Folklife Resources for Educators
Materials Related to GeographyThere are 19 titles in this list.
The A:shiwi (Zuni) People: A Study in Environment, Adaptation, and Agricultural Practices
by National Museum of the American Indian http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/files/poster_zuni.pdf
Teaching poster for grades 6-8 that examines the reciprocal relationships between the land and the A:shiwi people, also known as the Zuni, including how they have adapted to the semi-arid climate of New Mexico through a centuries-old farming technique known as "waffle gardens." Lesson plan includes background on how Native peoples have used observation and experimentation to develop science-based agricultural practices and also how A:shiwi waffle gardening reflects the traditional values of their culture. Poster meets national curriculum standards for Social Studies. (10 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: Science; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Posters; Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Land use; Traditional farming; Gardening; New Mexico--Social life and customs; Environmental protection; Geography; Indians of North America; Zuni Indians; Human ecology; Environmental sciences
Geographic locations: New Mexico |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Other Organizations:
Scholastic, Inc.
(800) 724-6527 http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/index.jsp
The Catskills: A Sense of Place
by The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Inc. http://www.catskillcenter.org/index.php/-catskill-center-/our-programs/education/sense-of-place
A series of five curriculum guides designed for grades 3-12 about the natural and cultural features of the Catskill Mountain Region. The five guides include: Module 1: Water Resources of the Catskills (208 p. PDF); Module 2: Geography & Geology of the Catskills (191 p. PDF); Module 3: Ecosystems of the Catskills (231 p. PDF); Module 4: Human History of the Catskills (165 p. PDF); and Module 5: Culture & Arts / Building Catskills Communities (192 p. PDF). Each module contains a bibliography of resource persons, publications, Web sites, and New York State standards-based lesson plans. A printed copy of the modules can be ordered at cost from the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development.
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Science; History and Social Studies; Geography; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Cultural geography; New York (State)--Social life and customs; Geology; Human ecology; Geography; History; Environmental sciences; Recreation; Community life; Folklore
Geographic locations: New York (State); Catskill Mountains Region (N.Y.) |
Sponsoring Organization: Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Inc. PO Box 504, 43355 Route 28 Arkville NY 12406
(845) 586-2611. ex. 108 http://www.catskillcenter.org/
Discovering the 9th Street Market: A Treasure Hunt for Clues to the Past
by Historical Society of Pennsylvania http://www.philaplace.org/resource/466/
Curriculum unit on the interactive PhilaPlace web site, (http://www.philaplace.org/), designed to encourage students to explore Philadelphia’s 9th Street market as a means to understand its hundred-year history and the transformation of its businesses and neighborhood over time. Unit includes teacher resources and classroom activities aimed for the middle and high school grades, aligned with Pennsylvania State Standards. A Treasure Hunt activity worksheet and map provide guidance for students visiting the Philadelphia market. (16 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Inquiry-based learning; Ethnic markets; Geography; Markets; Place-based education; Ethnic neighborhoods; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs; Community life; History; Maps in education; Family-owned business enterprises
Geographic locations: Philadelphia (Pa.); Pennsylvania |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
European and Native American Mapping Activity
by Illinois State Museum http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/lewis_clark_il/pdfs/european_nativeamerican_mappingactivity.pdf
Activity for grades 6-8 to help students distinguish and describe the differences and similarities between European and Native American mapping concepts and methods after studying and drawing in both styles to represent the same location. Activity addresses the Illinois State Board of Education Standards and Goals for Geography and History. (5 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Geography |
Resource Type: Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: History; Geography; Indians of North America; Maps in education; Europe--Social life and customs; Place-based education
Geographic locations: United States; Europe |
Sponsoring Organization: Illinois State Museum 502 South Spring Street Springfield IL 62706-5000
(217) 782-7386 http://www.museum.state.il.us/
Exploring Diversity in Pennsylvania History
by Historical Society of Pennsylvania http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=74
Resources for teachers related to the diverse ethnic histories of Pennsylvania. Curriculum materials include lesson plans, student handouts, background readings, and links to primary source materials drawn from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and Balch collections related to the topics of settlement, community, work and industrialization, and interethnic relations. Geared to the middle and high school classroom, the units include resources for studying the settlement, history, and culture of Germans, Irish, Italians, Chinese, Latinos, South Asians, Africans, and Koreans in Pennsylvania. Lesson plans are correlated to a variety of Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards.
