This cardboard CARE package, contains seven smaller boxes and bags of macaroni, cornmeal, Carnation instant chocolate
American Indian Heritage
Examine collections of the Museum's key resources on major themes in American history and social studies teaching. Additional resources can be found in the main search areas of the website.
Explore American Indian Heritage Month with your students using lessons, podcasts, activities, and primary sources. This image is of an Ambrotype of Mea-to-sa-bi-tchi-a, or Smutty Bear from the collections.
American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving
The resources American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving, Harvest Ceremony: Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth from the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian examine the deeper meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday for American Indians through the themes of environment, community, encounters, and innovations and provide information on the history of the Wampanoag people and the ceremony that inspired our Thanksgiving celebrations.
Blog Post: A closer look at the Plains Indian Ledger drawings for American Indian Heritage Month
In this post, readers will investigate a few examples of drawings made by Plains Indians who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were held in captivity by the U.S. Army at places like Fort Marion in Florida. Curator Rayna Green describes how these images depicted the lives and loved ones these artists had left behind. Written by Sarah Coffee, a project assistant in the Museum’s Education Outreach office, this post is published on the Museum's "O Say Can You See?" blog.
Creek War Flag
The Creek War began on August 30, 1813, when a faction of Creek known as the Red Sticks attacked a contingent of 553 American settlers at Lake Tensaw, Alabama, north of Mobile. The British were believed to be a main ally of the Indians. In response to the Alabama attack, Jackson led 5,000 militiamen in the destruction of two Creek villages, Tallasahatchee and Talladega. The fighting lasted into the next year, culminating in Jackson’s troops destroying the Creek defenses at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
Explore Pueblo Pots
In this hands-on activity, students will learn the meaning of imagery on two Pueblo pots by examining images and reading short excerpts from Native American folklore. They will then design their own pots by creating symbols and will explain the meaning of the symbols. The decorations on Pueblo pots are great examples of how objects can help us learn about the culture and beliefs of people from the past. Originally created to transport and store water, the symbols with which the pots were decorated have become invaluable historical sources.
This activity is included in an OurStory module entitled Pueblo Pots. OurStory is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
History Explorer Podcast: Plains Indian Ledger Drawings
In this episode of the History Explorer Podcast, curator Rayna Green discusses what we can learn from seemingly simple line drawings about the lives and memories of Plains Indians who lived over 130 years ago. The resources include a teacher guide and related image.
History Explorer Podcast: Thanksgiving and Harvest Celebrations
In this episode of the History Explorer podcast series, curator Rayna Green discusses the history of Thanksgiving, American Indian foodways, and what how and what we eat can teach us about American history. The teacher guide includes discussion questions and a student worksheet.
Keeping History: Plains Indian Ledger Drawings Homepage
The drawings included in this online exhibition are first-person records of military conflicts, cultural life, and "Americanization." The website shares an American Indian perspective on westward expansion through primary sources. In the late 19th century, life was changing rapidly for the Natives who lived on the northern and southern plains. Native men developed a way of recording history through drawings on paper, often called "ledger drawings," in a mixture symbolic and representational illustration styles.
What Can You Make From a Buffalo?
The northern Plains Indians used every part of the buffalo. In this interactive matching game, students will match objects made by Native Americans from the body parts of buffalo to the appropriate part of the buffalo's anatomy. It is interactive whiteboard and iPad friendly and is included in the website Tracking the Buffalo: Stories From a Buffalo Hide Painting.
You are the Historian: The First Thanksgiving
This interactive Web site from Plimoth Plantation, a Smithsonian Affiliate, focuses on clarifying fact and fiction surrounding the "First Thanksgiving." Students use audio from Plimoth Plantation historians, images of artifacts, and a glossary to answer questions and explore the lives of the Wamapanoag and English settlers, and their interactions. The presentation encourages critical thinking and historical investigation. A related Teacher's Guide includes a bibliography, educational standards alignment, and printable versions of the Web site's content. This site works best in Internet Explorer 5+. The site is most appropriate for children in grades two through six.
