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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Native American Basket Weaving

For Teachers 4th
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.
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Exploring Meaning In Native American Art

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Native American artwork includes symbolism that will inspire students' own work.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Basket Making

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wigwam

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

BASKET MAKING

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seminole Basketry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Coil Baskets

For Teachers 5th - 12th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing Ancient Worlds

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could You Make an Oak Basket?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
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Website
Burke Museum

Burke Museum of Natural Hist'y: Native American Basketry

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of the American Indian: Infinity of Nations

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
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Handout
Other

Native Languages of the Americas: Native American Headdresses: Facts for Kids

For Students 9th - 10th
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.)
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Website
Other

Native American Indian Art

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides illustrations and descriptions of Native American art and painting. Visual sampling of many Native American artists.
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Website
Native American Art and Technology

Native Tech: Coil Basketry

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
University of California

Shapes and Uses of California Indian Basketry

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an illustrated comprehensive overview of Native American basket types. Discusses different styles and what they are used for.
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Coastal Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African Art: Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Native American Art and Technology

Native Tech: Splint Baskets of the Northeast

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
Other

The Seminole Tribe of Florida Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
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Website
Other

The Seminole Tribe of Florida: Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
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Website
Other

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: The Chumash People of California

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Lesson Plan
California State University

Basket Making

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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.
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Handout
Other

Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Other

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians: History of the Chumash People

For Students 9th - 10th
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.