Sec 4 TDD Commemoration

Food Shortage during World War 2

Group Discussion

How did people cope with food shortage during World War 2?

Inflation increased due to the market going underground. What is another term for
“the market going underground”?
Scenario

During the current pandemic, you only have a limited amount of money and you
are allowed to buy only one item from each category according to the role card
given from the normal market (rationing). As a result you have no choice but to
buy from the black market. Using any resources you have, you are allowed to pay
cash or use any measures you can think of to get the items that you need.

Each student will be allocated the role of buyer, black market vendor or the normal
market vendor. Black market vendor can increase their price as much as they
want according to demand. Class Council will be the Black Market Vendor and
Normal Market Vendor.
Items for Sale

Crackers (packs of 10) per class

Instant Noodles (packs of 5) per class
Bottled Water (12) per class
Chocolate Bar (8)
Packet Drinks (12)

CLE monitor will distribute the cash to the different groups.

Allowance for vendors for change
Normal market vendor Black market vendor allowance
allowance (Sec 4Exp and NT) (Sec 4Exp and NT)

12 $1 notes 12 $1 notes

5 $5 notes 5 $5 notes

Normal market vendor Black market vendor allowance

allowance (Sec 4NA) (Sec 4NA)
4 $1 notes 7 $1 notes
1 $5 notes 2 $5 notes
 Normal Vendor

Chocolate
Instant $1 / pack
Noodle
$2 / pack Packet
Drink
Crackers $1/pack
$1/pack
Bottled
Water
$1/bottle
Normal Vendor
Crackers 1 $3/pack

Instant Noodles 1 $2

Bottled Water 1 $1

Chocolates 2 $1

Packet Drinks 3 $1
Black market vendor

Chocolate
Instant $3 / pack
Noodle
$4 / pack Packet
Drink
Crackers $5/pack
$2/pack
Bottled
Water
$5/ bottle
Black Market Vendor
Crackers (big pack) 1 $2 /pack

Instant Noodles 4 $4

Bottled Water 11 $5

Chocolates 8 $3

Packet Drinks 10 $5
Instructions
Teacher (or CLE Monitor) to signal market is opened and closed to simulate panic
Note:
buying for limited goods.
Each group send one representative to come up You may not be
i) Get a role card and “cash” and able to get the
item needed due
ii) Buy the items needed. First come first serve
to food shortage.
iii) Vendors will sign on the notes to indicate money has been used. If the notes
are used to pay other groups, the notes can be torn out or cut out to give other
groups.
Resources for vendors: Scissors and pen
Some of the buyers can
You will be given 5-10 mins to decide how to divide your resource to buy the
become the black market
products on the cards.
vendor as well.
Winners: Those with all the minimum amount of resources and money left.
Food Security in Singapore
Reflection

What did you had to do to get all the items on the role card?

Is there really food shortage in Singapore during the pandemic?

What are the factors that contribute to food shortage?

What are the measures that the government have come up with to ensure enough
food supply in Singapore?

Discuss with your table partners and share with the class your thoughts.
Lesson
● In this lesson, as part of Total Defence, students will explore Psychological
Defence.
● They will explore the importance of a nation being resilient and understand
the importance of strengthening one's individual resilience.
● Through the sharing of perspectives and personal stories, students will
engage in dialogue and understand one another better.
● Students will recognise that we can strengthen our individual resilience
through being aware of our thoughts, and how we perceive and think about
the challenges that we face.

Issue Statement
'Singapore faces challenges with resilience'