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Performing Arts; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Cultural relations; Ethnicity; Geography; Immigrant labor; Asian Americans; Industrialization; Ethnic neighborhoods; Ethnic groups; Cultural pluralism; Korean Americans; Pennsylvania--Social life and customs; German Americans; Irish Americans; Italian Americans; Chinese Americans; Arab Americans; Hispanic Americans; East Indian Americans; African Americans; Immigrants; Labor history; Emigration and immigration; Intercultural communication
Geographic locations: Pennsylvania |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
German Settlement in Colonial Pennsylvania
by Historical Society of Pennsylvania http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=77
Lesson plan with activities related to German settlement in colonial Pennsylvania, geared to the middle and high school classroom, for use in the curriculum areas of history, geography, reading and writing. The lesson focuses on the hardships of the trans-Atlantic journey, immigration patterns and how they have changed over time, and reasons why people immigrated to the Colonies, especially from Germany to Pennsylvania. Background materials include a glossary, resources for teachers and students, and links to primary and secondary source materials drawn from the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The lesson plan is correlated to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, History, and Geography.
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Geography; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Ethnic groups; Pennsylvania--Social life and customs; Immigrants; History; German Americans; Emigration and immigration; Geography; Cultural geography; United States--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Geographic locations: Pennsylvania |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
God Given: Cultural Treasures of Armenia - Teacher's Guide
by Susan Eleutario http://www.ndstudies.org/media/prairie_artists_norik_astvatsaturov_god_given_cultural_treasures_of_armenia
Teacher's guide for "God Given : Cultural Treasures of Armenia," a documentary featuring the metal repoussé artistry and life experiences of Norik Astvatsaturov, formerly of Azerbaijan and currently living in North Dakota. The curriculum materials provide an opportunity for students to examine issues related to the geography, history, and culture of Armenia, as well as ethnic conflict, the plight of refugees, and the experience of being an immigrant in the United States. The video is approximately 10 minutes long and is available on the website. Lesson plans in the teacher's guide (16 p. PDF) have benchmarks and standards for grades 9-12 for the Visual Arts, Language Arts, and Social Studies.
Grade Level: 9-12 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture; Geography |
Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Immigrants; Ethnic groups; Emigration and immigration; Refugees; Decoration and ornament; North Dakota--Social life and customs; Armenia--Social life and customs; Material culture; Armenian Americans; Art; Artisans; Decorative arts; Metal-work; History; Geography
Geographic locations: North Dakota; Armenia |
Sponsoring Organization: North Dakota Council on the Arts 1600 E. Century Avenue, #6 Bismarck ND 58503-0649
(701) 328-7590 http://www.nd.gov/arts/
Iñupiaq Whale Hunt
by Echo: Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations http://www.echospace.org/articles/137/sections/207
Curriculum resources for grades 5-8 that explore the role of the whale hunt among the Inupiat people along the Chukchi Sea of northern Alaska. Topics covered include how the whale hunt nourishes the Inupiaq people and sustains and builds community. An accompanying video with discussion questions illustrates Inupiaq subsistence hunting and fishing and demonstrates how whaling fulfills many of the nutritional, economic, social and cultural needs of Inupiaq life. Curriculum suggestions can be applied to the areas of social studies, history, language arts, and geography.
