The United States government announced the end of shoe rationing in 1945.

When the supply of necessary items is threatened due to war, natural disaster or other extreme situations, rationing is often required. Rationing is the practice of limiting the amount of an item that an individual or group of individuals may purchase or acquire in a given period of time, so as to preserve a supply of that item. During World War II, Americans pitched in to help with the war effort, accepting rationing as a part of their daily lives. Citizens were encouraged to "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." A wide variety of items were rationed, including sugar, coffee, typewriters, rubber, gasoline, meat and tires. American families were issued stamp books, and the stamps acted as vouchers to purchase a particular item. Once the stamps were gone for that item, no more of it could be purchased until the next stamp book was issued. On February 7, 1943, shoe rationing began in the United States, limiting each civilian to three pairs of leather shoes per year. Shoe rationing ended two years later, on this day in 1945.

 

ARTSEDGE
Walk in My Shoes (K–4) uses the story The Brothers of the Knight to launch an exploration of materials, shoe design and advertising. Students are given a problem: The characters in the story dance all night and their sneakers are in a pitiful shape. They need to find shoes that won't wear out. Students examine a variety of shoes in order to identify the materials needed to make a durable dance shoe. They then create a new shoe design. After looking at print ads, students write persuasive copy and draw bold pictures to sell their shoe design.

Another lesson in the unit, If the Shoe Fits (K–4) uses the same story to launch an exploration of creative movement. The Brothers of the Knight love to dance so much that their shoes wear out. In this lesson, students explore ways to walk in different kinds of shoes, using pantomime. Groups then research the history of shoes and create a dance about shoes of the examined time period.

EconEdLink
In The Shoemaker's Tools (K–2), students learn about capital resources. Using a shoemaking business as an example, they discover that in any business, people must have certain tools and equipment that help them do their jobs. Students match different capital resources used in production to either the business that uses that resource or to the end product.

Far from being rationed, shoes in the U.S. today come in a wide variety of styles, prices and brands. In How E-Commerce Influences Consumer Choice (3–8), students learn about consumer choice as they gather information on different brands of athletic shoes, determine which one is the best buy for them and explain why.

EDSITEment
On the Home Front (3–5) helps students understand more about the contributions non-combatants at home in the United States contributed to the World War II effort. Students investigate how posters were used to encourage these home front efforts during the war, and are encouraged to reflect on how young people can contribute to the solution of contemporary national problems.

Science NetLinks
Shoes have changed significantly since the days when they were rationed. The Science Update Vibrating Insoles (6–12) discusses a creative new shoe insole that can help prevent falls in the elderly.