Curated OER
California Native American Basket Weaving
Fourth graders consider the role that baskets play in the traditional lives of Native Americans in California. Students investigate types of baskets and their various uses and then weave their own baskets.
Curated OER
Exploring Meaning In Native American Art
Native American artwork includes symbolism that will inspire students' own work.
Curated OER
Native American Basket Making
Students design a unique basket plaque incorporating at least one symbol from their chosen tribe. They also identify, share, and give rationales for the symbols in basket plaques. Whole class discussion jig-saws their discoveries.
Curated OER
Wigwam
Students create models of wigwams. They discuss winter and summer villages and the types of wigwams. They construct a wigwam using information from the Native American website to follow the scale. They present their models to the class...
Curated OER
BASKET MAKING
Students create individual basket plaques emphasizing Native American techniques and designs. Students learn to identify Native American tribal symbols and incorporate them into their basket plaque.
Curated OER
Seminole Basketry
Pupils listen as a guest speaker describes the process of gathering and preparing materials for making a Seminole basket. They use provided materials to create their own basket and finally, they give an oral presentation on their basket.
Curated OER
Paper Coil Baskets
Have your class learn about basket making with this resource. Learners talk about the techniques used to make baskets in Native American cultures. Then, they make baskets using paper coils. The results are attractive.
Curated OER
Seeing Ancient Worlds
Students view the images from the Nature Images Photo Gallery and identify various elements of nature. They then group the elements into categories and discuss what these images tell about the worlds of ancient Native Americans.
Curated OER
Could You Make an Oak Basket?
Students listen to an interview with Lucreaty Clark, a White Oak Native American basket maker. They analyze the interview and record their observations on a worksheet. Students consider information that can be gleaned from an audio...
Burke Museum
Burke Museum of Natural Hist'y: Native American Basketry
This Native American basketry exhibition explores how baskets are entwined with the lives of people. You'll be surprised at the many uses these baskets had in the lives of the Native Americans.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of the American Indian: Infinity of Nations
Exhibtion of artwork and artifacts from geographic regions across the Americas highlights the historic significance and diversity of material culture produced by Native Americans, past to present. With examples of textiles, ceramics,...
Other
Native Languages of the Americas: Native American Headdresses: Facts for Kids
Describes the different types of headdresses worn by Native American groups across North, Central and South America. (Note: some links to larger images no longer work.)
Other
Native American Indian Art
This site provides illustrations and descriptions of Native American art and painting. Visual sampling of many Native American artists.
Native American Art and Technology
Native Tech: Coil Basketry
Whatever you want to know about the coiled basket technique used by several Native American cultures, you can find out on this site. Learn about the background of the basketry, the techniques, the materials used, and even play a game to...
University of California
Shapes and Uses of California Indian Basketry
This is an illustrated comprehensive overview of Native American basket types. Discusses different styles and what they are used for.
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: Coastal Indians
Lewis and Clark in their journal made observations about the Coastal Indians including descriptions of the basketry hats made and worn by the Chinookan-speaking people who lived in the region. They also made notes on the habits and...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African Art: Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art
Explore the crafts that the African American culture exported from native African lands, basketry and cultivation of rice. With the lessons provided in the downloadable document, students will weave together history, geography, social...
Native American Art and Technology
Native Tech: Splint Baskets of the Northeast
An exhaustive look at the splint baskets made by the Northeast Woodland Indians. See a slide show of the types of baskets, find out how they were made, and look at the many designs. Use the topic index on the left to navigate the site.
Other
The Seminole Tribe of Florida Culture
Use this site to explore the culture of the Seminole Indians of Florida. There are links to find out about their art, basketry, clans, and much more.
Other
The Seminole Tribe of Florida: Culture
Use this site to explore the culture of the Seminole Indians of Florida. There are links to find out about their art, basketry, clans, and much more.
Other
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: The Chumash People of California
A thorough look at the Chumash people of California. Read about their unique plank canoes, basketry, language, and cave paintings. Many pictures of artifacts and drawings accompany the information.
California State University
Basket Making
This fibers project goes cross-curricular to focus on Native American coil baskets. Techniques could be challenging. However, when completed, your students will feel so rewarded with a beautiful handmade craft.
Other
Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf]
A very complete look at the Chumash Indians of California from the Lompoc Museum. Read an overview of how the Chumash lived and took advantage of their environment. Follow links to see maps of where they lived and information about their...
Other
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians: History of the Chumash People
Read a history of the Chumash Indians and learn about their way of life before contact with the Spanish. Find out about their large domed houses, plank canoes, and impressive cave paintings.