Tools of the Trade

Just like any other job, settlers on the Texas frontier had specialized tools for the work they needed to accomplish. They needed to make many of the items needed for survival such as food, clothing, and shelter. They sometimes took supplies and animals with them on their long journeys to new homes in Texas. But many times, they needed to gather supplies from new and often unfamiliar surroundings by hunting animals, gathering wild plants, finding water sources, and planting crops. Many women were in charge of helping their families find or make all of the items they needed to survive. Even children were expected to help prepare food, sew clothing, tend animals, and provide care for other younger children in the family. Let's analyze these artifacts and find out what kind of tools they are!

Analyze this artifact

Here are some questions to discuss about this object:

1) What material/materials is this object made of?

2) Where did it come from? (Where would you find materials to make this object?)

3) Who made it?

4) Where and how was it used? (What environment or location would it be found in?)

5) Is this object similar to anything we use today?

6) What kind of object do you have?