

Read through the lists. Are these popular names in your school? On your blog, tell us which names are currently popular in your school. Please provide, at least, three girls’ names and three boys’ names that are popular.

When I was going to school, the name ‘Jennifer’ was the most popular girl’s name and the name ‘Matthew’ was the most popular boy’s name.

Popular names in School

Girls | Boys
Rachel Christopher
Malia Zion
Lily Francis

Bonus Activity: Snail Mail

In the 1950s, most people communicated with one another by writing letters. According to the NZ history website, New Zealanders sent over 200 million letters and postcards between 1950 and 1960. That is an average of 87 letters per person!

For this activity, imagine that you are living in New Zealand in the 1950s. Use Google Draw* to design the front of a postcard that you could send to a friend. Try to include elements of Kiwiana in your design (e.g. Pohutukawa trees, Hokey Pokey ice cream, etc). Post a copy of your postcard picture to your blog. Be sure to describe what you have drawn on your blog beneath the picture.

*You will need to make a copy of the Google Draw template to create your post

1. Kiwi the main native bird in New Zealand.

2. Mountain on snow it shows New Zealand climate.

3. Fern leave one of the most native plant.

4. Waka it is a native boat used from the beginning and still is.

5. The New Zealand map with the flag and it shows the north island and the south island.

6/7. All Blacks rugby team, rugby world champion.