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Geography; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Geography; Hunting; Whaling; Alaska--Social life and customs; Indians of North America; Inupiat; Food; Foodways; Celebration; Environmental sciences; Fishing
Geographic locations: Alaska |
Sponsoring Organization: Echo: Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations
http://www.echospace.org/
A Life in Beads: The Stories a Plains Dress Can Tell
by National Museum of the American Indian http://americanindian.si.edu/education/files/NMAI_lifeinbeads.pdf
Teaching poster for grades 4-6 with accompanying lesson plans and activities that explore the traditional art of dressmaking and dress decoration among women of Native American tribes from the Great Plains region. Through the stories and art of contemporary women from the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes in Montana, students will learn about materials used in the past and today, as well as the cultural values and meanings behind dress decoration. Meets national curriculum standards for Social Studies. (10 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities; Posters |
Language: English |
Subjects: Decorative arts; Geography; History; Indian women; Montana--Social life and customs; Indians of North America; Sioux Indians; Beadwork; Assiniboine Indians; Dressmaking; Women artists; Clothing and dress; Decoration and ornament; Great Plains--Social life and customs
Geographic locations: Great Plains; United States; Montana |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Lone Dog's Winter Count: Keeping History Alive
by National Museum of the American Indian http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/files/poster_lone_dog_final.pdf
Teaching poster developed for 4th through 8th grades to explore the oral culture and history-keeping techniques of the Nakota people who made the Lone Dog Winter Count. Originally, languages of the Northern Great Plains Indians were not written, but spoken. Using oral tradition, Native communities developed creative tools to help them remember their complex histories. A "winter count" was one way that Nakota storytellers recorded their histories and kept track of the passage of years. Poster includes lesson plan on the Native American practice of making winter counts and activities for creating pictograph calendars as mnemonic devices. Meets national curriculum standards for Social Studies. (10 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Math; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities; Posters |
Language: English |
Subjects: History; Assiniboine Indians; North Dakota--Social life and customs; Nakota Indians; Oral tradition; Storytelling; Pictographs; South Dakota--Social life and customs; Indians of North America; Geography; Great Plains--Social life and customs
Geographic locations: Great Plains; South Dakota; North Dakota |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Mapping Our Neighborhood History
by Historical Society of Philadelphia http://www.philaplace.org/resource/465/
Curriculum unit on the interactive PhilaPlace web site, (http://www.philaplace.org/), that offers a guide to developing local history projects so that students can explore the history and culture of their own neighborhoods. It includes teacher resources and classroom activities aimed for the middle and high school grades, aligned with Pennsylvania State Standards. The unit provides information on incorporating mapping technology into the classroom through the use of Google Maps and also gives guidance on conducting oral histories to gather additional background information through the voices of neighborhood residents. (20 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Interviewing; History; Geography; Oral history; Vernacular architecture; Architecture; Community life; Place-based education; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs; Neighborhoods; Maps in education; Inquiry-based learning; City and town life
Geographic locations: Philadelphia (Pa.); Pennsylvania |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
Mapping South 4th Street to Fabric Row
by Historical Society of Pennsylvania http://www.philaplace.org/resource/468/
