Original PromptWomen’s Equality Day: Money Then & Now
Start with a very short connection:
1920: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. Life was also very different in 1920—including what things cost.
Then: “Let’s go shopping in 1920!”
Give each student $5.00 in play money and put 6–8 large picture cards around the room with simple historical-ish prices, for example:
Item 1920 Price
Loaf of bread $0.12
Milk $0.33
Movie ticket $0.15
Ice cream $0.10
Dozen eggs $0.68
Shirt $1.50
Shoes $4.00
Book $1....
This learning resource explores shopping practices in the year 1920, a pivotal time in American history following the passage of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. Students will examine a typical grocery shopping experience from this era, including comparing costs of common items like bread, milk, and movie tickets. The document includes interactive elements prompting students to create a shopping list, calculate total expenses based on historical prices, and practice making change using simplified currency denominations.