Biographies for Elementary Webquest
Takeuchi Family (Family 1)
It is September 1948. You are the Takeuchi family (pronounced
ta-kay-oo-chee).
You live in a small, one-storey house in Westwold, a village in the
Okanagan
region of British Columbia. Westwold has a population of 200 people. Your
house
has neither electricity nor a telephone. Your family consists of a mother,
a
father, and three children. Your father was very sorry to leave his truck
behind
in Vancouver, but he had no choice when your family was required to leave
the
city in 1942. Now, he rides a bicycle to get around and the rest of the
family
walks to places. There is a post office within walking distance of your
house
in Westwold where you pick up your catalogue orders. You have about $50 to
spend
on this order, which is the only order you will make this fall.
Each person in your group needs to select one of the following family
members.
Miyoko (Mother)
Hello.
My name is Miyoko. I am 34 years old.
I was born in Vancouver and my parents were born in Japan.
My life is very busy. I do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for
my husband
and three sons.
I do everything I can to help our money go as far as it can. I make
some of
my family's clothes and I do a lot of mending so that clothing lasts
as
long as possible.
I help feed and care for the chickens, and I also clean the eggs that
we sell.
I don't really like to spend any money on myself although I need
a new
kettle because our old one is getting a hole in it. I need some fabric for
making
new pants for my eldest son and my husband. I would also like to buy a
small
gift for each son for Christmas.
Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to order:
- Kettle (Page 546)
- Fabric (Page 322)
- Toys (Pages 511
and 512)
Nawoki (Father)
Hello.
My name is Nawoki. I am 43 years old.
I was born in Japan and came to Canada in 1919.
I work as a railway section hand, helping to build and repair the
railway
tracks near our village. I ride my bicycle to work each day.
Every morning and every evening, I look after our 100 laying hens,
feeding
them, and cleaning out their pen. Every other day, one of my sons helps me
to
bring the eggs by wagon to our neighbour, a farmer who buys them from us
for
a little extra spending money.
I need a new egg crate for carrying eggs, and I could use a new pair of
overalls.
I'm starting to look for a new bicycle, but I'm not sure that
we
can afford one this year.
Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to
order:
- Egg crate (Page 531)
- Overalls (Page 263)
- Bicycle (Pages 476
and 477)
Norman Kiyomitsu (Child 1)
Hello.
My name is Norman Kiyomitsu. All my English friends call me Norm or
Norman,
but my Japanese name is Kiyomitsu. I am 11 years old.
I am in Grade 5 and I walk to school every day. Every day after school
I wash
our chicken eggs, move firewood, and cut pieces of wood into kindling.
My brothers and I like to play cowboys. It's our favourite game.
We
each wear a bandana but it would be really nice to have a cowboy hat or
even
a whole cowboy outfit.
I also love to draw. Maybe some pencils and paper would be nice. And
mother
says I should get some socks because the ones I have now are full of
holes.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages:
- Cowboy outfit (Page 510)
- Pencils (Page 384)
- Socks (Page 112)
Robert Noboru (Child 2)
Hello.
My name is Robert Noboru. Noboru is what my mother and father call me.
My
English friends all call me Bob. I am 10 years old and in grade 4. I
don't
really like school all that much.
I don't have too many toys, but I do have a Meccano set and model
cars
to play with.
I help out at home by washing our chicken eggs and also by cutting
pieces
of wood to make kindling for our stoves. Mother says I need new winter
boots.
I would like a toy airplane or car.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages:
- Winter boots (Page 228)
- Model car (Page 512)
- Toy airplane (Page 513)
Kenneth Mitsuo (Child 3)
Hi.
My name is Kenneth Mitsuo. Mitsuo is my Japanese name, but all my
English
friends call me Ken. I am 9 years old.
I walk to school with my brothers every day.
I also help out with washing the eggs after school each day so that my
father
can sell them.
I love music and Gene Autry is my favourite singer. I would really like
a
Gene Autry record, a guitar, and a music stand for Christmas.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages:
- Gene Autry record (Page 475)
- Guitar (Page 471)
- Music stand (Page 470)
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