Curriculum unit on the interactive PhilaPlace web site, (http://www.philaplace.org/), that offers guidance in exploring maps using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for a older commercial and residential area of inner city Philadelphia that includes many retail fabric stores to help develop interpretive and analytical skills for the study of history. It includes teacher resources, lessons, and classroom activities aimed for the middle and high school grades, aligned with Pennsylvania State Standards. The unit provides information on reading maps using GIS technology in connection with researching primary source material on census and land use to examine historical urban trends in immigration, occupation, ethnicity, and industrial and commercial development. Unit can be adapted to the study of the history of American urban areas other than Philadelphia. (75 p. PDF and 7 Excel spreadsheets with census information)
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises; Stores, Retail; Census; Industrialization; Ethnic neighborhoods; Ethnic groups; Land use; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs; Maps in education; Textile fabrics; Geography; Inner cities; Business enterprises; City and town life
Geographic locations: Philadelphia (Pa.); Pennsylvania |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
Native American Dolls
by National Museum of the American Indian http://smithsonianeducation.org/images/educators/lesson_plan/native_dolls/native_dolls.pdf
Teaching guide for K-12 education with lesson plan and activities on diverse traditions of Native American dolls and dollmaking. Native doll makers describe how their work keeps old traditions alive and helps in developing new traditions. Includes examples of Navajo, Inupiat, Ojibwe, Seneca, and Seminole dolls exhibited in the National Museum of the American Indian and transcripts of interviews with their makers. The lesson is useful for teaching about cultural differences where students are encouraged to compare and contrast Native dolls with those from their own background. It meets national curriculum standards for History and Geography. Lesson plan originally published in the fall 2004 issue of "Smithsonian In Your Classroom." (28 p. PDF)
Grade Level: K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Geography; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Geography; Seneca Indians; Inupiat; Seminole Indians; Dollmaking; Indians of North America; Indian dolls; Navajo Indians; Women artists; Oral history; Ojibwe Indians
Geographic locations: United States; New York (State); New Mexico; Minnesota; Florida; Alaska |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Other Organizations:
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies 600 Maryland Avenue, Suite 1005 Washington DC 20024
(202) 633-5330 http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/
Silk Road Encounters Education Kit
by Silk Road Project http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/Resources/SilkRoadEncounters/tabid/339/Default.aspx
Teacher's guide (48 p. PDF) and sourcebook (48 p. PDF) that explore the diverse yet interrelated topics of trade, art, music, religion, history, and geography along the Silk Road to supplement classroom materials for students from elementary through high school. The teacher's guide has six lesson plans: 1) The Silk Roads Big Map; 2) Creating a Three-Dimensional Timeline; 3) Trading in the Silk Road Cities; 4) Belief Systems of the Silk Road; 5) Musical Innovation along the Silk Roads; and 6) Treasures of the Silk Roads.) Activities tiered for different educational levels accompany the lessons. A sourcebook provides background information for the lessons on the geography, history, belief systems, arts, music, and the travel of ideas and techniques along the Silk Road.
Sponsoring Organization: Silk Road Project 20 Westminster Street Providence RI 02903
(401) 427-6980 http://www.silkroadproject.org/tabid/36/default.aspx
Teaching Lewis & Clark: Tribal Cultures & Homelands - Elementary/Middle School
by Washington State Historical Society http://stories.washingtonhistory.org/LC-columbia/teaching/cultures_2.htm
Lesson plan with activities for grades 3-8 that explore the cultural aspects of the native peoples who Lewis and Clark met along the Columbia River in the early 19th century. Special focus is placed on foodways and how Native Americans in the region used the various physical environments they had access to for fish, game, and roots and berries. A seasonal round template can be downloaded for students as an activity. The materials are correlated to Washington State Benchmarks for Economics, Geography, and History.
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Science; History and Social Studies; Geography |
Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Seasons; Plants; Rivers; Geography; Foodways; Hunting; Fishing; Washington (State)--Social life and customs; Indians of North America; History
Geographic locations: Washington (State) |
Sponsoring Organization: Washington State Historical Society 1911 Pacific Avenue Tacoma WA 98402
(888)-238-4373 http://www.washingtonhistory.org/default.aspx
We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
by National Museum of the American Indian http://americanindian.si.edu/education/files/chesapeake.pdf
Teacher guide for use with students in grades 9-12 that provides information and primary resource materials related to key periods and events in the history of the Algonquian communities of the Chesapeake Bay Region, especially the Powhatan, Nanticoke, and Piscataway peoples. Curriculum materials cover the period from the 1600s to the present and focus on how colonial settlement and the establishment of the United States have affected Chesapeake Bay Native Americans. With lesson plans, small group projects, and activities, the guide also introduces contemporary issues that are critical for these communities' survival, such as civil rights and the importance of legal recognition. Meets national curriculum standards for U.S. History and Social Studies. (28 p. PDF)
Grade Level: 9-12 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture; Geography |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Geography; History; Indians of North America; Colonialism; Algonquian Indians; Piscataway Indians; Civil rights; Nanticoke Indians; Chesapeake Bay Region (Md. and Va.)--Social life and customs; Powhatan Indians; United States--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Eastern Shore (Md. and Va.)--Social life and customs
Geographic locations: Chesapeake Bay Region (Md. and Va.); Eastern Shore (Md. and Va.); Virginia; Maryland |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Wisconsin Folks
by Wisconsin Arts Board http://arts.state.wi.us/static/folkdir/index.htm
Website for students, educators, and the general public featuring traditional artists, art forms, and cultures of Wisconsin. Includes background on regional and ethnic traditional crafts, foodways, music, and dance. Information on the site has content for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade themes in Social Studies, the Visual Arts, Music, Dance, English, Information and Technology Literacy, and Business, correlated to Wisconsin Model Academic Standards and Benchmarks. Also includes contact information for engaging Wisconsin traditional artists and performers for public and classroom presentations.
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Crafts; Foodways; Music; Dance; Wisconsin--Social life and customs; Ethnic folklore; Ethnic arts; Folk art; Geography; Material culture; Folk artists; Decorative arts
Geographic locations: Wisconsin |
Sponsoring Organization: Wisconsin Arts Board 101 E. Wilson Street Madison WI 53702
(608) 266-0190 http://artsboard.wisconsin.gov/static/
The Woman Who Turned Herself to Stone - Teacher's Guide
by Susan Eleutario http://www.ndstudies.org/media/prairie_artists_mary_louise_defender_wilson_the_woman_who_turned_herself_to
Teacher's guide for "The Woman Who Turned Herself to Stone," a documentary featuring Dakotah and Hidatsa storyteller Mary Louise Defender Wilson from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in south-central North Dakota. The story told in the video describes a young girl who loved nature so much that she found a way to remain in the midst of it forever. Materials in the guide offer an opportunity for students to explore issues such as the significance of language in culture and storytelling, the cultural expectations of adolescence, and the interactions between the physical environment and human activity. The video is approximately 6 minutes long and is available on the website. Lesson plans in the teacher's guide (22 p. PDF) have benchmarks and standards for grades 4-8 for Language Arts and Social Studies.
Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture; Geography |
Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Environmental protection; Geography; Indians of North America--Languages; Storytelling; Storytellers; North Dakota--Social life and customs; Hidatsa Indians; Dakota Indians; Indians of North America; Legends; Tales; Ecology
Geographic locations: North Dakota |
Sponsoring Organization: North Dakota Council on the Arts 1600 E. Century Avenue, #6 Bismarck ND 58503-0649
(701) 328-7590 http://www.nd.gov/arts/
Work and Travel on the Rails
by Historical Society of Pennsylvania http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=850
Educational unit with lesson plans and activities designed to introduce students to the role and experiences of immigrant labor on the railroads in American history and the evolution of railroad travel from the perspective of the traveler. The materials in this guide are geared to the middle and high school classroom for use in the curriculum areas of history, geography, reading, writing, and the arts. The unit has two major areas of focus—Working on the Rails; and Public Space on the Rails. Background materials include a glossary, resources for teachers and students, and links to primary source materials, such as railroad ballads, travel accounts, and railroad reports, drawn from the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and other materials. The lesson plan is correlated to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards for Reading and Writing, History, and Geography.
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Performing Arts; Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Geography; Art and Culture |
Resource Type: Primary sources; Lesson plans; Audio recordings; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: United States--History; United States--Social life and customs; Railroad construction workers; Railroads; Labor history; Industrialization; Immigrants; Irish Americans; Italian Americans; Immigrant labor; Music; Ballads; Travel; Geography
Geographic locations: United States |
Sponsoring Organization: Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 732-6200 http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=1
|