2. Write a caption for this source

3. How did homesteaders overcome the problems of living on the plains?
To understand the problems faced by homesteaders on the Plains.
To evaluate the solutions to these problems
To investigate the role of women on the Plains

4. What solutions can you think of?
In pairs, write down as many problems as you can think of for the homesteaders living on the Plains in the 1850s and 1860s
What solutions can you think of?

5. Sodhouses (dirt, dried grass, infested)
Lack of wood for building
Poor quality land - prairie, dry
Back break-ing farm work
Role for men and women
Bad weather, wind, rain, hot sun
Extended families

7. A quick clue ...

8. The Sod House

10. Why was the role of women so important on the homestead?
Around the room are different sources, make notes on their lives.
The jobs women did
Did they share any jobs with men?
What were the hazards?
Could men have got on with their work without women?

11. Homestead Quiz: Shoot ‘em up!

12. Resources women

13. Source 1
“The men went to look at some claims. They found six just the other side of the river. We all went up the river to see the claims. Papa bought some potatoes – the first we’ve had for a long while.”

14. Source 2
March 28: Mamma and I set out the gooseberry bushes today. March 29: Today we began to dig a cellar. April 6: We plant peas, turnips and squash.

15. Source 3
April 9: Today we saw 6 buffaloes coming down the river. Louie took the rifle and I took the revolver. We lay down and waited until they got near; then Louie fired. How they did run!

16. Source 4
April 10: The snow fell onto our faces all night. Our fireplace smokes very badly. It keeps our eyes crying all the time. The cabin is full of mice. April 14: Rainy. I dug fish worms and went fishing. There have been Indians seen in a good many places. We have to be very careful.

17. Source 5
“I killed three snakes today. Helped Papa plant onions and peas, sweetcorn and melon”

18. Source 6
“There was a white frost this morning. The water froze in the water pale. Mamma and I plated 81 hills of melons. At night I drove Mr Ray’s cattle away with some buffalo bones! They keep grazing on our land.”

19. Source 7
“We have a fire outdoors to cook by. It is not very agreeable work, cooking outdoors in this windy, rainy weather, or when the scorching sun shines”

20. Source 8
“I washed the clothes today and dried them in the burning hot sun. We dare not leave them out in the dewy nights for fear of the Indians, who come thieving round, slying about, taking everything they can lay their hands on...”

21. Source 9
“What are we to do next, what are we to look for? Now the mosquitos have come upon us all of a sudden”

22. Source 10
My work for the winter is well in hand. I have been weaving and making new clothes for next winter. I am tending to the chicken and pigs and I have been making butter…Have made a new flannel dress. I am going to try and make one dress every year, then I can have one for nice. I made some jeans too, enough for two pairs for George.

23. Homesteader making soap
Source 11
“I have often wondered how my mother stood it with such a family of children and no one to help her. We used candles which my mother made, we used soft soap which my mother made by leaching water slowly into a barrel of wood ash to hey the alkali and potash, then would boil this and save the fats. Often she would sit up late and mend trousers”
Homesteader making soap

24. Source 12
Medical remedies used by homesteader women: Snakebite – apply warm manure to the bite Ear ache – pour warm urine into the ear Measles – eat a roasted mouse

25. Source 13:
Two women saw Cheyenne Warriors approaching. We all jumped into the stream and Mrs Alardice held her baby high to stop it from drowning. Mrs Alardice paralyzed with fear fainted. They Cheyenne's shot her eldest three boys and grabbed Mrs Alardice and her baby. The baby cried so loudly that the Indians choked it to death and left the body”

26. Source 14: School

27. Source 15: